And down the stretch they come ...

[Frayed Knot]

Aside from the fact that the AL will be pretty boring this year -- (although imagine a two-division, pre-WC Cleve/Bost/NYY fight to the death for the right to face the Angels) -- there's not much better than the final weeks of the baseball regular season:

* The East we all know about obviously with the Mets breaking the losing streak and the Phils losing in an extra-inning walk-off hit

* In the Central the Cubs won Wednesday via an 8th inning run while the Brewers lost via a walk-off 10th inning hit in Houston after tying it on a 2R top-9th HR from Bill Hall
Cubs lead by 1 game (tied in the loss column) and are off today, Brewers head to Atlanta

* In the West, the Padres won their 6th straight via a walk-off HR from Scott Hairston. That kept them on pace with the DBacks who held off the Giants 6-4. Padres trail by 1 game (tied in the loss column) and host the Pirates for one more this afternoon. Arizona has split their last 8 and is off today.
The Rockies are most likely out of it but they won their 3rd straight against he Dodgers on an 8th inning Brad Hawpe HR. Those two will play one more afternoon game today.


WC:
Padres
Phillies -2-1/2
Rockies -4-1/2
Dodgers -5-1/2
Braves -5-1/2

[Benjamin Grimm]

San Diego's magic number for the Wild Card is the same as the Mets' for the division: 9.

Yankees have a magic number of 5 for the card, and a tragic number of 9 for the division title.

Other magic numbers: Indians 3, Angels 3, Cubs 10, Diamondbacks 10.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

As noted below the Rockies record for most wins ever (83) is in serious danger this year. It's too bad the Pirates gave that one up last night (only Capps' 3rd BS this year). I want a super-tight scrum.

[Frayed Knot]

No walk-offs or cliff-hangers yesterday aside from those two fucking NL East games

Brewers lose to drop 1-1/2 behind Chicago

Padres won again - now just 1/2 game behind idle Arizona

The barely alive Rockies (5 GB) completed the 4-game sweep of LA putting them on the edge of official elimination (7 GB)



WC:
Padres
Phils -2-1/2
Rockies -4-1/2
Braves -5-1/2
Dodgers -6-1/2

[Frayed Knot]

- DBacks romped on the Dodgers
- Padres scored the tying run in the 9th ... only to lose 2-1 in 14 innings to the still-breathing Rockies

Snakes
Fathers -1-1/2
Rox -5



- Brewers beat Tim Hudson and the Braves
- Cubs won a slug-fest with the Pirates in the afternoon

Cubs
Brewers -1-1/2


WC:
Padres
Phils -1-1/2
Rox -3-1/2
Braves -5-1/2
Brews -6

[Frayed Knot]

West:
- Snakes win again and the Padres lose
- Now a 2-1/2 game lead for the division while SD also puts itself in danger of losing its hold on the WC lead. It also increases OUR safety valve as we lead the Pads by a full game.
- Rockies win their [u:b3f953fe09]7th straight[/u:b3f953fe09]

Central:
- Cubs win over Pitt.
- Brewers bust up a Smoltz no-hit bid late then actually take the lead in the 10th before blowing the lead and the game.
- Cubs up 2-1/2

WC:
Padres
Phils -1/2
Rockies -2/1/2
Braves -4-1/2
Brewers -6

[bmfc1]

Nice job by Adam Rubin previewing the Mets week (including projected SPs):

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2007/09/23/2007-09-23_the_week_in_preview_how_will_mets_finish.html

[Benjamin Grimm]

If the Mets have to play a tie-breaker in Philadelphia next Monday, it would be Dave Williams' turn in the rotation! (Though I think Pelfrey would also be rested for that start.)

If Willie backs off that "extra day of rest" for Pedro, it would be Pedro Martinez.

[soupcan]

bmfc1 wrote: Nice job by Adam Rubin previewing the Mets week (including projected SPs): http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2007/09/23/2007-09-23_the_week_in_preview_how_will_mets_finish.html

Nice job?

