OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

Moriarty9 · 12-31-2008, 12:46 PM

After the final out of Sunday, September 20 was recorded, leaving just a week left in the season, we take a look around Major League Baseball to see how everything and everyone stands.

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
NEW YORK YANKEES
The Yankees sit atop the AL East at 87-69, chipping away at their magic number of 3 to clinch the division.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES
The Orioles are clinging to hope that they can make the playoffs, but their chances are fading quickly. At 82-73, Baltimore is 4 1/2 games back in the division, 5 games out in the Wild Card race.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Toronto sits 5 games behind the Yankees with an 82-74 record.

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS
The expansion Devil Rays are surprisingly sitting in fourth place in AL East, ahead of the disappointing Boston Red Sox. Tampa Bay (75-80) will finish without a losing record if they can win at least five of their last seven games.

BOSTON RED SOX
The Red Sox were a surprise stinker this season, dropping to the bottom of the division with a 69-86 record.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
The Royals are in a battle for the Central crown with a 76-79 record. The team has won four straight games and six of their last ten as they try to fight off the Minnesota Twins.

MINNESOTA TWINS
The Twins, at 76-79, are tied with the KC Royals for first place in the Central. With a losing record for both teams, its the division crown or nothing at all as they each sit 11 games back in the Wild Card.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Its not often a 73-83 team can be still in the picture for a playoff spot, but that is the case in the weak AL Central. The White Sox are 4 games behind the Royals and Twins and are hoping to surprise everyone with a last minute rally.

DETROIT TIGERS
The Tigers have not quite been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, despite their 71-85 record, putting them 5 1/2 games back in the division.

CLEVELAND INDIANS
The Tribe has not fared well in 1998, putting up just 66 wins to this late point in the season. At 66-90, the Indians are 10 1/2 back in the division and show no signs of stopping their slide as they've lost three straight.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
ANAHEIM ANGELS
The Angels lead the West with an 88-67 record, but have just a slim one game lead over the Seattle Mariners. The Angels have won their last three while the Mariners have lost their last four.

SEATTLE MARINERS
Despite their four-game slide, the Mariners are in excellent shape in terms of being a playoff contender. The Wild Card leading M's are only one game back in the division and have a magic number of 3 to clinch a playoff spot.

TEXAS RANGERS
The 72-83 Rangers have lost three in a row, seven of their last ten, and sit 16 back in the AL West.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS
The 71-84 A's are looking to avoid a last place finish as they sit 17 out in the West, one behind the Rangers. The A's have won four in a row.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
FLORIDA MARLINS
The Marlins are clutching to a 1/2-game lead over the perennial division leaders from Atlanta. At 86-70, Florida's best bet is the division, but a Wild Card spot could happen if they lose their division lead.

ATLANTA BRAVES
The 86-71 Braves are just a 1/2 game out in the East, 3 1/2 behind in the Wild Card race. Can Atlanta secure yet another playoff spot?

NEW YORK METS
While most eyes are on the Marlins and Braves, the 84-73 Mets are quietly lurking on the outside, just 2 1/2 games out in the division, and on life support in the Wild Card race, 5 1/2 behind.

MONTREAL EXPOS
The 81-76 Expos have a mathematical shot to make the postseason, sitting 5 1/2 behind the first-place Marlins.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
The 78-77 Phillies hope to make the NL East a division of winners if they can finish the year with a winning record, making it the only division in baseball with winning records from top to bottom.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
HOUSTON ASTROS
The Astros have their magic number down to 2 as they try to wrap up a division championship. At 94-63, Houston has the second best record in baseball and a 4 1/2 game lead over the surging Brewers.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
The 89-67 Brewers have come out of nowhere to make one last run at the division title by winning 10 straight and 12 of their last 13 games. Milwaukee is 4 1/2 out in the division and lead the Wild Card race by 3 1/2 games over the Braves.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
At 79-78, St. Louis is hoping a winning season is in the cards. The team is 15 back in the division and in the middle of a three-game losing streak.

CINCINNATI REDS
At 73-83, the Reds are 20 1/2 games back in the NL Central. If only they were in the AL Central, where they'd be in the thick of a playoff race.

CHICAGO CUBS
Those lovable losers sit in fifth place at 70-87, 24 games behind the Astros. The Cubs have lost nine of their last 10 games, 13 of their last 18.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
The Pirates are bringing up the rear in the Central with a 68-87 record, 25 games back in the division. Pittsburgh has won just five of their last 21 games.

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
At 94-62, the Dodgers own baseball's best record and are the only team in baseball to have clinched a division title. The Astros are the only other team to have clinched a playoff spot, having already earned at least the Wild Card as they work on the division crown.

SAN DIEGO PADRES
The Padres, 81-76, will likely have a winning season, but it will not be enough to make the playoffs this year. San Diego is 13 1/2 behind the Dodgers, 8 1/2 back in the Wild Card.

COLORADO ROCKIES
The 75-82 Rockies are 19 1/2 back in the West, 14 1/2 out in the Wild Card race.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
The expansion Diamondbacks will avoid a 100-loss season and may avoid last place as well. Arizona is 65-92, 29 1/2 games behind the Dodgers, but sit with a three-game pad over last place. The DBacks need to be careful though, they've lost their last three games.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
The Giants own baseball's worst record at 61-94. As if this wasn't bad enough, they did so in a division with baseball's best team, putting San Francisco an embarassing 32 1/2 games out in the division.

Once the regular season ends, I'll be going team-by-team once again to point out the surprises on each club (good and bad), who did what, etc.
If anyone has a particular player they'd like to see stats or information on, please let me know.

