WWTBAM Bored

I was wondering whether we'd get through August with all major league teams' playoff hopes mathematically intact. It was close, but the answer is no. The Phillies' victory over the Cubs today means that at least one NL East team is certain to finish with at least 78 wins. Milwaukee and Chicago in the NL Central have already won more games than that. Since Washington has lost 85 games, the Nationals are officially toastified.

Honorable mention to the Mariners, who are one loss or a Red Sox victory away from joining Washington in the toaster. --Bob

The Yankees make me very sad nowadays. However I'm brightened by the fact that Hank Steinbrenner will undoubtedly sign every single free agent on the market and then just cut the ones his manager doesn't want...Until March then...

Bob78164 wrote:I was wondering whether we'd get through August with all major league teams' playoff hopes mathematically intact. It was close, but the answer is no. The Phillies' victory over the Cubs today means that at least one NL East team is certain to finish with at least 78 wins. Milwaukee and Chicago in the NL Central have already won more games than that. Since Washington has lost 85 games, the Nationals are officially toastified.

Honorable mention to the Mariners, who are one loss or a Red Sox victory away from joining Washington in the toaster. --Bob

And I thank you for your polite discussion of the facts with no slurs.

Seriously.

christie

Boston's win today over the Orioles means that Seattle cannot catch them (or Tampa Bay) for the wild card spot. Nor can they catch the Angels for the AL West title. The Mariners are officially toast. --Bob

Another slice of bread emerges. Pittsburgh's loss, combined with Milwaukee's win, toastifies the Pirates. Next on the chopping block may be the Braves. How the mighty have fallen. --Bob

Two more slices emerge from the toaster today. Boston's win over the Rays means that Baltimore cannot catch either the Red Sox or the Rays. The Orioles are toastified.

Oakland had already been eliminated from the AL West race. Oakland's loss to Detroit toastified the As. --Bob

Get out the butter or jelly for the Royals - their loss to the Twins tonite makes them toast.

The Mets victory over Washington also makes the Braves toast.

The Mets' victory tonight over Washington eliminates the Braves from the Division hunt. They have been out of the Wild Card chase for a while, so the Braves are now officially toastified.

Minnesota and the White Sox have three games left against each other, so at least one of them must reach 81 wins. The Royals' loss tonight, their 82nd, therefore officially toastifies them. --Bob (who will never reach green again if he permits others to steal his thunder)

We have a club sandwich tonight. The Dodgers' victory over San Diego ends the Padres' hope of winning the National League West. They have long since been eliminated from the Wild Card chase. The Padres are toastified. --Bob

It's actually amazing how boring the AL looks to be the rest of the year - while there are still 10 teams with a mathematical chances at the play-offs the only real participation question left is whether the White Sox or Twins will take the Central - that could be decided in their series in two weeks - the loser of the east (Rays or Red Sox) will be the wild card.

The Reds and Tigers could be well on their way to the toastifier next.

I thought we were talking about bread.

peacock2121 wrote:I thought we were talking about bread.

In a way, we are. Players on playoff teams earn playoff shares. I believe that they're not terribly significant compared to most player salaries, but nonetheless, I don't hear about anyone turning them down. --Bob

The Brewers beat the Reds 4-3 this afternoon - adding the Reds to the pile of toast finishing the mlb season.

gotribego26 wrote:The Brewers beat the Reds 4-3 this afternoon - adding the Reds to the pile of toast finishing the mlb season.

Rats. I was hoping the 'Stros could make up another game on them today.

I have tickets for the game against the Cubs on Friday night. I figure if we are having a hurricane at the time they can just close the roof. That's what it's for, right?

gotribego26 wrote:It's actually amazing how boring the AL looks to be the rest of the year - while there are still 10 teams with a mathematical chances at the play-offs the only real participation question left is whether the White Sox or Twins will take the Central - that could be decided in their series in two weeks - the loser of the east (Rays or Red Sox) will be the wild card.

I thought last season was unusual in that, with only 5 games left in the season, no one in the NL had clinched a playoff spot. Not only that, but there were still 7 teams left with legitimate chances at the 4 playoff spots. And the team that was the mathematical longshot (my Rockies) not only got in, but wound up taking the pennant. I doubt we'll get that this year. With the exception of the AL West, the AL races are closer than those in the NL.

Cincinnati's loss to the Brewers today ensures that the Reds can catch neither the Brewers nor the Cubs in the National League Central. The Reds have been toastified. --Bob

Congratulations to the American League Western Division champion California Angels, who have clinched the division title earlier than ever in their history. --Bob

NellyLunatic1980 wrote:The Reds and Tigers could be well on their way to the toastifier next.

My guess is that the Rangers will suffer that fate before the Tigers do. As soon as they're eliminated from the Wild Card race, they're done. The Tigers are a little farther from being eliminated from their division race. --Bob

Bob78164 wrote:

NellyLunatic1980 wrote:The Reds and Tigers could be well on their way to the toastifier next.

My guess is that the Rangers will suffer that fate before the Tigers do. As soon as they're eliminated from the Wild Card race, they're done. The Tigers are a little farther from being eliminated from their division race. --Bob

Got this one right. The Rangers' loss to Oakland combined with Boston's win in the second half of their doubleheader leaves Texas hopelessly behind Boston in the Wild Card race. The Rangers have been toastified. --Bob

Bob78164 wrote:The Rangers' loss to Oakland combined with Boston's win in the second half of their doubleheader leaves Texas hopelessly behind Boston in the Wild Card race. The Rangers have been toastified. --Bob

If only they could learn to play for an entire season the way they played from May-July. Oh well. With football season underway, I'm not watching baseball anyway.

The Detroit Tigers lost to the AL Central leading ChiSox yesterday, 4-2. They're 13 games behind the ChiSox and 17 1/2 games behind in the Wild Card with only 14 games left on their schedule. They'll have to run the table or else they're toast.

The Tigers' loss today is their 79th. The White Sox and Minnesota have three games left against each other, so at least one of those teams must reach at least 84 wins. The Tigers are officially toast. --Bob

Evil Squirrel wrote:

Spoiler

I just saw this. I love it! Thanks, ES. And thanks also to any little beasts in your family tree. --Bob