Can anyone tell me, with any degree of confidence, which team would play which in the AL, when and where if the season ended today? That is, Angels have the best record, Rays win the AL East, Red Sox are the Wild Card and ChiSox/Twins are the Central Division winner.
I am trying to figure this out because I have tickets for any home Rays playoff games BUT I also have a trip scheduled to Washington, DC the weekend of October 11th to watch the USA play Cuba in a World Cup qualifier and want to know as soon as possible if these will directly conflict with one another. My guess is “yes”, but I’d like to know ASAP.
Yes!!! How pathetic is it that we Royals fans are excited about having reached 70 wins, ecstatic about the possibility of avoiding 90 losses, and are ready to pop champagne if we end the season in fourth?
Alas for the sweep talk, Brian Bannister, who has achieved the sophomore slump to end all sophomore slumps, is pitching Wednesday, so unlikely that happens. Still, we look good for tonight, with Greinke.
In other news, I just received my post season tickets (including some fancy looking World Series tickets) via DHL. I had an email message today that said I would be receiving something from CPI Inc, today, looked them up, and they seem to be a photo shop. It never occurred to me “Print Shop”. I’m in Section 305, row Z, which is Upper Deck just to the left of home plate. Nice perspective, but I would have liked to be a bit closer to the field. The old eyes ain’t what they used to be. At least I should be able to take my son to these games. If we get to the World Series that would be priceless. La woot!
Thanks, I got that part. What I’m was trying to sort out were the actual game dates, when the series start and when games would be held in St. Petersburg (Tampa). I think it boils down to two different options:
Rays and Angels advance: Rays play in Anaheim on October 10th and 11th, in St. Pete for games 3, 4 & 5 October 13, 14 & 16, then back to Anaheim for games on the 18th and 19th, as required.
Rays and BoSox advance: Reverse the above.
This puts me in a dilemma: do I trust the Angels to win, and go ahead with my travel plans, or do I scotch my travel plans now on the chance that the Red Sox will regain form? The Angels went 8-1 this season against the Sox, but the Red Sox have taken nine straight post-season games against the Angels to date.
My Top Deck seats for the NLCS, which would normally cost $9 during the regular season and actually only cost me $7 as a mini-plan holder, cost $51 apiece. They’re supposed to be $126 for the World Series if we get that far.
And yet, I know that if we actually make the World Series, I’m going to find that money somewhere. I don’t care where I’m sitting as long as I’m in the stadium.
Here’s the face value on my seats, which would normally be $9 seats at the Trop:
ALDS = $14.00
ALCS = $20.00
WS = $100.00
I know that they are charging more than that to non-season ticket holders, I think the ALDS is $20.00. Anyway about it, not bad prices, especially considering how these will be the first ever baseball post-season games here (we’d have been happy at the beginning of the year to finally see .500).
OK, a question for all the thread participants. I would like you to list, in order from most likely to least likely, what teams you think have the best shot at winning the World Series this year. You are free to answer using gambling odds, statistical analysis, or (like me) pure guesswork. And please feel free to supply as much or as little explanation for your choices as you want.
Oh, and also include as many teams that remain in contention today as you like, but please assume that each team on the list is already in the playoffs. In other words, don’t put the Yankees, for example, way down on the list solely because they’re almost certain not to win the wildcard at this point.
I have trouble buying that the Rays have less of a chance than a team that won’t be in the post-season (either the Dodgers or Diamondbacks). I think the Angels have the best chance, since they hold a strong seasonal advantage over the Red Sox. I’d put the Cubs next, then Rays, Red Sox and then the Twins or the ChiSox. NL just seems very weak to me this year.
This discussion might be a good way to start a thread on the MLB Postseason.
The Rays, who’ve clinched a playoff spot, have less of a chance than the Yankees, who have, at best, a one in a thousand chance of even making the playoffs?
I would automatically list the 4 top teams. Cubs: I think the Cubs are the best all around team and it would be a good year to finally break the “curse”. Angels: Second best all around team. Rays: The story book team. Philly: A solid team with a strong bullpen
Red Sox (many flaws, but the best of the next)
**Dodgers **(only in the hunt as the got Manny gifted wrapped to them and the weakest division)
**White ****Sox **(I just am not that impressed with this team)
**Mets **(Santana is worth a lot, but they may well choke)
**Yankees **(if they somehow make it, expect more miracles, including Jeter walking on water to make a crucial out and Rivera healing the sick ;))
**Brewers **(if the Mets choke, it gives the Brew Crew a chance for a 1st round loss)
**Diamondbacks **(A very bad team to be in the playoff hunt)
**Astros **(A worse team IMHO)
Sox just beat the Indians to clinch a playoff spot and eliminate the Yanks. I’m thinking they’re probably not gonna catch the Rays, but at least they’re in.
Congrats to the Red Sox, they just clinched the Wild Card (at least) tonight and thus the Yanks will be going home in October for the first time in a generation.
It had to end and I knew the team had a lot of problems, but it still will feel odd.
My guesses were not intended to be scientific. Just my personal feeling.
The viewpoint is what would happen if those teams actually made the playoffs. In the Yankees’ case, they’d have to be going into the playoffs red hot for them to actually make it.
I have no objection to you picking apart my choices, but just understand where I’m coming from.
ETA: Of course, now the Yankees come off the list completely.
D-backs put themselves in a bad spot. I really hope Randy Johnson retires. Sure, our 2001 World Series win was great, but both Johnson and Schilling are done.
We still have a chance. But we need to run the table and need some Dodgers losses.
Nah, the Mariners will probably try to sign him while they’re attempting to trade for Griffey. And then they’ll try to coax Buhner and Martinez out of retirement …