Running 2011 Baseball Thread, Vol. I: Dedicated to spnited

I don't think this is unusual at all. Last year the Yankees and Rays had a neck-and-neck battle for the division, but it didn't matter because it was clear by mid-August that one of them would win the WC, so they were resting guys down the stretch. The Yankees finished below .500 for September and won by six games.

In 2001, the A's won the wild card by 17 games.

 

Yeah, I went ahead and looked it up. It's only been more than 4 games once in the NL, in 2000 when the Mets won by 8. But you're right, wild-card "runaways" are fairly common in the AL.

NL (final wild-card standings)
2010: Braves by 1 over Padres
2009: Rockies by 4 over Giants
2008: Brewers by 1 over Mets
2007: Rockies by 1 over Padres
2006: Dodgers by 3 over Phillies
2005: Astros by 1 over Phillies
2004: Astros by 1 over Giants
2003: Marlins by 4 over Astros
2002: Giants by 3.5 over Dodgers
2001: Cardinals by 3 over Dodgers
2000: Mets by 8 over Dodgers
1999: Mets by 1 over Reds
1998: Cubs by 1 over Giants
1997: Marlins by 4 over Giants
1996: Dodgers by 2 over Expos
1995: Rockies by 1 over Astros
1994: Braves by 2.5 over Astros (strike, no playoffs)

AL (final wild-card standings)
2010: Yankees by 6 over Red Sox
2009: Red Sox by 8 over Rangers
2008: Red Sox by 5.5 over Yankees
2007: Yankees by 6 over Tigers
2006: Tigers by 5 over White Sox
2005: Red Sox by 2 over Indians
2004: Red Sox by 7 over Athletics
2003: Red Sox by 1.5 over Mariners
2002: Angels by 6 over Red Sox
2001: Athletics by 17 over Twins
2000: Mariners by 1 over Indians
1999: Red Sox by 7 over Athletics
1998: Red Sox by 7 over Angels
1997: Yankees by 12 over Angels
1996: Orioles by 2.5 over Mariners
1995: Yankees by 1.5 over Angels
1994: Indians by 2.5 over Orioles (strike, no playoffs)

 

Tigers may have Paul Schreiber to thank for a win today.

Pointless warning to both benches after Rick Porcello threw behind Asdrubal Cabrera appears to have neutered Ubaldo's willingness to pitch inside, and Detroit has five runs with one out in the third, including a Delmon Young no-doubter to the power alley in left.

EDIT: Now 7-0 after a Martinez HR down the RFL.

 

Except Porcello coughed it up in the fourth and got yanked.

7-5 now, still a runner on second with two outs in the fourth.

 

That's what I get for taking a nap.

 

The Brewers are moving like a tremendous machine.

They are 27-9 since the All-Star break, 16-3 in August, they've lost one series since the All-Star Game and have swept five. Most of this stretch has been without Rickie Weeks, who provides important protection in the lineup. He should be back by September.

The Brewers are on pace for a club-record 96 wins and have gone from being down a 1/2-game at the break to nine games up pending tonight's Cubs-Cardinals game when it could go to 9 1/2. As of this moment, its the biggest divisional lead the Brewers have ever had.

I wanted to record this moment. This is the zenith of the Brewers' regular-season franchise existence. I hope it translates to the playoffs, should the Brewers get there.

 

more i see of granderson, the more i like him. he just hit an inside-the-park home run, taking advantage of a fortuitous loooon bounce off the wall. most impressive: he RACED out of the box after hitting the blast to right-center. no styling. no hot-dogging of any kind.

other than the k's, the guy has been a TREMENDOUS offensive force this season. it tied him with bautista for the ml lead in homers with 36 (i believe). teixiera hit his 35th right after.

 

In a day that will surely go down in the annals of the Todd Jones Save Manual, Valverde opens the inning with a walk and an 0-2 beanball. After the sac bunt, Matt LaPorta hits a soft liner to center and Austin Jackson opens up the fire hose and cuts down Kosuke Fukudome at the plate for the out, the win and the sweep.

 

I can't stand the Yanks, but Granderson and Gardner a heckuva lot of fun to watch.

 

I played poker with him after his rookie year. I guess I'm going to need a bigger bankroll next time.

 

Bobby Valentine is a fucking douchebag.