This is it, it’s all come down to Sunday, October 1st.
American League: New York is in as the #1 seed (homefield throughout) and Oakland is in as the #3 seed.
2. DETROIT (95-66, tied for A.L. Central lead with Minnesota). Honestly, you have to wonder just how far the Tigers will get in the playoffs if they can’t beat a team who already has 100 losses and that they’re playing at home just once out of two tries to win the title. On August 7th they were 76-36 and 10 games clear of Chicago. Since then they’re only 19-30 while Minnesota has gone 30-20. A full season at the Tigers’ post-August 7 pace would put them at 63-99. But they’ll press on regardless. Kansas City throws out Odalis Perez (6-8, 5.91 between the Dodgers and Royals) against Detroit’s Jeremy Bonderman (14-8, 3.99). It’s time for the Tigers to get pissed, this should’ve been wrapped up long ago.
4. Minnesota (95-66, tied for A.L. Central lead with Detroit). If not for the White Sox, the Twins would’ve won this as Detroit has about run out of gas to finish the year. Javier Vazquez (11-11, 4.77) closes out the campaign against Scott Baker (5-8, 6.37) for the Twins.
The postseason matchups will look like this: if Detroit wins OR Minnesota loses, it’s Minnesota vs. New York and Oakland vs. Detroit. A Detroit loss AND Minnesota win makes it Detroit vs. New York and Oakland vs. Minnesota.
National League:
New York is in as the #1 seed (homefield throughout).
2. San Diego (87-74, tied with Los Angeles for N.L. West lead). Both teams won today, eliminating the Phillies. The Padres wrap up the regular season in the season’s final scheduled game (timewise) and get set for the playoffs with Woody Williams (11-5, 3.57) on the hill facing Arizona’s ace Brandon Webb (16-7, 2.88). If San Diego wins they secure the #2 seed and home field in the first playoff round.
3. St. Louis (83-77, lead N.L. Central by 1 1/2 games over Houston). It’s quite simple, really. If the Cardinals lose tomorrow’s game while Houston wins, it’s a trip to St. Louis for the San Francisco Giants to make up a September 17 rainout. Then if the Cards lose that one, they’ll make the trek to Houston for a game on Tuesday to decide the N.L. Central winner. But St. Louis can avoid all of the hassle by beating Milwaukee tomorrow. The Brewers will start rookie Carlos Villanueva (1-2, 3.97) and the Cardinals counter with Chris Carpenter (15-8, 3.09).
4. Los Angeles (87-74, tied with San Diego for N.L. West lead). The Dodgers celebrated on the home field of their hated rival San Francisco Giants. But the Giants could banish the Dodgers to the wild card spot with a win tomorrow. Los Angeles pitches Derek Lowe (16-8, 3.63) and the Giants will start Jason Schmidt (11-9, 3.56).
5. Houston (82-79). They’re probably the farthest away from a chair when the music stops, but they could jump over the back and grab a spot with some help from the Brewers and Giants. Andy Pettitte (14-13, 4.30) gets the call for Houston and Atlanta counters with John Smoltz (15-9, 3.58) in a solid pitching matchup of two postseason veterans. Would Houston start Roger Clemens on three days’ rest in a playoff game with the Cardinals?
There are several possible matchups here, although the Houston/St. Louis survivor is locked in as the #3 seed which makes it a bit easier. If San Diego wins OR Los Angeles loses, it’s Los Angeles vs. New York and Hou/StL vs. San Diego. A San Diego loss AND Los Angeles win makes it San Diego vs. New York and Hou/StL vs. Los Angeles.
Postscript, American League: It ends up Detroit (95-67, A.L. wild card) against New York (97-65, A.L. East champion) and Oakland (93-69, A.L. West champion) against Minnesota (96-66, A.L. Central champion). Man does that hurt to write that last one but if you can’t beat a 100-loss team in 3 tries at home you may as well stay home yourself. Anyway, talk about nice evenly matched teams! Any of the four are worthy representatives.
Postscript, National League: Final standings place Los Angeles (88-74, N.L. wild card) against New York (97-65, N.L. East champion) and St. Louis (83-78, N.L. Central champion) against San Diego (88-74, N.L. West champion). The Mets dominated the regular season but sometimes that makes a team lose its edge. And Philadelphia fans are bemoaning the bad luck of being in the N.L. East instead of winning the N.L. Central – they finished 85-77 and would’ve won the Central with that record.
