Well, this is baseball after all. Let's look at September 2011, where the Red Sox had one of the worst months in baseball history, and gave up the Wild Card to Tampa Bay when the Rays made a surprise comeback and Boston just flopped. Who knows what else could happen, the Indians could grab the AL Central, Baltimore could scoop up a Wild Card, the Dodgers could run out of steam, and Washington could get their act together. However, a lot of things can't happen, of course. For those of us that picked Toronto to win it all... it ain't happening. I did it to, been bashing my head through walls about it.

Figured someone would post that. I really don't like what the Dodgers did after that, though. They went into a pool beyond the outfield fence after that, and had their champagne party of course, leaving the Arizona staff to clean it up. I find that very disrespectful, since they were at an away game, thus the clubhouse and pool were not theirs. Sure, they can celebrate if they want, but I think they could have done so in a more polite way to the host club, or they just could have waited until they got back to Dodger Stadium, so the fans could celebrate with their team.

In AL news, the battle for the Wild Cards is really heating up. I'm hoping that Cleveland will take one of the spots. Boston's own Red Sox are very close to clinching the East, which will guarantee a worst-to-first.

It'll be dope if the Dodgers and Red Sox made it to the World Series as it is a rare sight for two teams to face each other there after being at the bottom of food chain earlier in the season. The theme for that series would be "Started from the bottom now we here"

Id rather see the pirates or reds make it to the world series. Dodgers bought their team. Cant respect that.

Azul Fria : That would be the only World Series match up between two worst-to-first teams, I think. Boston has clinched the East now, but we still have to do that season sweep of the Rockies to re-do the '07 series!

bobq : I agree with you. This is Pittsburgh's year, and their best chance to prove their worth is now. Plus, they really deserve it. 20 straight losing years is too much for any franchise, and would be disgusting for the New York Yankees. Also, these days money doesn't usually buy championships, but it worked for the Dodgers, who had the largest payroll leap in baseball history.

Just saw the video of Manny Machado's injury. Hard to watch; looked like a torn ACL. If so, he probably won't be back until June at the very earliest. 

Chewedmint : I haven't watched a baseball game for a while until today, the Red Sox and Rockies are facing off in Denver as we speak, so that news of Manny's injury comes as a big surprise to me. When you think about it, all baseball players are human, but losing such a great player as Machado really hurts Baltimore. They don't look like they'll make the postseason, although they made a good run in a tough division, but if he's out that long then it'll be a blow to their chances next year. Of course, one player doesn't make a team, but he sure made a difference for the O's.

Good news. While there is a torn ligament in his knee, there is no damage to the ACL or MCL. He's expected to be out for two months. That injury looked a lot worse than it really was. The way his knee buckled after stepping on the bag, I thought it was going to be a torn ACL. That would have kept him out for a lot longer.

That is good to here. ACL injuries are definitely no joke, as much as it seems that they can end someone's career, they rarely do.

Last night, long-time Colorado Rockies player Todd Helton played in the final home game of his career. With his number 17 mowed into the outfield grass and painted on the sides of the fields, he was honored by his team and fans. Before the game started, he had the honor of catching the ceremonial first pitch from his daughter. Helton was also presented with a horse in a purple saddled with his number on it. Giving gifts to rich guys sure has been gratuitous the last two years in baseball. Sure, he's not the most famous player, but he'd be even more so if he played for, say, Boston. He's one of those baseball players that loves the game for what it is, a rare breed these days. He had a homer and got a double in that game, in which the Red Sox, their 2007 World Series opponents, won 15-5. Colorado's squad isn't the best in the majors, they don't look like they'll have a winning season, and their pitching just couldn't get Boston out, which resulted in a not-so-memorable final game, but the fans really appreciated what he did that game. 35,000 people ended up with a bobbly plastic rendition of their favorite player as they entered to witness the curtain call of #17. Colorado's postseason contention was terminated a while back in the season, and in their 20 year history they have had few winning seasons, but one of the beauties of baseball is that it keeps going even though there's nothing more to accomplish. Heck, the Astros put up a real fight in Cleveland a few days ago. The NL West has not been friendly to Colorado, this year L.A. fought their way back up from the bottom as we know, but the Rockies weren't really contenders anyway, but Helton has seen them through from their fourth season on. He still has a few games left to play, so Colorado fans in those areas can see him one more time, and I bet he'll get everything he can get out of them.

Now onto some postseason talk, all divisions except for the NL Central have been clinched. Boston's own Red Sox, who placed last in their division in 2012, have a record that is almost opposite of last year atop the division that is probably the toughest in baseball. They only need to win one or two more games to clinch the best record. Detroit, last year's AL champs, have taken over the Central, which hasn't been a tough race in a while. Oakland, in a race with Boston for best record, has taken their division, the AL West. The race for the two Wild Cards is exciting, Tampa Bay with the first and Cleveland has the second. Texas is only one game back from reclaiming the second WC, but we'll see if Cleveland can stay hot and hold on to it. 

On the National League side of things, Atlanta has coasted to the division title in the East, where it was the only winning team there at a few times during the season. As we all know, the Dodgers have rowdily clinched the West. Now, the NL Central is still open, and so are the two Wild Card spots, reserved for teams from that division. The Cardinals could clinch that division with a win, but the Pirates are only one game back, but still have the first Wild Card. Cincinnati has clinched a Wild Card, which will likely be the second.

Well, the regular season is technically over now, so all talk for the post season now goes here. Hope the Tigers can pick it up where it counts. 


~Closed~