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In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Frayed Knot Sep 14 2009 08:31 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 15 2009 02:21 PM

It's bad enough that our shot at a division race died somewhere around Flag Day - but it doesn't look like there's going to be any interesting races down the stretch this year! East - Philly's had their problems lately but still has a 6.5 game lead over Florida & 7.5 over the Braves (and we know that no one could possibly blow a ~7 game lead with only 20 to go) Central - the Cardinals have run and hid, leading by 9.5 games - helped more than a little bit by the Cubs running the other way and no one else being able to crack .500 West - has the best potential for something interesting as the Dodgers have stumbled (21-20 since Aug 1) and their once 9.5 game lead is down to 3.0 Problem is that the West loser is probably going to be the Wild Card which takes a lot of the drama out of things. Rockies (26-15 since Aug 1) now lead the fading Giants by 4.5 Wild Card standings see the Giants 4.5 behind the Rockies, Marlins are 5.5 out, Braves 6.5, and Cubs 7.5 Colorado is in San Fran this week which could very well end the Gints playoff hopes. Be nice if something got flung upside down in the next 3 weeks - just for entertainment purposes if nothing else.

Gwreck Sep 14 2009 11:57 PM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

AL is no better: MFYs have the East. Detroit has the Central (5.5 up over Minnesota) Los Angeles has the west (up 6 over Texas). Texas is 4.5 back of Boston for the Wild Card and that's as close as it gets. Nobody else even has a shot.

The Second Spitter Sep 15 2009 01:34 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

Made worse by the fact I hold an antipathy towards 6 of the 8 teams currently occupying playoff positions. If the season ended today I'd be rooting for the Angels in the playoffs -- that's how bad things are.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 15 2009 04:48 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

I'm looking forward to watching the Phillies collapse.

dgwphotography Sep 15 2009 05:01 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

[quote="Benjamin Grimm":2yvbk9kv]I'm looking forward to watching the Phillies collapse.[/quote:2yvbk9kv] Not if it's the Marlins who catch them... (am I the only one who heard Leonard Nimoy's voice when reading the subject?)

Edgy DC Sep 15 2009 07:11 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

Frayed Knot Sep 15 2009 07:24 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

[quote="dgwphotography":27kl6ez0](am I the only one who heard Leonard Nimoy's voice when reading the subject?)[/quote:27kl6ez0] I hope not. Giants beat Rox last night as Lincecum was back after missing a start. Dodgers, meanwhile, are enjoying a visit from Pittsburgh so figure to gain ground this week no matter how the other series goes. Marlins lost to StL while the rest of the East was off. So the WC race gets a bit tighter as the West race becomes more comfy for LA

Gwreck Sep 15 2009 08:01 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

[quote="Triple Dee":1tyc8jp7]Made worse by the fact I hold an antipathy towards 6 of the 8 teams currently occupying playoff positions. If the season ended today I'd be rooting for the Angels in the playoffs -- that's how bad things are.[/quote:1tyc8jp7] Tigers. Or the Rockies, I guess. I don't remember them doing anything particularly offensive in recent memory. 6 of the last 8 WS winners in the playoffs again isn't the most compelling story ever.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Sep 15 2009 08:22 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

Hooray for SF, I suppose. (Although my thin-slicing, gut-type reaction when I look at their team/performance tells me they ain't goin' nowhere come October. I may be wrong.) The race to top a prematurely-dead man in team-records for counting stats notwithstanding... there's little on the individual-achievement front, too. (At least since Mauer's average slid a bit.) I don't remember the last time I was this plugged into pro football during its opening week, or Premier League/Champions League during their opening month.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 15 2009 08:38 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

How about the thrilling race for the Mets 2009 home run title? We currently have David Wright and Gary Sheffield at 10, and Carlos Beltran and Daniel Murphy at 9. Fernando Tatis and Jeff Francoeur, with 7, can surge to the lead, as can Omir Santos or Angel Pagan, who have 6 each. This doesn't make your heart pound?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Sep 15 2009 08:41 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

[quote="Benjamin Grimm":38gsdv4v]How about the thrilling race for the Mets 2009 home run title? We currently have David Wright and Gary Sheffield at 10, and Carlos Beltran and Daniel Murphy at 9. Fernando Tatis and Jeff Francoeur, with 7, can surge to the lead, as can Omir Santos or Angel Pagan, who have 6 each. This doesn't make your heart pound?[/quote:38gsdv4v] Almost as much as watching narcopleptics watch paint dry.

