This could be baseball's worst September in 25 years

September is shaping up in a very unique manner for baseball and trust me... it isn't pretty nor is it good for the game!

Since the expanded playoffs were first executed in 1995, we have seen some truly tense pennant races. In 1995, 1998, 1999, 2007, 2008 and 2009, a one game playoff was needed to decide with the Division or the Wild Card.

Down to the last weekend chases have been the norm and last year we were one game away from a three way tie.

Going back each complete year since before the Wild Card...

The Braves and the Giants had their epic chase in 1993.

The Blue Jays and Brewers went down to the last weekend in 1992.

The Braves and Dodgers fought until the last weekend in 1991.

The Red Sox won the Division on the last day of the 1990 season with Tom Brunansky's sliding catch.

The Blue Jays finally held off the upstart Orioles on the last weekend of the 1989 season.

The Red Sox staggered into the 1988 playoffs by one game over the Tigers.

The Tigers and Blue Jays squared off in the memorable end of the 1987 season 1-0 clincher for Detroit.

In other words, for the past 25 years, we have been assured that at least ONE pennant race will be a nail biter.

With the Diamondbacks win tonight over Tim Lincecum (who knew that Ian Kennedy would get to 18 wins?) and the Tigers furious come from behind win over the White Sox, it is clear that it won't take much to have the current leaders make the post season.

Let's take each currently leader and see what their record would be if they just went .500 the rest of the way. (For teams with an odd number of games left, I'll put them at one game UNDER .500 for the remainder of the season.

The Phillies... if they go 13-14 the rest of the way, they will finish at 101-61.

The Braves... if they go 12-12 the rest of the way, they will finish at 93-69.

The Brewers... if they go 11-11 the rest of the way, they will finish at 94-68.

The Diamondbacks... if they go 11-12 the rest of the way, they will finish at 90-72.

The Yankees... if they go 12-13 the rest of the way, they will finish at 96-66.

The Red Sox... if they go 12-12 the rest of the way, they will finish at 96-66.

The Tigers... if they go 11-12 the rest of the way, they will finish at 88-74.

The Rangers... if they go 11-11 the rest of the way, they will finish at 90-72.

In order for the Cardinals to catch the Braves, they would have to go 19-4.

In order for the Cardinals to catch the Brewers, they would have to go 20-3.

In order for the Giants to catch the Diamondbacks, they would have to go 17-6.

In order for the Rays to catch the Red Sox or Yankees, they would have to go 21-3.

In order for the Indians to catch the Tigers, they would have to go 16-7.

In order for the Angels to catch the Rangers, they would have to go 15-8.

Which of those teams strike you as being capable of such a winning streak? And all of these are under the assumption that the leaders will be .500.

There is a real danger, especially with the AL and NL Wild Cards all but secure, that September will be totally dead for baseball.

No pennant races. No buzz around the league. No spoilers. No reason to go to the park.

And with football starting up, interest in baseball could be staggeringly low in October. I hope not. But unless a leader falls on their face, the playoff teams might all be wrapped up with 2 1/2 weeks to go.

The bright spot?

The last time there was no real pennant race down the stretch?

1986.

And that was one of the great POST seasons of all time.

Let's hope if October 2011 is as great as October 1986 that people are watching.

The Last Stand for an A.L. Division Race is in Chicago

There are plenty of legit playoff races happening in the National League right now. The Phillies currently have the National League's best record and would have home field advantage through the World Series... and yet are only 2 games in the loss column away from missing the playoffs all together. The Braves, Phillies, Padres, Giants and Rockies are all within 4 games of each other and 2 will be playing golf in October.

That's suspense.

In the American League? Not so much.

The Yankees/Rays series looks like a potential great one... but they are both making the playoffs. Not a lot of suspense other than posturing.

The Rangers have opened an 8 game lead with their recent 5 game winning streak. They could cut their magic number to single digits by the weekend.

The only hope for any suspense in the American League playoff picture is happening tonight in Chicago... and the White Sox need to sweep the Twins to make it interesting.

Taking 2 of 3 isn't going to cut it. That would give the Twins a 5 game lead with 16 to play...

But a White Sox sweep could make things interesting.

A sweep would mean the White Sox would be only 3 games back of the Twins and the rest of their schedule would be against no legit contenders. The Tigers, the A's, the Angels my Red Sox and the Indians will all (barring a miracle) be playing out the string.

Then again, the Twins would also be playing teams without much to play for (including Toronto and Kansas City.)

But 3 games can be made up in a weekend... and there are three weekends left.

A White Sox sweep could mean they would need to make up a game a week and have a shot.

