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Friday, September 26, 2008

DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME

It's the last weekend of the year and half the games tonight mean something for the playoffs. There are three division titles and both wild card spots on the line. Four teams in each league are fighting it out and of course, none of them are meeting head to head. Here's tonight's games in order of least desperate to most.

Tampa Bay at Detroit

Tampa has already clinched their first playoff spot and their best record in their brief and miserable existence. A division title over the high salaried Red Sox would be extra sweet. The Rays are in the drivers seat, any combination of two wins over the hapless Tigers and Sox losses give them the crown.

UPDATE: 7:35pm - The Tigers go up 2-0 on an Ordonez double when I wasn't looking. Oops, make that 3-0 as Sheff drives Maggs home. This is not how you win a division, Rays!
UPDATE: 7:50pm - Benito Ramon Santiago two run jack. Tigers up by 5. These are the Rays I know!
UPDATE: 8:03pm - Woooo! Tampa! Run in on a fielder's choice!
UPDATE: After the debate - Detroit takes it, the scoring in the first two innings was enough.

New York Yankees at Boston

Boston is already in the playoffs as they have clinched a wild card berth if they cannot catch the Rays and you know the underachieving Yankees would love to play spoiler in Fenway. On the other hand, I doubt if the Sox are too concerned about going into the playoffs as the wildcard team.

UPDATE: 7:24pm - Rain delay in Boston. The game should get going shortly though.
UPDATE: 8:05pm - Still rainin'.
UPDATE: 8:43pm - Underway, finally.
UPDATE: 8:53pm - 1-1, don't care how it happened.
UPDATE: After the debate - Wow, Yanks up by 8. Boston squandering an opportunity with a Rays loss.

Washington at Philadelphia

The Phillies control their own destiny, a sweep over the Nationals gives then a second straight NL East title. They might need to sweep too, as the Mets are hosting their last regular season games at Shea and needs every win they can get just to stay in wild card contention.

UPDATE: 7:22 pm - Ryan Howard three run jack in the bottom of the first. Mets fans picked the wrong week to quit smoking.
UPDATE: 7:33pm - The Nats get a run back as Elijah Dukes scores on a single in the second.
UPDATE: 7:48pm - Washington is rolling over just like Congress. Bases clearling double by Utley, followed by another double by Howard. 7-1 Philthies.
UPDATE: 8:29pm - Washington scores boringly to cut the lead to 4.
UPDATE: After the debate - Philly gets their 90th win with ease.

Florida at New York Mets

The Mets have two paths to the playoffs hope Philadelphia falters and take back the division, or beat out Houston and Milwaukee for the wild card slot. Both require winning as many games as they can and the Marlins aren't in any mood to lie down against their division rivals.

UPDATE: 7:13pm - Marlins draw first blood and drive in Hanley on a John Baker single in the top of the first.
UPDATE: 7:19pm - Uggla knocks in another one on a ground out. Mets fans begin drinking heavily.
UPDATE: 8:51pm - Willingham solo homer. Looks like Mets fans picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines.
UPDATE: After the debate - Bad loss to the Fish at Shea. With the Phillies win, The best the Mets could hope for is a tie for the division. Looks like Mets fans picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

Kansas City at Minnesota

The Twins have taken back the division going into the last weekend and lead by a half game over the White Sox. They've got the home field advantage against the Royals but even if they sweep they need a Sox loss at some point.

UPDATE: 8:55pm - Too many games going on. I can't keep up. KC picks up three runs on a bunch of singles.
UPDATE: After the debate - The twins sweep Chicago and are now getting spanked by KC at home. Terrible.

Cleveland at Chicago White Sox

Chicago was poised to take the division before getting swept in Minnesota. Now they are a half game behind and playing a dangerous team. If the Sox are either a half game up or behind the Twins on Monday, they will have to make up a postponed game against the Tigers and then might have to play a one game playoff. Gotta beat the Indians first though.

UPDATE: 8:18pm - Ben Francisco one run jack. David cheers, Steve weeps.
UPDATE: 8:41pm - Konerko with a jack. The Indians scored while I wasn't looking though. 2-1 Tribe.
UPDATE: 8:53pm - A.J. Peirzxlkniqwenwkni 2 run homer. David weeps, Steve cheers.
UPDATE: After the debate - Chicago's down by 5 in the 7th. Nobody seems to want the Central title.

Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee

Milwaukee is tied with the Mets for the wild card lead, but they have to go through division rival and Central Champion Chicago to get there. The Cubs and Brewers hate each other every bit as much as New York and Boston so this will be a fierce fight.

UPDATE: 8:39pm - Jim Edmonds plays for the Cubs?? When did that happen? He just hit a solo shot in the 2nd. Sorry Thorzul.
UPDATE: 8:56pm - Last update before I go do my Civic Duty. Pass the Maalox. Kendall doubles in Hart to tie the game.
UPDATE: After the debate - Three run blast by Rickie Weeks in the 7th gives the Brew Crew a 4 run lead. A win here and they are a game up on the MEts for the wild card.

Atlanta at Houston

Houston is hanging by their fingernails right now after getting screwed over by hurricane relocation. They have to sweep the Braves, hope for the Mets and Brewers to both get swept and then beat the Cubs in a makeup game just to force a three team playoff! Which would be awesome, actually. I might have to root against the Braves this weekend. Naaaaah. They're toast.

UPDATE: 7:15pm - Chipper's out tonight at Houston. Chipper has the batting title locked up, but can pass the Mick for the highest average in a season for a switch hitter if he can raise it up to .366 this weekend.
UPDATE: 8:20pm - Houston scored somehow when I was taking out the trash. I don't wanna know how they scored.
UPDATE: 8:33pm - Ty Wigginton solo shot over a leaping Francoeur. 2-0 'Stros.
UPDATE: 8:50pm - Michael Bourn has lasers for feet. Scored from second on a sac fly. Dammit Astros, let me hit post before you score again! Another run in. they're leading by 4.
UPDATE: After the debate - Up 4-3 in the ninth, and an bad throw ties it up. A win by Milwaukee makes this game meaningless.
UPDATE: Even later after the debate - Erstad hits a walk-off for the 'Stros. Milwaukee is one out away from ending their hopes.

I'll update the games throughout the night. I need something to distract me from that trainwreck in Mississippi tonight...

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