Chad Ochoseis Sep 15 2009 08:49 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races Edited 3 time(s), most recently on Sep 15 2009 10:07 AM

[quote="Benjamin Grimm":toz0jfog]How about the thrilling race for the Mets 2009 home run title? We currently have David Wright and Gary Sheffield at 10, and Carlos Beltran and Daniel Murphy at 9. [/quote:toz0jfog] Whoever wins has a chance at breaking the team record for lowest HR total ever to win a Met HR title. I won't blow the trivia question by posting the current record here. But there was a three way tie for the Met HR title that season. Season: 1977 HR Total: 12 Player 1: John Stearns Player 2: Steve Henderson Player 3: John Milner

Benjamin Grimm Sep 15 2009 09:10 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

I think it was in the late 70's, and the total was, maybe, 16?

metirish Sep 15 2009 09:11 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

I find I have little or no appetite for baseball right now . I'll watch the playoffs I suppose .I'll root against the yankees , yes it's small of me and I don't care. Seeing them lose is not a consolation but it's something.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 15 2009 09:14 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

Me, I tune in to the Mets for an inning here or there. After they play their last game, I probably won't watch any sports at all until next March when they return to Port St. Lucie.

Chad Ochoseis Sep 15 2009 09:16 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

"Late '70's?" Awfully soft and squishy for an answer. Is this what happens when Disney buys Marvel? No comment on whether or not it's correct. Not 16.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 15 2009 09:21 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

Okay, then, I'll say 14, 1978, Lee Mazzilli, John Stearns, and Steve Henderson.

Chad Ochoseis Sep 15 2009 09:35 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

Yes to Stearns and Henderson (which I guess makes it fairly clear that 1978 isn't far off the mark).

Edgy DC Sep 15 2009 09:51 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

Stearns and Hendu shared the 1977 title with John Milner --- a lousy 12. Somehow, Kingman got out of Dodge without hitting more. As disappointing as it was, it was also encouraging, as Stearns was in his first season as a starter, and Steve Henderson was a rookie playing little over half a season. It would make it pretty letty-downy that neither would ever slug at that rate again. I know this because the previous low leader was Ed Charles' 15, in 1968, which you can read all about here: http://www.potomacbooksinc.com/Books/Bo ... tID=186448.

Chad Ochoseis Sep 15 2009 10:12 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

Well, that was fun while it lasted. Congratulations to Edgy for walking around with this stuff in his brain and to the Thing for getting it half right just by guessing. For what it's worth, Kingman was batting .209 with 9 home runs and 28 RBIs when he was traded. I'm now trying to understand why my 12-year-old self found the Kingman and Seaver trades equally crushing.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 15 2009 10:21 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races

It's because Kingman even when he sucked was a threat to hit one 4 times a night. It was exciting to have him around every day.

The Second Spitter Sep 16 2009 12:02 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Well, it looks like the Jints are coming to the party; the Rox lead is down to 2.5 games -- their remaining schedules look very even. The Fish are now 4 GB after beating STL.

Frayed Knot Sep 16 2009 07:38 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

In the last game of the night to finish, the Dodgers got one in the 9th to tie the game and then, after Pitt scored in top 13, a 2R walk-off HR in the bottom half to beat the Pirates and jack up their lead to 5.0 full games. Andre Ethier was the one with the HR - and it's like his 6th walk-off hit this year, including 3 that are extra-inning come-from-behind HRs

Frayed Knot Sep 17 2009 01:09 PM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Colorado avoided the sweep by the Giants Wed night. But the overall WC race tightened up this week as the Gints and the east teams pulled up on the Rox SF - 3.5 Marlins - 4.5 Braves - 5.0 Dodgers swept the Pirates and are up by 5.0 in the West

metirish Sep 17 2009 02:15 PM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

I'm officially rooting for the Giants , I'd tune in to see Tim Lincecum in the post season and Zito and the big guy at third.

