A season on the brink for most teams as it stands right now. It's everything or nothing for some. A brutal race where anything goes, nothing is of questionable fairness and it all comes down to who wants it more.
Wild Card
Key Upcoming Series
American League
Durham Wolverines(90-68) vs Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo(89-69)
A dangerous series for both clubs. Both currently hold the top 2 WC spots and are within a game of the other. Should one team dominate the other it could open the door for Santa Cruz to sneak in. Durham leads the season series 5-2.
Santa Cruz Banana Slugz(87-71) vs Salem Blue Jays(94-64)
Potentially the most important series in the AL. if the Slugz win and have a little luck fall their way we could see them clinch a playoff berth. If Salem wins and have a little luck fall their way then they might claim the #1 overall AL seed. Salem leads the season series 6-1.
National League
Burlington Coat Factory(88-70) vs Pittsburgh Outlaws(86-72)
The coats currently hold the #1 WC spot. However Pittsburgh currently sits 2 games behind them. This looks to be a tough series for both teams with the loser potentially on the outside looking in. Pitt could be prime for a beatdown with Burlington being 43-35 on the road and Pitt being 39-39 at home. Pittsburgh leads the season series 4-3.
Chicago Chargers(87-71) vs Toronto Trail of Tears(97-61)
This will be a battle of will power as the Chargers will have to overcome a 37-40 record on the road to be a Toronto team that is 50-31 at home. Toronto has clinched the #1 overall NL seed so they have nothing to play for. Will they rest their guys? Toronto leads the season series 5-2.
Portland Rainmakers(87-71) vs St. Louis Spirits(87-71)
Everything is on the line in this series. 3 teams are tied for the last WC spot and town of them are going 12 rounds in this series. Whoever should win this series could either make the playoffs and feast or perish in a famine of futility. St. Louis leads the season series 4-3.
The only race for playoff seeding in the AL is for the #1-3 seeds. It will be decided this weekend with all the teams within 2 games of each other Texas(96-62),Chicago(96-62) and Salem(94-64).
In the NL the race for the #2 seed is on. Florida(92-66) currently holds a two game lead over San Diego(90-68)
American League Scenario
1.Texas Rangers(p)
2.Chicago Crankers(p)
3.Salem Blue Jays(p)
4.Dover Demons*
5.Durham Wolverines
6.Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo
Tie Breakers
#1 Seed - Should Texas and Chicago tie then Texas would claim the #1 via a 17-9 division record compared to a 14-12 record for Chicago. The season series was tied 5-5. Should Texas and Salem tie then Salem would claim #1 due to a 6-4 h2h record.
Should Chicago and Salem tie then Chicago would claim the #1 due to a 6-4 h2h record.
Should all 3 tie for #1 then Texas would win due to run differential.
National League Scenario
1.Toronto Trail of Tears*
2.Florida Villians(p)
3.San Diego Padres(p)
4.Cincinnati Marauders*
5.Burlington Coat Factory
6.Chicago Chargers
Tie Breakers
#2 Seed - Should Florida and San Diego tie then Florida would win vs a 17-9 division record to SD's 14-12(the season series was tied 5-5)
(p) - In playoffs but seed as yet to be determined.
* - Locked into playoff seed.
Italic - Currently in the playoffs but could be knocked out.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Oh My What A Time To Be A Baseball Fan
Monday, February 16, 2009
NL Playoff Race
The NL race is one of the tightest in Wright world history as no one is really out of it.
This feels of a restrictor plate race going 4 wide on the final turn. Excitement is going to happen come games 155-162.
National League
North
Toronto leads the pack in a race so potentially close that only 8 games separate the 4 teams.
Everyone is in the race and while Toronto does have the edge in pitching the division might beat each other up so badly.... there's nothing left for the playoff run.
East
Cincinnati holds a eleven game lead over Jacksonville for the division crown.
Barring a severe case of bad luck the Marauders should wrap up the division with 3 potential MVP candidates.
South
Florida is another team with a 11 game division lead in this race.
Currently the #3 seed after a rough beginning to the season. San Antonio sits in the #2 spot but it's not likely they will mount a charge.