12-31-2008, 12:46 PM	#60 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,855 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	After the final out of Sunday, September 20 was recorded, leaving just a week left in the season, we take a look around Major League Baseball to see how everything and everyone stands. AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST NEW YORK YANKEES The Yankees sit atop the AL East at 87-69, chipping away at their magic number of 3 to clinch the division. BALTIMORE ORIOLES The Orioles are clinging to hope that they can make the playoffs, but their chances are fading quickly. At 82-73, Baltimore is 4 1/2 games back in the division, 5 games out in the Wild Card race. TORONTO BLUE JAYS Toronto sits 5 games behind the Yankees with an 82-74 record. TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS The expansion Devil Rays are surprisingly sitting in fourth place in AL East, ahead of the disappointing Boston Red Sox. Tampa Bay (75-80) will finish without a losing record if they can win at least five of their last seven games. BOSTON RED SOX The Red Sox were a surprise stinker this season, dropping to the bottom of the division with a 69-86 record. AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL KANSAS CITY ROYALS The Royals are in a battle for the Central crown with a 76-79 record. The team has won four straight games and six of their last ten as they try to fight off the Minnesota Twins. MINNESOTA TWINS The Twins, at 76-79, are tied with the KC Royals for first place in the Central. With a losing record for both teams, its the division crown or nothing at all as they each sit 11 games back in the Wild Card. CHICAGO WHITE SOX Its not often a 73-83 team can be still in the picture for a playoff spot, but that is the case in the weak AL Central. The White Sox are 4 games behind the Royals and Twins and are hoping to surprise everyone with a last minute rally. DETROIT TIGERS The Tigers have not quite been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, despite their 71-85 record, putting them 5 1/2 games back in the division. CLEVELAND INDIANS The Tribe has not fared well in 1998, putting up just 66 wins to this late point in the season. At 66-90, the Indians are 10 1/2 back in the division and show no signs of stopping their slide as they've lost three straight. AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST ANAHEIM ANGELS The Angels lead the West with an 88-67 record, but have just a slim one game lead over the Seattle Mariners. The Angels have won their last three while the Mariners have lost their last four. SEATTLE MARINERS Despite their four-game slide, the Mariners are in excellent shape in terms of being a playoff contender. The Wild Card leading M's are only one game back in the division and have a magic number of 3 to clinch a playoff spot. TEXAS RANGERS The 72-83 Rangers have lost three in a row, seven of their last ten, and sit 16 back in the AL West. OAKLAND ATHLETICS The 71-84 A's are looking to avoid a last place finish as they sit 17 out in the West, one behind the Rangers. The A's have won four in a row. NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST FLORIDA MARLINS The Marlins are clutching to a 1/2-game lead over the perennial division leaders from Atlanta. At 86-70, Florida's best bet is the division, but a Wild Card spot could happen if they lose their division lead. ATLANTA BRAVES The 86-71 Braves are just a 1/2 game out in the East, 3 1/2 behind in the Wild Card race. Can Atlanta secure yet another playoff spot? NEW YORK METS While most eyes are on the Marlins and Braves, the 84-73 Mets are quietly lurking on the outside, just 2 1/2 games out in the division, and on life support in the Wild Card race, 5 1/2 behind. MONTREAL EXPOS The 81-76 Expos have a mathematical shot to make the postseason, sitting 5 1/2 behind the first-place Marlins. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES The 78-77 Phillies hope to make the NL East a division of winners if they can finish the year with a winning record, making it the only division in baseball with winning records from top to bottom. NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL HOUSTON ASTROS The Astros have their magic number down to 2 as they try to wrap up a division championship. At 94-63, Houston has the second best record in baseball and a 4 1/2 game lead over the surging Brewers. MILWAUKEE BREWERS The 89-67 Brewers have come out of nowhere to make one last run at the division title by winning 10 straight and 12 of their last 13 games. Milwaukee is 4 1/2 out in the division and lead the Wild Card race by 3 1/2 games over the Braves. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS At 79-78, St. Louis is hoping a winning season is in the cards. The team is 15 back in the division and in the middle of a three-game losing streak. CINCINNATI REDS At 73-83, the Reds are 20 1/2 games back in the NL Central. If only they were in the AL Central, where they'd be in the thick of a playoff race. CHICAGO CUBS Those lovable losers sit in fifth place at 70-87, 24 games behind the Astros. The Cubs have lost nine of their last 10 games, 13 of their last 18. PITTSBURGH PIRATES The Pirates are bringing up the rear in the Central with a 68-87 record, 25 games back in the division. Pittsburgh has won just five of their last 21 games. NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST LOS ANGELES DODGERS At 94-62, the Dodgers own baseball's best record and are the only team in baseball to have clinched a division title. The Astros are the only other team to have clinched a playoff spot, having already earned at least the Wild Card as they work on the division crown. SAN DIEGO PADRES The Padres, 81-76, will likely have a winning season, but it will not be enough to make the playoffs this year. San Diego is 13 1/2 behind the Dodgers, 8 1/2 back in the Wild Card. COLORADO ROCKIES The 75-82 Rockies are 19 1/2 back in the West, 14 1/2 out in the Wild Card race. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS The expansion Diamondbacks will avoid a 100-loss season and may avoid last place as well. Arizona is 65-92, 29 1/2 games behind the Dodgers, but sit with a three-game pad over last place. The DBacks need to be careful though, they've lost their last three games. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS The Giants own baseball's worst record at 61-94. As if this wasn't bad enough, they did so in a division with baseball's best team, putting San Francisco an embarassing 32 1/2 games out in the division. Once the regular season ends, I'll be going team-by-team once again to point out the surprises on each club (good and bad), who did what, etc. If anyone has a particular player they'd like to see stats or information on, please let me know.