Well it's been a long twenty six weeks and we have had some peaks and valleys this season. Like I said in the previous post, it's amazing that I have been able to keep this thing going with playing the amount of games out that I do. It has really worked well for me. I am kind of hoping that this last report can be the best report yet, but I guess we will have to wait and see now won't we?
9/25: OFF
Playoff Watch:
Chicago (N) beats Cincinnati 6-4, now 1.5 GA Cincinnati in Central, Cincinnati now 1 GB of NYN and FLO in Wild Card
New York (N) beats Washington 3-2, now tied with Florida for Wild Card
San Diego beats St. Louis 9-8, now 1.0 GB of Florida and New York (N) for Wild Card
Boston lost to Toronto 5-3, now .5 GA of Baltimore in East
Baltimore did not play, now .5 GB of Boston in East
9/26: @ Chicago (N) (83-74/37-39 Hm), win 9-7 - WP: Hendrickson (2-1), S: Turnbow (27)
Carlos Villanueva had another tough outing and lasted only 2.2 innings while giving up five runs. The bullpen pitched very well today, going 6.1 innings and allowing only two runs and three hits. They struck out six. Rickie Weeks hit a home run and was 2-5 with a run and two RBI. He also had a stolen base. Prince Fielder was 1-4 with two runs scored. Bill Hall continues to hit well and was 2-3 with two runs, a RBI, and two walks. Juan Rivera had a big day going 3-3 with three RBIs, a walk, and two runs scored. Erick Aybar was 2-5 with three RBIs also. We had 13 total hits as a team.
Playoff Watch:
Chicago (N) lost to Milwaukee 7-9, now 1.5 GA Cincinnati in Central
Florida beat Cincinnati 15-5, now tied with New York (N) for Wild Card, Cincinnati now 2.0 GB of Wild Card
New York (N) beat Atlanta 3-1, now tied with Florida for Wild Card
San Diego beat St. Louis 3-1, now 1.0 GB of Florida and New York (N) in Wild Card
Baltimore lost to New York (A) 3-4, now 1.5 GB of Boston in East
Boston beat Tampa Bay 11-2, now 1.5 GA of Baltimore in East
9/27: @ Chicago, win 6-1 - WP: Bush (10-14)
Bush pitched very well, and Scot Shields and Jason Kershner came out of the bullpen to pitch well also, as we hit our way to another win. Erick Aybar stayed hot today, going 3-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Prince Fielder was 4-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored, and Rickie Weeks was 2-3 with two walks and a run scored. He also stole two bases.
Playoff Watch:
Cincinnati beat Florida 7-4, Cin 2.0 GB of New York (N) in Wild Card, .5 GB of Chicago (N) in Central, Florida 1.0 GB of New York (N)
New York (N) beat Atlanta 5-2, 1.0 GA of Florida and San Diego in Wild Card
Chicago (N) lost to Milwaukee 1-6, .5 GA of Cincinnati in Central
San Diego beat St. Louis 7-6, 1.0 GB of New York (N) in Wild Card
Baltimore beat New York (A) 15-3, 1.5 GB of Boston in East
Boston beat Tampa Bay 8-5, 1.5 GA of Baltimore in East
9/28: @ St. Louis (75-83/37-40 Hm), win 8-4 (10) - WP: Turnbow (5-3), BS: (5)
Well, Joe Blanton definitely deserved a win in this game, going eight innings and allowing only two runs. Derrick Turnbow then came in in the bottom of the ninth to give up to runs and allowed them to tie it back up at 4. We scored four runs in the tenth to pull it off. Bill Hall hit a solo home run, but that was the only round-tripper for us this game. Rickie Week was 2-5 with a run, stolen base, and a walk. Geoff Jenkins went 2-4 with a run, Corey Hart was 2-5 with a run scored and RBI, he also stole a base. Jeff Mathis drove in a run and scored also while going 1-3.