West
What can you say about the west? It seems like every team wants the crown and has led at one point. The issue though? Not one team has taken the lead and held it. San Diego looks to reverse this trend and they do own a 7 game lead but former #1 seed has lost 5 straight. St. Louis or Portland could sneak up from behind and steal one. But the fate of the West is in San Diego's hands now.
Wild Card
Now this is where it gets really interesting. You have 6 teams within 5 games of one another. Including 5 teams within 2.
Burlington Coat Factory holds the #1 WC spot at 71-58 and are chasing down Toronto in the north.
Chicago Chargers hold a 3 way tie for the #2 WC spot at 70-59 while a game back of Burlington in both the WC race and #2 spot in the north.
Portland Rainmakers and St. Louis Spirits are the other 2 in the threesome for #2 WC spot.
Both are in the hunt for their division crown so each might damage the other's playoff hopes.
Pittsburgh Outlaws were also a former #1 but have gone just 2-8 in their last 10 games to fall back in the race.
Los Angeles Silver Stars are the dark horse in this race. They could storm back and win their division, make a run and win a WC spot or just hover and make things interesting as they play spoiler.
Predictions
1.Toronto Trail of Tears
2.Florida Villians
3.San Diego Padres
4.Cincinnati Marauders
5Chicago Chargers
6.Portland Rainmakers
AL Playoff Race
We've now past the 130 games played point in Wright world. There have been great highs and great lows. Surprises and shockers, but through it all the main goal of every team has been the same. Make the playoffs and with a little luck: win a world series title.
With 32 games remaining for most the playoff picture remains murkier than ever before.
As many as 6 teams in each league can have a chance with the right streak for them or the wrong one for a competitor.
American League
North
Dover all but has the division crown sewn up with a 70-59 record and a 12 game lead over a hard luck Pawtucket team.
East
It's a pure dogfight between 3 teams, all of which could conceivably reach the post season.
The defending division champ Chicago Crankers have owned the crown for the past 5 seasons. But Buffalo and Durham are oh so close to knocking the king from his thrown. Just 3 games separate the 3 and it's likely to come down to the last 10-15 games for a winner to be decided.
South
They say Texas is king of the south. Apparently the Rangers feel the same way as they have been on a mission all season long. They've run into a bit of a rut at the moment. Falling from clear cut #1 AL seed to tied with a surging Chicago Crankers team and challenged from the backside by Salem. They own a 8 game lead over Richmond and a 9 game advantage over defending WS champs Atlanta. If Texas gets back on it's A game this will get ugly in a hurry.
West
A tighter race than the North for sure but a very good Salem team has finally awoken from the early season struggles to pass a very game Santa Cruz team. They're 7 up on SC with 32 left, a run by Santa Cruz is possible but do they have the means to mount one?
Wild Card
Five teams of the six that are qualified in the race have a legit shot to win one of the two spots.
Buffalo owns the #1 WC spot at 74-55 and are fighting for their division crown as well.
Durham owns the #2 WC spot at 73-56 they are also in a dogfight for the same crown.
Santa Cruz and Richmond sit tied for #3 at 69-60 apiece
Atlanta is a game behind both at 68-61
Las Vegas stands on the outside looking in with a 63-66 record
Predictions
1.Texas Rangers
2.Salem Blue Jays
3.Chicago Crankers
4.Dover Demons
5.Durham Wolverines
6.Santa Cruz Banana Slugz
Monday, February 9, 2009
Trade Deadline Passes With A Lull
The season 10 deadline was full of talk amongst teams. There were rumors of multiple deals on the verge of completion but in the end the deadline passed without a single deal passed through.
So the Marauders got no ace. The Coat Factory dealt no hitters and the league stays in the status quo.
Next stop: Playoffs
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
All Star Weekend Event Results
Wins the HR derby with 33 long balls.
Drives in the game winning run in season 10's allstar game.
Drives in 4 runs in season 10's future's game.
ALL-Star Game Recap
The 10th annual all star game was an instant classic. The NL dominated the early stanza 7-1 through 5 innings but a furious 6 run top of the 6th tied the game for the AL. The AL took a sizeable 13-9 lead into the bottom of the ninth before a miracle 5 run rally led to a 14-13 victory for the NL. Read More »»