Now the Twins are only 2 games behind the Rays for the best record in baseball and could take home field advantage through the ALCS if they make up those two games.

But I don't want playoff posturing. I want a pennant race.
So let's go White Sox. Redeem the American League regular season!!!

Giants... let Lincecum do what he needs to do

Tim Lincecum is about to make arguably the biggest start of his career. After a month or so when the Giants couldn't get any decent starting pitching, suddenly things have turned around.

And a lost season is looking more and more found as the Giants remain 2 back in the loss column for the NL West lead and 1 game in the loss column for the NL Wild Card with 24 to play. (And a possible season making 4 game series in San Diego starting day after tomorrow.)

He had a grotesque August where he went 0-5 with a 7.82 ERA and pitched just over 5 innings a start.

His first start in September was a solid 8 innings 1 run win.
They need another start like that against the D'Backs. They need Cy Young Lincecum.

Which means, Giants... let him do WHATEVER he was doing in 2008 and 2009 when he won his first two Cy Young Awards.

Look away, say "Do what you've got to do" and don't ask questions. Yeah he got in a little bit of trouble in the off season... and no, I am not condoning any illegal activities.

Just wink and say "I don't want to know."

If there was a guy showing up in a Tie Dye shirt listening to Phish on days Lincecum pitched last year... FLY HIM IN!

The Giants have a shot to make the post season and possibly line up a playoff rotation that could send them right to the World Series.

And they need Lincecum to be an ace. And if it was smoke and mirrors (and smoke) that helped him win, then cue up the Marley and make it work.

And don't get all Holier than Thou about strange dudes showing up to the Giants clubhouse with substances.

Lest we forget...

THIS is why I am not buying the Red Sox right now

When I said yesterday that I still wasn't buying the Red Sox, you'd think I had jumped off the bandwagon just as Dave Roberts stole second.

When you have to make up 4 games in the loss column against a super talented team like the Rays, you can't afford too many slip ups and you HAVE TO SWEEP SERIES! It is mid August. There is time, but not that much time.

Plus with Tampa Bay idle, the Sox could pick up an easy 1/2 game in the standings.

And when they take a 5-2 lead into the 9th... YOU HAVE TO WIN THAT GAME AND SWEEP THE SERIES!

I stand my my stance. Get to 2 back and I'll get excited. Until then, they are still golf bound.

Let's update the tally.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 39

April 4 - 9-7 win against Yankees (On Opening Night, the Red Sox overcome a 5-1 Yankee lead with a game tying HR by Pedroia and a go ahead passed ball.)
April 10 - 8-3 win against Kansas City (Beckett out pitches Zack Greinke and nearly gets decapitated by a line drive.)
April 14 - 6-3 win in Minnesota. (Okajima gets Morneau to pop up with the bases loaded in the 7th and Papelbon wiggled out of a 9th inning jam.)
April 20 - 7-6 win against Texas. (Darnell McDonald introduces himself to Boston with an 8th inning game tying homer and a walk off hit in the 9th.)
April 21 - 8-7 win against Texas. (The Red Sox were down 4-0 early only to win it on Youk's 2 out 11th inning double.)
April 23 - 4-3 win against Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 3-0 lead but win it on Adrian Beltre's bases loaded walk.)

April 24 - 7-6 win against Baltimore. (The Red Sox score 6 in the 7th and hold off a late Baltimore comeback attempt.)
April 26 - 13-12 win at Toronto. (The Sox blow an early 5-0 lead but hang on for dear life in a slugfest.)
April 27 - 2-1 win at Toronto. (Buchholz holds the Jays down for 8 but it takes a bases loaded walk in the 8th to go ahead.)
April 28 - 2-0 win at Toronto. (Daniel Bard wiggles out of trouble in the 8th to help Lester shut down the Blue Jays and finish the sweep.)
May 4 - 5-1 win against the Angels. (Juan Rivera misplays Jeremy Hermedia's 2 out flyball into a 3 run game winning double)
May 5 - 3-1 win against the Angels. (Papi and Beltre homer and the Sox hang on despite squandering many potential rallies.)
May 6 - 11-6 win against the Angels. (Dice-K puts the Red Sox in a 4-0 hole before they even bat. The Sox bats respond.)
May 10 - 7-6 win against the Blue Jays. (Sox blow an early 2-0 lead, take advantage of some errors and hang on.)
May 18 - 7-5 win in New York. (Sox climb back from a 5-1 hole. A day after hitting a walk off homer, Marcus Thames drops a fly ball to start the winning rally for the Sox.)
May 25 - 2-0 win in Tampa. (Big Papi supplies all the offense as Papelbon wiggles out of a 9th inning jam.)
May 29 - 1-0 win against Kansas City. (Zack Greinke holds the Sox to one run, but they make it stick)

June 1 - 9-4 win against Oakland. (Lackey puts the Sox in a 4-0 hole but Victor Martinez goes 5-5 and the Sox score 9 runs late.)
June 2 - 6-4 win against Oakland. (Dice-K puts the Sox in a 3-0 hole before they come to bat, but come back thanks to Papi's homer.)