The Second Spitter Sep 19 2009 02:34 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

The Rockies lose to Arizona, while the Giants win in LA. Their lead is down to 2.5. Flo Rida also winning means they're 4 behind. The Rockies are gone, IMO.

Frayed Knot Sep 24 2009 08:59 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Philly (and Lidge) blew another lead last night, this time to the chasing Marlins. Fish were down 6-3, but got a 7th inning run off starter Hamel, one run in the 8th off Madson, and gave a one-run lead to Lidge in the 9th who promptly went: 2B - Line-out - K - BB - RBI-1B, RBI-1B Not that it'll matter much to the NL East race - Phils still have a 6.5 game lead - but the WC still has a chance to get interesting: - Rockies lost to SD last night after almost blowing a big lead the night before - meanwhile, the Giants won, the Braves won, and the Marlins won - Braves & Giants are 4.0 games out, the Marlins 4.5

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 24 2009 09:10 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Glad the Mets could do what they could to make this race interesting.

Frayed Knot Sep 25 2009 07:46 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version) Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 25 2009 08:02 AM

Colorado lost again to the Pads moving everyone in the WC chase a half-game closer ... except the Giants who were busy losing 3-2 to the sCrubs (Brian Wilson served up a 2R HR in the 9th). Dodgers also won 7-6, serving up the Nats' 100th loss (although they had to eke it out even after scoring their first four hitters of the game), to build their lead over the Rox to a near-impossible 6 full games WC: Braves -3.5 Marlins -4.0 Giants -4.0 and the Rox get StL this weekend (Cards magic # = 1) while Braves get Nats, Giants continue with Cubs, Marlins get ... Mets!!

Edgy DC Sep 25 2009 07:54 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

I have a Marlins "fan" in the office next to me who just wants them to lose already so he doesn't have to look at the infield dirt on the field when he watches Hurricanes football.

Fman99 Sep 25 2009 09:12 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

I am rooting against the NL East teams and the MFYs at this point. And the Cardinals, still. So that leaves Boston, Detroit/Minnesota, the Angels, and the Rockies. I'm lukewarm on the Dodgers but I'd root for them to pound Philly, Atlanta, Florida or the MFYs at this point if I had to.

Frayed Knot Sep 26 2009 07:12 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

* WC leader Rockies get a walk-off win via a 9th inning Sac Fly from Yorvit Torrealba * Giants (with Lincecum going) get 2-hit by Zambrano and the Cubs and fall 5 games back in the chase * Braves keep pace by beating Nats (still 3.5 back) but he Marlins (heh, heh) fall back to 5 * All the division leaders lost so got no closer to clinching (not that any of them are still in doubt)

G-Fafif Sep 26 2009 02:15 PM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Braves win again. Occurs to me they haven't been in anything resembling a playoff race since 1993. They were never really pushed during all their N.L. East titles, not to the extent that they were ever in danger of not making it to postseason. Maybe they can still get McGriff.

Edgy DC Sep 26 2009 09:11 PM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

You don't think they were pushed in 2001? Some Armando hater you are!

Benjamin Grimm Sep 27 2009 06:25 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

2001 wasn't a title year. The Mets were pushed in 2007 and 2008, too.

Frayed Knot Sep 27 2009 08:08 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Rockies lose to Cards - which means Cards clinch Central - but more importantly tightens up the WC race just a bit. - Braves win and are now just 2.5 back. - Marlins win (or so I heard) 4.0 back - Giants lose making them 5.0 back and most likely dead. Meanwhile Phils get no closer to clinching even though that's probably a done deal (still lead by 5.0 games). But mgr Charlie Manual said publicly that they're going to try others out in late innings while Madson - and especially Lidge - falter. So they brought Tyler Walker into a tie game in the 9th in Milwaukee last night and he promptly went: 1B (Counsell) & HR (Braun) for the walk-off loss. Dodgers clinched a playoff spot but not yet the West (6.0 games up).