Mets win 2 of 3 against the Nats at home, beat St. Louis and win 2 of 3 against the Fish to close it out?

My dead grandma could predict that. While I'd sign up for that in a heartbeat (only losing 2 of their last 7 games) I'm sure Mr. Rubin also thought that the Mets wouldn't get swept at home by Philly or lose 2 of 3 to the Nats earlier this week.

All Rubin is saying is what should happen based on records. I think we all know that ain't always the case

[bmfc1]

The "nice job" referred to the expected pitching match-ups for the whole week. Nobody else has that. Who cares about the predictions?

[soupcan]

Yeah sorry, I knew that. Didn't mean to disparage you, just Rubin.

[Frayed Knot]

This morning's Newsday mentions Willie suggesting that Pedro will go on Wednesday not Williams -- and why not?, it's his regular day coming off a rain-shortened outing.

Then - as mentioned above - he's available for a potential play-in game on Monday or with extra rest for the playoffs.

[Frayed Knot]

Central:
Cubs win, Brewers lose, Chicago leads by 3-1/2
Chicago - six games left - is off today
Milwaukee - 7 left and w/Sheets shut down again - hosts StL tonight

West:
DBacks lose to Dodgers; Padres lose AGAIN to streaking Rockies
Padres -2-1/2; Rockies -4
Arizona - 6 games left (and 1/2 game ahead of NYM) - off today then go to Pittsburgh
Padres - 7 games left - hosts Giants tomight.
Rox - 6 games left - off today before heading to LA


WC:
Padres (2 games behind Mets)
Phils -1/2
Rox -1-1/2
Braves -3-1/2
Dodgers -5-1/2

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Rockies have won 8 straight -- and swept the Pods at Petco.

The have 6 left, 3 @ LA then 3 vs. Arizona at Denver.

San Diego has 7 to go, all on the road: 4 @ San Franscisco starting tonight and interesting to see if both remain in it -- 3 at Milwaukee to finish the year.

DBags are @ Pittsburgh for 3 then at Denver

[Guest Edgy DC]

I really liked how the D-Backs and Roxx had remade their teams when I saw them earlier in the year and said so.

Didn't think at all that they'd get it together so fast, though.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I'm tellin ya. The Rockies looked great when they whipped our asses out there in July but they weren't too shabby in April @ Shea either.

They can hit, run and field. Pitching can be iffy but so can everyone's.

[Frayed Knot]

I kept expecting SD to pull away from the other two and now it looks like they might be in the worst shape of the three - especially since Cameron was hurt in yesterday's game (another - although less serious - OF crash) and Milton Bradley was ejected AND injured at the same time (neat trick).

The Rox have even won their last two with Holliday sitting on the sidelines (strained oblique).

[Vic Sage]

according to A.Rubin in today's NYPost, Humber is scheduled to pitch Wednesday, not Dave Williams.

[Benjamin Grimm]

And not Pedro Martinez either. They're sticking with the "extra day of rest" plan.

After yesterday's results, that doesn't concern me as much as it would have if the Mets had lost and the Phillies had won.

If things go badly on Monday and Tuesday and the Mets start Wednesday's game with a one-game lead, I'll be a bit nervous about Humber going. But if the lead is 3 or more I think it will be okay.

[Centerfield]

In the most important week of the season, the Mets are starting Humber, Pelfrey, and a guy coming off rotator cuff surgery.

Don't you love baseball?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'd argue that this last week was the most important. Our taking three of four from the Marlins makes this week less important.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree with that, for now.

If things go badly the next two days, though, then this week wins the Importance Contest.

[Frayed Knot]

Central:
Cubs lose to Marlins
Brewers win behind Prince's 2 HRs (youngest ever to 50, also first father/son combo)
Chicago leads by 2 games

West:
Snakes lose to Pitt
SD tallies 4 in the 9th to beat the Giants,
Rox win in LA for their 9th straight
Padres 2 games out -- Rockies 3 out

WC:
Padres back into the lead
Philly 1 out
Rockies 1 out
Braves 3 out






* I'm Buddy!