June 8 - 3-2 win at Cleveland. (With Papelbon unavailable, Okajima, Ramirez and Bard hang on to make a winner out of Wakefield.)

June 19 - 5-4 win against the Dodgers. (Sox make 4 errors, blow a late lead and let Manny homer, but they win it in the bottom of the 9th on a Pedroia single.)
June 20 - 2-0 win against the Dodgers. (Dodgers blow an early bases loaded scoring opportunity and allow Buchholz to settle down for the win.)

June 24 - 13-11 win in Colorado. (The bullpen lets up 9 runs in 5 innings, but Pedroia homers 3 times including with 2 outs in the 10th to win a wild and stupid game.)
June 26 - 4-2 win in San Francisco. (An injury running the bases takes Buchholz out in the second, but the bullpen and Mike Cameron's bat and glove win the game.)
July 2 - 3-2 win against the Orioles. (Wakefield gets the win and J.D. Drew homers twice, but it is Nava's 2 out 8th inning bloop that landed between three fielders that breaks the tie.)

July 11 - 3-2 win in Toronto. (Jesse Litch took a no hitter into the 6th but back to back homers by McDonald and Big Papi win the game.)
July 17 - 3-2 win against Texas. (Youk ties the game in the 9th off of Cliff Lee and wins it in the 11th with a sacrifuce fly)
July 19 - 2-1 win at Oakland. (Beltre homers and Dice-K holds on to the win.)
July 22 - 8-6 win at Seattle. (Lackey lost a no hit bid in the 8th and the Mariners scored 5 in the 9th to tie before the Sox won in 13)
July 23 - 2-1 win at Seattle. (Bill Hall's barely fair homer gives the Sox the win on Beckett's return.)

July 26 - 6-3 win in Anaheim. (Papi homers twice and Buccholz and Papelbon each wiggle out of jams to get the win.)
July 27 - 4-2 win in Anaheim. (Jed Lowrie's 2 run 7th inning double gives the Sox the lead and makes a winner out of John Lackey. )

July 28 - 7-3 win in Anaheim. (Youk ties the game in the 7th with a homer and Scutaro wins it with an 8th inning grand slam to sweep the Angels.)
July 31 - 5-4 win against Detrout. (Big Papi hits a 3 run walk off double to crush the Tigers in the 9th.)
August 1 - 4-3 win against Detroit. (Sox blow a 3 run 9th inning lead but the Tigers throw away a 9th inning sacrifice bunt to give the Sox the win.

August 3 - 3-1 win against Cleveland. (Lowell homers on his first pitch back and plays sparkling defense to preserve the win.)

August 6 - 6-3 win in Yankee Stadium. (Cervelli drops an easy pop up, setting up the winning rally for the Sox.)
August 9 - 2-1 win in Yankees Stadium. (Marcus Thames' bid for a game tying homer hits the top of the wall as Lester, Bard and Papelbon hold on for the win.)

August 10 - 7-5 win in Toronto. (The Sox blow a late lead but Mike Lowell puts them on top for good with an 8th inning homer.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 33