Frayed Knot Sep 28 2009 07:22 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Rox & Braves are both 5 out of their division races (in it but not in it) but the Rox have a 2.5 game lead for the WC. Biggest Braves advantage is that they get the Nationals 4 more times still (starting Thursday) having just come off sweeping them this weekend. Before that they get the Marlins for 3 starting tonight. Colorado is off today. They have 3 with the Brewers and then 3 in LA to close it out. Dodgers lost a tough one yesterday. They broke a 2-2 tie with 3 in top 9th in Pittsburgh. They then handed the ball over to big boy Broxton who promptly gave up 4. His defense didn't help him but still. Winning runs scored on a bases-clearing single by Lastings Milledge that squirted through the legs of Andre Ethier out in RF Phils almost blew a 6-0 lead against the Brews. It was a 1-run game by the 9th and they turned to Madson as the closer. He saved it despite a 1-out double.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 29 2009 06:13 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

The Phillies' NHOP*, in case you're wondering, is .250. *Necessary Happy Outcome Percentage

Frayed Knot Sep 29 2009 06:51 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

[quote="Benjamin Grimm":1fyy28qq]*Necessary Happy Outcome Percentage[/quote:1fyy28qq] And that's what again? ... the odds that enough of the remaining games will go right/wrong for the Phils to miss out on the playoff (or just the division)? Dodgers magic number for the West is 1 (already sewed up a playoff spot). But it's been that way for two days now and they got thumped by the Pirates yesterday after blowing a late lead on Sunday. Braves win their 7th straight and #15 of their last 17 to pull within 2.0 of the WC-leading Rox. Still 4 back in the East, largely because both of those recent losses were to Philly (lost 2 of 3).

Benjamin Grimm Sep 29 2009 06:57 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

The Phillies have a magic number of 3, and there are 12 remaining games (6 for Phillies, 6 for Braves). So they need 3 of 12 games to go their way, which gives them an NHOP of .250. If the Phils lose tonight and the Braves win, the NHOP would then be 3 of 10, or .300.

The Second Spitter Sep 29 2009 09:23 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

The Braves making the playoffs in any capacity will be confirmation that I need to find something else to preoccupy my time with this October, other than watching baseball.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 29 2009 09:36 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

If the Braves cause the Phillies to miss the playoffs, I'll be absolutely delighted. I won't be watching October baseball one way or the other. That was pretty much decided over two months ago.

Fman99 Sep 30 2009 06:01 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Phillies have clinched at least a tie in the NL east, up 5 on Atlanta with 6 games left. Wild Card -- Rockies win, Atlanta loses. Rockies up 3 with 5 left to play each. Go Rockies. One less odious team in the playoffs if they can knock Atlanta out. Bad enough that the Phillies, Dodgers, Cards and MFYs are all in already.

The Second Spitter Sep 30 2009 06:35 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Can I add the Red Sox to your list of odious teams?

Benjamin Grimm Sep 30 2009 06:56 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

I'm amazed at how disconnected I am from all this. I watched a little of the Mets game last night, and they gave a "pennant race update" of the Rockies/Brewers game, and I didn't know which team was in the race, or why the game was significant. I also have no idea who's in first place in the AL West or Central. Other than in the NL East, I don't even look at the standings anymore! I'm really becoming a fallen fan.

metirish Sep 30 2009 07:01 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

[quote="Benjamin Grimm"]I'm amazed at how disconnected I am from all this. I watched a little of the Mets game last night, and they gave a "pennant race update" of the Rockies/Brewers game, and I didn't know which team was in the race, or why the game was significant. I also have no idea who's in first place in the AL West or Central. Other than in the NL East, I don't even look at the standings anymore! I'm really becoming a fallen fan.

Me too , I'll watch the playoffs though, or at least some of it . I know Grim you will not , right?

Benjamin Grimm Sep 30 2009 07:05 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Most likely no. I haven't watched a non-Mets postseason game since I watched one game of the 2005 World Series.

The Second Spitter Sep 30 2009 07:24 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

[quote="Benjamin Grimm"] I also have no idea who's in first place in the AL West or Central. Other than in the NL East, I don't even look at the standings anymore! I'm really becoming a fallen fan.

