Mets and Brewers still tied. Mets a game back of the Phillies. Twins with a HUGE win tonight. They're now a half game up. Down 6-3 in the 6th, they scored 1 in the 6th and 2 in the 8th to tie it, and then won it in the 10th with a walkoff single by Casilla. Great job by their bullpen. 6 1/3 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts. They SWEPT the ChiSox.
Sweet. We haven't wrapped it up early like this since 1988. The last few times it's been on the last Saturday of the season. Actually get to set up a rotation for the playoffs. Who do you think goes after Lowe and Billingsley? Sounds crazy but I don't know if we should go with Maddux, maybe they will see how he does tomorrow. Out of Kuroda, Kershaw and Maddux, we'll need two of the three. Maybe save Billingsley for Game 3 at home? I don't know. Nice to see Saito, Kent and Furcal all come back just in time. They have some interesting decisions to make for the playoff roster. Does DeWitt stay at 2B or is Kent back now? They got hot with the subs, really and stayed hot. Furcal probably won't start at SS but Kent is 2-2 since he's back already.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/ps_odds.php Mets at 61.79588%, Brewers at 42.93533%. Twins at 62.86595%, ChiSox at 37.13405%. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stand...ar=2008&order=true&br=3&type=reg&group=1&st=2 Mets at 61.4%, Brewers at 43.2% Twins at 66.1%, ChiSox at 33.9%.
I would guess that the Mets number is mostly because they're playing Florida while Milwaukee is playing Chicago, but I think it's pretty likely that the Marlins care about beating the Mets more than the Cubs care about beating the Brewers. Part of it might also be that the playoff game would be in New York if the two teams tie.
yep, it's probably being based on the entire season, where obviously Chicago has been better than Florida. Like I said in the other thread, though, the Marlins are better than a Cubs team that isn't trying hard to win. The Marlins are a pretty good team. Much better than the lineup the Cubs sent out there last night, for example.
I wouldn't count on the Cubs totally laying down. It's not something they'd come out and say but you've got to think that they'd rather face the Mets in the first round then a Dodger team that has won 20 out of 25.
Except for their pitchers they want in the first couple of games, I'd think they would use guys. The Dodgers have the same kind of weekend. If guys are hitting and in a groove, how long do you want them to sit before facing someone's ace in a pressure Game 1? I'd think guys will be playing to some extent.
The Twins win four in a row against the Rays and White Sox to get control of their own destiny, and then lose two in a row to the Royals? Baseball is a funny game.
They laid down today and won anyway. I highly doubt that happens again tomorrow. Chances are they'll send out bench players again, and this time they'll lose to CC and the Brewers. Cubs lineup today: Fukudome (in a horrible slump, but he hit a big two run homer) Cedeno (can't hit) Hoffpauir (great year, but a backup to Derrek Lee) Daryle Ward (bench player; 98 ABs; played poorly this season. Hit a big 2 run homer in the first inning) Reed Johnson (the second regular starting, besides Fukudome) Mike Fontenot (DeRosa's backup had a big game, driving in 3) Casey McGehee (scrub with a .174 BA and an OBP of about .200. No homers in 8 games) Henry Blanco (can't hit at all. Soto's backup) Ted Lilly (#4 starter who came up big for the Mets today) Lefty-heavy lineup, too, allowing Manny Parra to come in and dominate. Lilly had his 2nd try at a no hitter in Miller Park. Two weeks ago, he also went 6 no hit innings before the first batter of the 7th broke it up. Odd. They scored 1 run on Friday off Suppan and McClung with their regulars going. Weird. Maybe the starters were rusty.
As A Rays fan...Something tells me that we could have our way with the Twins in the playoffs but @ the same time...I think our pitching could shut down the White Sox power bats... Call me crazy, but I would rather see the Rays play the White Sox instead of the Twins...The Twins just scare me for some reason.
ok, looks like Cleveland will beat the ChiSox. That would put Minnesota a half game up on Chicago. If Chicago wins tomorrow, that ensures they'll have to make up the game with Detroit. If they lose and Minnesota wins, the Detroit game is irrelevant. Amazing. Cleveland and Kansas City are spoiling with great aplomb. Chicago and Minnesota have each lost two in must-have games for them.
ChiSox will play their makeup game. Right now: Red Sox at Angels Twins/ChiSox at Rays Brewers at Phillies Dodgers at Cubs Rays clinched the AL East today. Brewers beat out the Mets. ChiSox won and the Twins are leading right now. If that holds, Twins are a half game up and the White Sox play the Tigers tomorrow.
Actually, it's a terrible point. The Dodgers are managed by Torre and they will absolutely love facing them because of that.
