Greetings (again) from the sports desk located somewhere below the main deck of the Good Pirate Ship RedState. In our previous post, we mused on matters of postseason importance regarding the American League. Not to neglect the National League, of course …
Sammy the Shark and Karl the Kraken are so cute when they think they are helping.
MORE: RedState Sports Report: Pennant Chases, American League Style
Anyway, a look at the National League. Starting back East, someone apparently forgot to tell the New York Mets that when you outspend your division rival by some $51M, you are not supposed to enter play in September six games behind them. Not that the Philadelphia Phillies are pinching pennies en route to the division championship; their total payroll of $288M is fourth in Major League Baseball. But still.
One suspects this may be close to, if not actually, a final hurrah for the Phillies in their quest for postseason glory. Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber are all 32, an age at which minor sniggling injuries can and do flare up into season derailers. There is certainly no need to panic, but Philadelphia definitely needs to keep its foot on the pedal. As for the Mets, they currently hold the final Wild Card spot, which, while definitely preferable to the Colorado Rockies’ 29 games away from said position, cannot be what Mr. and Mrs. Met had in mind when the season started.
In the Central, although the Milwaukee Brewers have to some degree fallen back to earth after a lengthy post-All-Star Game stretch featuring the Brew Crew playing out of their minds, they still enjoy a six and a half game lead over the Chicago Cubs. The Brewers have the best record in baseball, but for whatever reason, seldom are they included in the postseason contender conversation. Which I suspect suits them just fine.
Out West, to the surprise of no one, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in first place. Somewhat more surprising is that they enjoy naught but a two-game lead over the San Diego Padres. While the two teams have finished playing each other this year — more brilliant scheduling, MLB! — the Padres have a somewhat easier remaining schedule, featuring ten games total against the Rockies and Chicago White Sox, while the Dodgers have seven games remaining against the San Francisco Giants, who have been playing solid ball as of late, plus three games each against the Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners. Do not preorder division champion shirts just yet, Dodgers fans.
While it is far too early for any postseason prognostication attempts, I do have a preference. Given that my team, namely the A’s, left town on me, I haven’t had the rooting interest in baseball that used to possess me come each spring. I’ve reestablished a fandom with the team of my early youth, namely the Giants, but it’s not the same, nor can it be. Unfortunately, San Francisco fell off a cliff into McCovey Cove after the All-Star break, so barring a run for the ages, there will be no October baseball in Northern California. I’d like to see the Mariners win it all. A Mariners-Brewers World Series, while the stuff of MLB headquarters nightmares, would be great fun for two fan bases that have never tasted post-final game champagne. Indeed, the Brewers have not been to the World Series since 1982, while the Mariners have never won the American League pennant. It’s time the baseball gods cut them some slack.
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