The AL Wild Card Race

[25 Nuggets]

I have been thinking about this for a few days. The teams are and have basically been set for a few days now. There isn't really anything interesting to watch for this weekend. Even with the second wild card the races weren't that interesting this year.

I disagree. They may be non-interesting now, but back when the Tigers, Royals, Athletics, Mariners, Indians, Yankees and Blue Jays all had a shot at the Wild Card it was pretty entertaining.

[Just Regular]

No, a Central tie would not "go to Detroit". Division ties are broken on the field, Monday, in a 1 game playoff. The team that won the season series gets home field for that game, that's all.

You are right, thanks for the correction. Happy to be wrong here because the longer this week both those clubs have to stay on, the better for us.

[Moshagge3]

The best laid-plans of mice and baseball... The second wildcard was supposed to make things more exciting, but actually this weekend would be a lot more exciting if there was only one. The only drama now is who is going to host the wild-card games, not who is going to be in them.

[Crazysilver03]

I disagree. They may be non-interesting now, but back when the Tigers, Royals, Athletics, Mariners, Indians, Yankees and Blue Jays all had a shot at the Wild Card it was pretty entertaining.

That's why we disagree. No one below the Mariners actually seemed like a challenger. For a while now it has seemed one of Royals/Tigers + A's would go in as wild cards with only Mariners having a chance. But none of the lower teams played good baseball in September.

[notyourbuddy]

Mariner's could have made the Wild Card race extremely interesting... but getting lit up by a team 20+ games under .500 and a Toronto team that packed it up weeks ago?

Such fail.

[OFFNY]

o

Daniel Norris makes his career major league debut as a starting pitcher.

(SEPTEMBER 25th)

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Dalton Pompey - LF

Munenori Kawasaki - 2B

Edwin Encarnacion - DH

Adam Lind - 1B

Danny Valencia - 3B

George Kottaras - C

Kevin Pillar - RF

Anthony Gose - CF

Ryan Goins - SS

Tom Wilhelmsen - RHP (3-2, 2.10 ERA)

SEATTLE MARINERS

Austin Jackson - CF

Chris Taylor - SS

Robinson Cano - DH

Kendrys Morales - 1B

Kyle Seager - 3B

Logan Morrison - LF

Michael Saunders - RF

Mike Zunino - C

Brad Miller - 2B

Daniel Norris - LHP (0-0, 5.40) * OOO **

* Only included 4 relief appearances, covering 3.33 innings.

** (12-2, 2.53 ERA) [AAA-Buffalo, AA-New Hampshire, and Advanced-A Dunedin]

(3-1, 3.18 ERA) [AAA-Buffalo]

(3-1, 4.54 ERA) [AA-New Hampshire]

(6-0, 1.22 ERA) [Advanced-A Dunedin]

http://www.baseballpress.com/lineups

[ShaneDawg85]

It still is astounding to me that Oakland has fallen so far and now not only are they left to play in the wild card game, but they might not even end up hosting it. They might have to go on the road to KC or Detroit if somehow KC overtakes Detroit. That's a long way from the top.

[Lester Freamon]

I know the chances of this happening are practically nil, but I'm going to hold out hope for what I think would be the best case scenario for the O's:

A's and M's play a one game playoff to see who gets the second wild card.

The Tigers and Royals play a one game playoff to see who wins the central.

[eddie83]

Congrats to KC. When I was growing up they were one of the best franchises, they always contended. They still have a shot at the Tigers as well.

[Chavez Ravine]

So far tonight KC, Detroit, and Oakland have lost, while the Seattle offense is exhibiting its typical futility against the Angels. The end of the AL playoff race is like watching the battle of the Somme. It's enough to make me start drinking Pernod and watching bullfights.

[notyourbuddy]

Bases loaded no one out. Bottom of the ninth. Tie game.

Surely the Mariners can score, right? RiGHT?

[Chavez Ravine]

Bases loaded no one out. Bottom of the ninth. Tie game.

Surely the Mariners can score, right? RiGHT?

Nope. Austin Jackson started out with a 3-0 count to boot.

[O's84]

Bases loaded no one out. Bottom of the ninth. Tie game.

Surely the Mariners can score, right? RiGHT?

Wow just watched. Did get a little screwed out of ball 4 but even so, you gotta be able to get a run in there. You just gotta.

[Chavez Ravine]

Mariners win!

[notyourbuddy]

He could have thrown home and easily prolonged the game. Gotta wonder if the Angels just wanted to go home. :laughlol:

Anyways Felix Hernandez going tommorrow, right? And the As are choking hard. Anything can happen. And the Royals/Detroit ain't over. Gonna be a fun final day.