Can't say I really blame you. My sole remaining interest is wanting to see the MFY eliminated. Beyond that any remaining vestige of interest stems from my desire to continue socializing with the people on this board.

Frayed Knot Sep 30 2009 07:26 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

The Rockies are really leading a charmed life. There seem to have been a bunch of games down the stretch here where they've played like shit and still managed to win. Last night: - Their closer blows a 3-run lead in the 9th last night (giving up a HR to Jason Kendall of all people) - They get their best pinch-runner on in the 10th and he promptly gets picked off - In the 11th, Chris Ianetta looks like he's K'd on a 2-strike half-swing but gets the benefit of the call ... and then hits a walk-off 2R-HR on the next pitch

Frayed Knot Oct 01 2009 09:06 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Another Rox win coupled with a Braves loss and yet another Dodger loss (that's 4 straight and 5 of their last 6 all to Pitt & SD) makes the NL West race the last best chance for a fight to the finish, made even more possible by the fact that LA & Colorado finish the season with three games against each other. Rox hosting Milwaukee this after noon are 2.5 games behind LA. But they need a win today and then a sweep over the weekend to win the division. Losing today and sweeping to force a tie isn't really a tie at all because both teams are going to make the playoffs in that scenario and the Dodgers would win the division based on head-to-head. Braves are 4.0 out of the WC and have a 'tragic number' of one. Phils have a 2-game lead on StL for the "right" to face the WC team instead of the West winner in round one.

Frayed Knot Oct 01 2009 05:18 PM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

The NL playoff teams are set with the Rox win this afternoon, clinching at least a WC and eliminating the Braves. The only questions remaining are the West winner/Wild Card and the exact order of the first round. Rox go to LA for 3 games to close out the season. If Rox sweep they'll be the West winner and Dodgers the Wild card. Anything else and it's Dodgers = 1st; Rox = WC WC probably faces the Phils 1st round while StL gets the West winner

Frayed Knot Oct 03 2009 07:06 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Rockies get a 10K in 6 IP performance out of Usbaldo Jimenez and a 7th inning 2R HR from Troy Tulowitski to climb within one game of the Dodgers. Still need to sweep the remaining two in order to win the division and get the (theoretically) worse team in the first round out of Stl & Phil (Phils are one-game better right now) And not that it's pennant related, but Adam Wainwright was going for his 20th win last night and his Cards jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Still down 6-1 heading into the 7th, the Brewers scored 11 unanswered runs and won 12-6. So between that and the egg CC Sabathia laid last night in Tampa: 9 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits & 5 walks in 2.2 IP, there will be no 20-game winners in MLB this season. That's something like only the 3rd time that's happened.

metirish Oct 03 2009 07:37 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

It's been some ride for Rockies fans the past few years .

metirish Oct 03 2009 05:13 PM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Rockies @ Dogers on MLB Network tonight at 10 , very cool

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 03 2009 08:33 PM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

[quote="metirish":350twexa]Rockies @ Dogers on MLB Network tonight at 10 , very cool[/quote:350twexa] + Vin! Will watch a few innings...

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 03 2009 08:39 PM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Wow, great catch by Gonzalez to rob Manny. No score in the 2nd.

Fman99 Oct 03 2009 09:01 PM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

[quote="Triple Dee":2u3rtwza]Can I add the Red Sox to your list of odious teams?[/quote:2u3rtwza] Not on my list... the Red Sox fans I know don't take it to an annoying extreme. It helps to be 300 miles away from Boston. I'd root for them over the MFYs or the Phillies in a second. But they can stay on your list Dee.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 04 2009 07:11 AM Re: In Search of .... Pennant Races (NL Version)

Dodgers win. I stayed up to watch most of it; De La Rosa of the Rockies was matching Kershaw with zeros but left with a sudden groin injury in the 4th, the Dodgers eventually got to the Rockies bullpen late, then I fell asleep. 5-0 final. The Rockies of course are in, but now they may have to face Philly without De La Rosa who's gone 16-3 since an 0-6 start.