April 6 - 6-4 loss against the Yankees. (Scutaro's error leads to the winning run.)
April 7 - 3-1 loss against the Yankees. (Sox leave the winning run on in the 9th only to lose on Granderson's 10th inning homer)
April 9 - 4-3 loss in Kansas City. (Bard coughs up the lead, denying Wakefield a win.)
April 17 - 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Sox can't score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 11th... lost it in the 12th.)
April 17 - 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox comeback falls a run short, leaving two on in the 8th)
April 25 - 7-6 loss to Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 4-1 lead, leave the winning run on second in the 9th, let up 3 in the 10th and could only score 2 in the bottom of the 10th)
April 30 - 5-4 loss in Baltimore. (Tejada ties the game with a 2 out 8th inning homer and wins it with a bloop in the 10th)
May 1 - 12-9 loss in Baltimore. (Dice-K and Wakes get pounded, wasting 2 homers from Ortiz and an early 4-1 lead.)
May 2 - 3-2 loss in Baltimore. (Varitek is thrown at home trying to score with 2 outs in the 8th. Sox get swept in the 10th.
May 12 - 3-2 loss against the Blue Jays. (The Sox rally in the 9th comes up a run short and Kevin Gregg gets an ugly save.)
May 15 - 7-6 loss in Detroit. (The Sox blow a 6-1 lead and lose it on a 2 out bases loaded walk in the 12th.)
May 17 - 11-9 loss in New York. (The Sox come all the way back from a 5-0 first inning hole to take a 9-7 lead in the 9th... but Papelbon lets up a 2 run game tying shot to A-Rod and a 2 run walk off shot to Marcus Thames.)
May 21 - 5-1 loss in Philadelphia. (Big Papi's bid for a game tying 9th inning grand slam is caught at the warning track.)
May 27 - 4-3 loss to Kansas City. (Dice-K walks the go ahead run in and lets another score on a wild pitch as the Royals no name bullpen shut down the Hot Sox.)
May 28 - 12-5 loss to Kansas City. (Sox blow a 3-0 first inning lead to be blown out in Fenway.)
June 3 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox lose a slugfest where two Boston runners are thrown out at home.)

June 6 - 4-3 loss in Baltimore. (Sox rally to tie the game in the 9th only to lose it on a small ball rally in the 11th.)
June 10 - 8-7 loss in Cleveland. (Sox blow an early 5-0 lead and then after rallying in the 9th to take the lead coughed it up with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th)
June 13 - 5-3 loss to Philadelphia. (Sox 9th inning rally comes up short)
June 22 - 2-1 loss in Colorado. (The Sox waste a solid Lester start and twice leave the bases loaded.)
June 23 - 8-6 loss in Colorado. (The Sox batter Ubaldo Jimenez around but Papelbon lets up 2 homers in the 9th to lose it.)
June 25 - 5-4 loss in San Francisco. (The Sox strand 11 runners in the last 4 innings wasting a solid Wakefield performance.)
July 5 - 6-5 loss in Tampa Bay. (Sox spoil a 5-1 lead and 2 homers by Eric Patterson when Dice-K and the bullpen couldn't hold down the Rays.)
July 6 - 3-2 loss in Tampa Bay. (Sox bats go dead and Kevin Youkilis goes down to injury.)
July 7 - 6-4 loss in Tampa Bay. (Matt Garza comes out of the pen, shuts down a late rally as the Rays sweep the Sox.)
July 10 - 9-5 loss in Toronto. (The Sox give Lackey an early 5-3 lead that he couldn't hold.)
July 18 - 4-2 loss to the Rangers. (Lester loses a rare game at home that included a Rangers steal of home.) July 20 - 5-4 loss in Oakland. (The Sox go up 4-0 after 2 but don't score again and lose it in the 10th)
July 21 - 6-4 loss in Oakland. (Buchholz can't hold on to an early lead as the Sox lose the series.)
July 24 - 5-1 loss in Seattle. (Lester's perfect game is foiled and the Red Sox bats die.)
July 25 - 4-2 loss in Seattle. (Okajima misplays a sacrifice bunt and the Mariners rally in the 8th to win.)
July 30 - 6-5 loss to Detroit. (Papi's grand slam makes it a 1 run game in the 9th but Cameron strikes out looking with the winning runs on base.)
August 2 - 6-5 loss to Cleveland. (Beltre drives in 5 runs by himself but the Red Sox leave the tying run on base with Big Papi on deck.)
August 12 - 6-5 loss in Toronto. (The Jays score 4 in the 9th inning to avoid the sweep.)

Down to +6.

On to Texas... and it will be Friday the 13th.

That can't be good.

Shame on Jim Riggleman

That's right Riggleman. You had better hang your head.

You took over the worst team in baseball and they are indeed going to finish this season as one of the worst if not the worst team in the game.

That's not why you should hang your head.

We are at the end of the season.
The Nationals have only 9 games left.
They've already lost 101 games.
Needless to say they don't have a lot of meaningful games left.

Yet the Nats find themselves in the middle of a pennant race. Maybe not for themselves, but they are playing the Braves 7 out of the last 10 games of the season.

And with the Braves now only 3 back in the loss column for the Wild Card, each one of these games affect Atlanta and Colorado.

They also affect who plays whom in the Division Series. A Braves Wild Card would mean the Dodgers would play Atlanta in the Division Series while the Phillies and Cardinals would face off.

A Rockies Wild Card would mean the Dodgers and Phillies would meet in the Division Series and the Cardinals would go to Colorado.