Playoff Watch:
Florida beat Cincinnati 5-4, Florida now tied with New York (N) in Wild Card, Cincinnati 1 GB of of Chicago (N) in Central
New York (N) lost to Atlanta 2-5, tied with Florida for Wild Card
San Diego lost to Arizona 1-4, 1.0 GB of Florida and New York (N) in Wild Card
Baltimore lost to New York (A) 3-16, 2.0 GB of Boston in East
Boston Did Not Play, 2.0 GA of Baltimore in East
9/29: @ St. Louis, win 4-0 - WP: Gallardo (3-0)
Gallardo pitched very well in his final start of the year, and I cannot wait until he can come out of the rotation for us for a full season. He is going to be one exciting pitcher. He pitched eight innigns and gave up eight hits, but had nine K's with no walks. I like the second stat the most! Rickie Weeks was 1-3 with a run and two walks, and Prince Fielder was 2-5 with a RBI. Gabe Gross got a start today and went 1-3 with a big RBI single and also scored a run. Jeff Mathis hit his 19th home run of the year and was 2-4 with two RBIs.
Playoff Watch:
Chicago (N) beat Colorado 5-4, 1.0 GA of Cincinnati in Central
New York (N) beat Washington 4-0, 1.0 GA of Florida in Wild Card
Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh 12-6, 1.0 GB of Chicago (N) in Central
Florida lost to Philadelphia 1-6, 1.0 GB of New York (N) in Wild Card
San Diego lost to Arizona 0-4, 2.0 GB of New York (N) in Wild Card
Baltimore beat Boston 5-1, 1.0 GB of Boston in East
9/30: @ St. Louis, loss 1-3 - LP: Sheets (7-15)
Ben Sheets pitched seven innings and gave up only two earned runs. We only had three hits as a team, and one of them came from Nelson Cruz, but that was about it.
Playoff Watch:
Chicago (N) lost to Colorado 1-3, 1 GA of Cincinnati.
San Diego lost to Arizona 2-5, Eliminated
Florida lost to Philadelphia 1-5, 1 GB New York (N)
Washington lost to New York (N) 0-4, 1 GA of Florida
Baltimore lost to Boston 0-2, Boston clinches the AL East
10/01: @ St. Louis, loss 1-5 - LP: Jackson (5-7)
Well Jackson didn't pitch half bad in this one, going seven innings and allowing only three runs, but our team again did not hit the ball, and we only managed five hits as a team. Rickie Weeks hit his 19th home run on the year, and Prince Fielder had a double, but other than that we didn't do much else.
Jay's Thoughts: Well, I am going to say that I don't like losing. However, I feel that we have a strong nucleaus of players that can be winners in Milwaukee for years to come. I am excited to get to the offseason and put a bit of my mark on this team, other than just mid season trades. I am going to debate how I want to play out the playoffs, but I must warn it might not be as in-depth as some people are hoping. I think I am going to post each series outline (of the games played) and then in the World Series I might limit myself to a one sentence recap on the game, or something like that. Then we can get to the offseason, the part I'm looking forward to most.
In the final race of the season (the NL Wild Card) the Mets lost and FLorida won, so it came down to a one-game playoff. I actually watched the whole game to see what would happen (it was so nice to not be under pressure to make all the decisions
), and it was a good one. In the second the Mets jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a Carlos Delgado home run. They then scored two more in the third and jumped out to a 4-0 lead, and this one looks like a blowout. The Marlins got one back in the bottom of the fifth on a Miguel Cabrera single. The Mets got that run back in the seventh on a Carlos Beltran double, and now led the game 5-1. The Marlins scored got something going in the bottom of the eighth, but were only able to manage one run out of it, and from there it looked like New York had control of the game, and that was the case as both teams scored in the ninth to make it a
6-3 win for the Mets, and they are the NL Wild Card champs.