These games could affect the balance of the NL playoffs.
These games could affect which teams would be resting starters and which ones would be going at full speed in the last week of the season.

So what did Riggleman do today?
He is resting Ryan Zimmerman!

The Nationals are practically fielding a AAA line up and just about the only hitter who could make any difference on his roster is taking a breather... a week before he takes a 5 month break.

Um... WHAT IS HE RESTING FOR?

Shouldn't he put a lineup on the field that, I don't know, could beat the Durham Bulls?

In a game that could have a chain reaction affect on the National League playoffs, Riggleman said "You know, now could be the day to give Pete Orr some at bats!"

This is a disgrace and if baseball actually had a commissioner, then he would have been fined.

Hey Rigs!
The Nats play the Mets next week. Those games will be played in front of friends and family and won't even affect the Nats nor the Mets.

You can send Zimmerman to Bermuda for those games.
How's about he plays in the games that matter?

The pennant race is THAT way

Who would have thought that a Braves vs the Nats game in late September would suddenly be meaningful?

But while the Giants couldn't get out of their own way and the Marlins just couldn't put together a long enough win streak, the Braves find themselves just 3 back in the loss column of the Rockies.

And the Rox play most of the season against the Cardinals and Dodgers... the best teams in the National League

And the Braves play 7 of their last 10 games against the Washington Nationals... the worst team in baseball.

Can you imagine Bobby Cox going to the playoffs without Glavine, Maddux OR Smoltz?

Time to do the unthinkable... check with interest on a Washington Nationals game!

Can we PLEASE just start the playoffs now?

Seriously... after tonight there is officially no suspense left in this 2009 regular season.

THE RED SOX ARE NOT CATCHING THE YANKEES

It's not happening. 

If they swept the Royals and were within a few games in the loss column for this weekend's series, then it might be possible.

But if the Sox can't win the series in KC, then they just aren't going to do it. 

Tonight's game didn't get me mad. The Sox were up against the guy who will probably win the Cy Young Award and Paul Byrd was pitching.

He has as much chance of pitching in the playoffs as Robin Byrd (no, I am not posting a link you pervert!)

THE YANKEES WILL HAVE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE THROUGHOUT THE POST SEASON

As well they should!

They are the best team in baseball and they gutted out a tough win tonight in Anaheim.

Hate them all you want (and I do) but they have a good product on the field. And if you think money buys you happiness, go across town and ask the Mets how they are doing.

THE TIGERS ARE NOT GOING TO BLOW THIS DIVISION LEAD

The Twins needed to sweep them last weekend. Instead they only got 2 out of 3... which wasn't enough.

OK fine, they have 4 games head to head next week. Just splitting that series at home would trim 4 off of their magic number which at this writing is at 10.

It's safe to say the Tigers will lower that number to single digits by next week.

The Twins made it interesting but alas will fall short. It would behoove the Twins to come out of the gate quickly next year.

I'M SORRY RANGERS FANS... IT IS NOT HAPPENING THIS YEAR

The Rangers have held on a lot longer than anyone could have imagined going into this year.

They pitched, they hit and they made Red Sox and Angels fans wonder if a return trip to the playoffs was in the cards.

But alas they couldn't take advantage of the Red Sox AND the Angels losing. They are a week behind the Halos in the loss column for the AL West.

They are also a week behind the Sox in the loss column for the Wild Card.

With less than 2 weeks to go, that's just not enough time. The foundation is set for 2010... but the suspense is over this year.

THE SUSPENSE IS OVER FOR THE NL DIVISION RACES

All of them are done.

The Cardinals can clinch tomorrow with a win and a Cubs loss. 

The Phillies can whittle the magic number to 3 with a win tomorrow.

The Dodgers have a 5 game lead with 11 to play.

And none of those teams seemed poise to do a 2007 Mets impersonation. I suppose there is some suspense on who will have the best record... but that is overrated.

Besides, in 2006 the Twins passed the Tigers on the last day of the season. Both were post season bound, but the Twins got the better match up with the A's while the Tigers were stuck playing the powerhouse Yankees.

Remember what happened? The Tigers beat the Yankees and the A's swept the Twins.

Match ups are overrated. You've got to beat a good team to win the World Series anyway!

IT JUST ISN'T THE GIANTS YEAR

I'm sorry Poppy.

The Giants had a terrific building block season and had some memorable moments from Sanchez, Sandoval, Lincecum and Big Unit's 300 win.

But when there is no margin for error, you just can't lose a game where you score 8 runs and have Matt Cain on the mound.

The Giants have fallen into a tie with the Braves. If the Marlins and Braves get hot, the Giants could fall to 4th in the Wild Card Race.

As it is, the Rockies have this locked up.

So there you have it... the 8 playoff participants have the season locked up barring a cataclysmic collapse.

And the last 12 games of the season would essentially be a formality.

Let's skip all of that and start the playoffs this weekend!

Maybe that will assure us all that the World Series won't go into November!

No offense to the people of Detroit, but I want the Tigers to get swept

Seriously. I have nothing against the people of Motown or anyone in Wayne County.

I like a lot of players on the Tigers... I love the traditional uniforms and who could dislike Jimmy Leyland?

And the city itself, well what good hearted American can root against Motor City?

But there are still two weeks left to the regular season. And people are already lining up playoff pitching match ups.

I want to see a pennant race! I want to meaningful games down to the wire.

Last year the Mets and Brewers scrapped until the final day of the season and the Twins and White Sox needed to have a one game playoff to settle the score.

The year before the Mets and Padres were the two best teams in the NL on Sept. 4th... and both missed the playoffs all together.

And this year we have the Rangers and Giants fading and the last two weeks essentially being extended spring training.

I want to see some pennant race baseball... especially the kind where I really don't give a damn about the outcome.

I don't really want to see the Twins win the Division. I have no warm and fuzzy feeling sending off the Metrodome in October! And I'd like to see the Yankees have to face a rested Verlander twice in a playoff series. 

But for the love of Bobby Thomson, I fear the next two weeks will be dullsville unless a team gets pounded here.

The Tigers are playing 3 against the Twins.

A Twins sweep would put them a game back with 13 to play... and a week later they play again.

Is it too much to ask for an exciting last week of the season?

I know times have been tough in Detroit, but this weekend I want the Tigers to match the Lions win total from last season.

Another day, another great Brad Penny start

OK this is absurd!

Brad Penny is 3-0?
Brad Penny has a 1.64 ERA with the Giants?

Did Brad Penny just save the Giants season?

It sure looks like he did.

Well, now there is no wiggle room.

There is no room for error.

The Giants need to win tomorrow with Lincecum on the mound against the Rockies.

Then they have to win on Tuesday against the Rockies.

Then they have to win on Wednesday against the Rockies.

A sweep of the Rockies would put the Giants 1 back in the loss column with 16 games to play.

Taking 2 out of 3 would put the Giants 3 back in the loss column with 16 games to play with no remaining head to head games with the Rockies.

One loss will more than likely sink the team in this series.

No pressure.

And then I am sure Brad Penny will have another chance to save the day.

And DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!

It's September... the second most exciting month of the year baseball wise (October being the best.)

Now people are writing how the pennant races are pretty much sewn up.

Just remember, with a few weeks to go in September of 2007, the two National League teams that would have home field advantage in the Division Series were the Padres and the Mets.

They went from home field advantage to playing golf.

In other words, watch out Angels, Dodgers, Tigers and Red Sox... All of these teams are sitting pretty now. But a 4 game lead can turn into one in an awful hurry.

So I welcome September, a great month for baseball and a terrific answer in this hilarious Family Feud clip. 

Falling Angels?

The Angels overtook the Rangers around the All Star break for the division... and since then they had a run where they won 12 of 13, another 5 game winning streak, and in mid August a run where they won 9 of 11.

They built up a 6 1/2 game lead in late August.

Party is over.

Division is theirs.

The Angels were clearly going to win their fifth division title since Arte Moreno took over the team in 2003.

Not - So - Fast!

Have you noticed since August 22, the lead has gone from 6 1/2 games to 4 games?

Have you noticed teams like the Blue Jays and the A's have been giving them fits?

Did you know that they go on a stretch in mid September where they play the Yankees 4 times, the Red Sox 3 times and the Rangers 3 times... then after an Oakland series another 3 games with the Rangers?

Did you know the Rangers are done facing the Red Sox and Yankees?

Did you know the Rangers' September is filled with games against the Blue Jays, the Orioles, the Indians and the A's? Yes they play the Rays and the Mariners, both teams with winning records but the Rangers schedule is MUCH more forgiving!

What I am saying is, the Angels, whose starting pitching isn't bringing back memories of the Braves of the 1990s, might find themselves getting pounded.

And as they play Boston and New York, the Rangers will be playing the A's.

It is not unreasonable that the Angels could drop a few games in the standings before their head to head matches.

Don't just be thinking about the Wild Card, Texas... some Angels wings might be clipped.

Thanks a LOT Yankees!

The first day I root for you and what do you do?

You give me a teeth grinder?