Playoff Matchups
Los Angeles Angels vs Minnesota Twins
Boston Red Sox vs Oakland Athletics
Chicago Cubs vs Philadelphia Phillies
New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Final Standings
Code:
American League Standings
Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Boston Red Sox 86 76 .531 - 87-75 -1 52-29 34-47 6-5 20-13 * L1 5-5
Baltimore Orioles 85 77 .525 1.0 86-76 -1 44-37 41-40 5-4 22-23 W1 5-5
New York (A) Yankees 77 85 .475 9.0 82-80 -5 38-43 39-42 9-8 15-24 L2 5-5
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 77 85 .475 9.0 77-85 0 41-40 36-45 7-10 20-24 W1 4-6
Toronto Blue Jays 72 90 .444 14.0 68-94 4 37-44 35-46 6-8 18-28 W2 7-3
Central Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Minnesota Twins 98 64 .605 - 95-67 3 48-33 50-31 12-6 30-23 * L1 7-3
Detroit Tigers 86 76 .531 12.0 86-76 0 42-39 44-37 14-12 25-28 L1 6-4
Chicago (A) White Sox 83 79 .512 15.0 86-76 -3 39-42 44-37 10-8 23-23 W1 5-5
Cleveland Indians 78 84 .481 20.0 77-85 1 48-33 30-51 7-9 29-25 L1 5-5
Kansas City Royals 67 95 .414 31.0 67-95 0 37-44 30-51 8-13 26-28 W1 3-7
Western Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Oakland Athletics 96 66 .593 - 92-70 4 49-32 47-34 5-4 26-13 * W1 4-6
Los Angeles (A) Angels 94 68 .580 2.0 89-73 5 46-35 48-33 8-13 31-23 + L1 5-5
Seattle Mariners 69 93 .426 27.0 73-89 -4 39-42 30-51 8-10 24-30 L1 6-4
Texas Rangers 69 93 .426 27.0 72-90 -3 35-46 34-47 6-5 15-23 W1 5-5
National League Standings
Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Philadelphia Phillies 98 64 .605 - 96-66 2 46-35 52-29 4-2 19-16 * L1 6-4
New York (N) Mets 86 77 .528 12.5 89-74 -3 40-41 46-36 8-10 24-23 + W1 6-4
Florida Marlins 85 78 .521 13.5 87-76 -2 41-41 44-37 9-3 24-24 L1 6-4
Atlanta Braves 82 80 .506 16.0 87-75 -5 37-44 45-36 6-8 23-26 W2 6-4
Washington Nationals 75 87 .463 23.0 69-93 6 37-44 38-43 11-9 28-17 W2 4-6
Central Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Chicago (N) Cubs 84 78 .519 - 85-77 -1 38-43 46-35 4-9 19-18 * L2 4-6
Cincinnati Reds 83 79 .512 1.0 78-84 5 43-38 40-41 6-11 23-21 L2 3-7
Milwaukee Brewers 79 83 .488 5.0 75-87 4 41-40 38-43 10-2 18-15 L2 6-4
Houston Astros 78 84 .481 6.0 81-81 -3 42-39 36-45 5-8 24-24 L2 6-4
St. Louis Cardinals 77 85 .475 7.0 78-84 -1 39-42 38-43 13-7 25-23 W2 2-8
Pittsburgh Pirates 76 86 .469 8.0 81-81 -5 36-45 40-41 8-10 24-29 W2 6-4
Western Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Los Angeles (N) Dodgers 87 75 .537 - 87-75 0 42-39 45-36 7-7 25-25 * L3 3-7
San Diego Padres 83 79 .512 4.0 83-79 0 40-41 43-38 10-4 26-22 L4 5-5
Arizona Diamondbacks 75 87 .463 12.0 71-91 4 43-38 32-49 6-6 24-18 W5 6-4
Colorado Rockies 74 88 .457 13.0 74-88 0 43-38 31-50 4-9 21-30 W2 5-5
San Francisco Giants 72 90 .444 15.0 79-83 -7 39-42 33-48 8-10 16-28 W3 7-3
In other news around the league, it was announced that Albert Pujols and Ichiro Suzuki have won the batting titles for their respective leagues. Pujols hit .324 with 31 homers and 93 RBIs, and Suzuki hit .342 with 13 HR, 92 RBIs, and 38 SB.
Hank Blalock and Torrii Hunter both signed contract extensions with Texas and Minnesota also.
Next Up
I am not sure what I'm going to do with the playoffs yet, (as I said before), but I do have some overviews for you, including the team and league.