I NEED you guys to win and help the Red Sox get some breathing room... and you guys rally they way you ALWAYS do and Michael Kay is getting ready to explode and John Sterling is about to make TWO Melky puns.

Then the Melk man delivered a line drive that doubled off Jerry Hairston Jr who evidently was still gazing at the huge stadium.

Normally that would have me jumping up and down for joy and ready to call Eddie Pepitone and taunt him.

But instead I am sitting here grumbling that the Yankees couldn't win.

WHAT'S THE MATTER YANKEES?
Don't you know that you play for the pleasure of Red Sox nation?

Don't Bogart That Lead

Sox - Yankees round 3 starts tomorrow.

There's only 1 game separating the two (thanks Rays for dropping the last 2!) and I have a feeling that's the way the whole season is going to go.

The Yankees and the Red Sox are going to pass first place back and forth like a joint... and the rest of the AL East will get a contact high.

Oh it would be nice to have a lead... but it's not going to be decided until September... which means winning the season series is even MORE important (see 2005 when the two teams finished tied but the Yankees were the Division Champs because of the 10-9 head to head record.)

Sox have the 5-0 advantage.

Beckett on the hill.

Let's get high.

So it has come to this...

Remember when the Red Sox went on that awesome 11 game winning streak and the Yankees were wetting their pants and letting up 14 runs in the second inning?

That's all over now. 

Just a few days ago the Red Sox were the best team in the American League.

Now they are tied.

It's a clean slate and the Division Race begins today. (And yes I am discounting the freefalling Blue Jays and the underachieving Rays.)

Each team has 115 games to play.

The magic number for both teams is 116.

Maybe head to head match ups will come into play like it did in 2005.

Hmm... which team is up 5-0 in head to head match up? I don't remember.

And here... we.... go!

Give A-Rod credit... he knows how to make an entrance

Did you expect him to ground out to second on his first pitch?



Well A-Rod is homering and Sabathia is throwing like an ace.



The AL East race starts today.



(Too bad nobody told the Yankees the first 28 games actually count too!)

It's too early to panic but...

If the Red Sox lose the division by a couple of games again... I'll be looking back at these early series and I'll be mad!

How's about going into Oakland and winning 3 or 4 in a row?!

IF THE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY... September 28, 2008

Actually, they almost do start today.

Usually the playoff picture is crystal clear at this point, or maybe one match up or two... but for the second straight year we don't know what the first round match ups are in either National League Division Series. And the Rays have no idea who they are hosting as neither the Twins nor the White Sox seem interested in winning the American League Central.

The Phillies, wearing those bitching blue hats, finally gave a little clarity for the NL picture.


So let's look at the match ups.

DIVISION SERIES (Best of 5)

AMERICAN LEAGUE
LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (AL West)
has home field advantage over
BOSTON RED SOX (AL Wild Card)

This by the way is the only playoff match up written in stone

TAMPA BAY RAYS (AL East)
has home field advantage over
MINNESOTA TWINS (AL Central)

The White Sox are only 1/2 a game behind Minnesota


NATIONAL LEAGUE

One Game Playoff To Determine Wild Card
NEW YORK METS
has home field advantage over
MILWAUKEE BREWERS

If the Mets win

CHICAGO CUBS (NL Central)
has home field advantage over
NEW YORK METS (NL East)

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (NL East)
has home field advantage over
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (NL West)


If the Brewers win

CHICAGO CUBS (NL Central)
has home field advantage over
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (NL West)

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (NL East)
has home field advantage over
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (NL Wild Card)



It's looking like a cool last day.
Let's plug

SULLY BASEBALL ARCHIVE POST OF THE DAY:
I broke down the moments Bobby Cox must regret during his post season run

SULLY BASEBALL BOOK PLUG OF THE DAY:
Generation A's Fans by Donald Marquez Sr.

Sometimes we fans of North Eastern teams think our passion can't be matched by other fan bases. Well Marquez's incredibly entertaining love letter to the A's will dispell THAT notion.

His family, from his grandmother to a sea of nephews, cousins and his own son, is obsessed with the A's in a way that would rival anyone calling in WFAN and WEEI.

I really loved reading the book for many reasons, but mainly because I saw how many similar memories we have.

I grew up in the suburbs of Boston. Don grew up in the East Bay. Yet we both raced to get to the sports section first, we both mark time and family memories with the ups and downs of our teams and we both have little patience for bandwagon fans. His chapter about the lean years of the late 1970s was my favorite one.

I liked the book so much, I will forgive his slamming Red Sox fans pretty hard.
I'd slam the A's too!

Doesn't anyone here want to win the Division?

Hey Twins... Hey White Sox... trust me, I'm not complaining. I love a Division race that goes to the last day, possibly to a make up game on Monday and a one game playoff on Tuesday leading to the playoffs on Wednesday.

But you'd think that a sweep into first place by the Twins would have led to a better showing than losing a series to the irrelevant Royals.

You'd think the White Sox would have responded to a chance to take control of the division with a better showing than 5 losses in a row.

But now that I think about it, I'm glad.
In the end I kind of like both of these teams so in the end I don't really care who wins.

So by all means... continue this "After you" "No I insist, after you" pennant race.

IF THE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY... September 27, 2008

Well congrats to the AL East Champion Tampa Bay Rays.

My God that looks strange typed out.
But they were a great team this year...
And I hope the Red Sox face them in the ALCS and crush them!

But I digress.

The playoff picture is a little clearer now but won't be completely settled until Sunday at the earliest.

So let's look at the match ups.

DIVISION SERIES (Best of 5)

AMERICAN LEAGUE

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (AL West Champion)
has home field advantage over
BOSTON RED SOX (AL Wild Card)

TAMPA BAY RAYS (AL East Champion)
has home field advantage over
MINNESOTA TWINS (AL Central Champion)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CHICAGO CUBS (NL Central Champion)
has home field advantage over
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (NL West Champion)

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (NL East Champion)
has home field advatage over
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (NL Wild Card)



SULLY BASEBALL ARCHIVE ENTRY OF THE DAY:
I recognize players who were robbed of a World Series MVP




SULLY BASEBALL PLUG OF THE DAY:
DARK HORSE by Kenneth D. Ackerman

If you think this year's Presidential race is odd, then read up on the election and after math of 1880.

The Republican ticket was one guy who didn't even want to run (Garfield) and a man so corrupt that the previous President removed him from his government (Athur.)

A crazed office seeker wanted to be Minister to Paris despite not speaking any French. Garfield turned him down, so the office seeker shot President Garfield so he could ask the new President Arthur.

After that the story gets crazy. Well written and even funny... read it.

It might not be as crazy as this pennant race, but it is indeed a good read.

If the baseball playoffs started today, September 26th

The more things get clearer, the fuzzier they really are.

Yeah the Dodgers clinched today, and that cemented another spot in the dance.
But besides the flip flopping in the AL Central, the tied NL Wild Card and Philadelphia looking over their shoulders... the Rays haven't clinched the East yet.

Could the Rays lose 3 in a row?
Could the Red Sox win 3 in a row and clinch the Division?

Oh I love this part of the year.

Let's look at the match ups:

DIVISION SERIES (Best of 5)

AMERICAN LEAGUE

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (AL West)
has home field advantage over
BOSTON RED SOX (AL Wild Card)

TAMPA BAY RAYS (AL East)
has home field advantage over
MINNESOTA TWINS (AL Central)


NATIONAL LEAGUE

THE WILD CARD ONE GAME PLAYOFF

NEW YORK METS
at home versus
MILWAUKEE BREWERS

If the Mets win

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES (Best of 5)

CHICAGO CUBS (NL Central)
has home field advantage over
NEW YORK METS (NL Wild Card)

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (NL East)
has home field advantage over
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (NL West)



If the Brewers win

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES (Best of 5)

CHICAGO CUBS (NL Central)
has home field advantage overhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (NL West)

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (NL East)
has home field advantage over
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (NL Wild Card)

Following?
Pretty cool, huh?

So let's get on with business.

SULLY BASEBALL ARCHIVE CLIP OF THE DAY:
I make the case for the Orioles to change their caps back to the smiling bird.


SULLY BASEBALL PLUG OF THE DAY:

YOU CAN DO IT SAM by Amy Hest and illustrated by Anita Jeram
My kids love the simple but very sincere stories of Sam the Bear and his mom, Mrs. Bear. The plots of the stories are simple enough.
In Kiss Good Night Sam, Mrs. Bear needs to figure out what she forgot to do before Sam can fall asleep. (Title is a spoiler alert.)

In Don't You Feel Well Sam, Sam needs to take his medicine but won't.

The trilogy concludes with You Can Do It Sam, which is my kids favorite. Sam and Mrs. Bear travel from house to house delivering cakes and Sam is nervous about walking through the snow alone.

With their daddy about to jump face first into the playoffs, perhaps it is best that I read a lot to my kids now. Fathers out there let me recommend that.

Meanwhile me plugging this book is also a cry to Amy Hest herself... WRITE MORE SAM BOOKS!!!!!