It looks like a photo finish for the NL, but the picture is getting much clearer. The Cubs became the first team to clinch a playoff berth Friday Night as they clinched the NL Central. The Cubs finally turned out the light on a scrappy Brewers squad who couldn't hold up in the pennant race. Don't you feel sorry for Yost and his plucky bunch, they'll be back and better next year. Thats a team built the right way that will contend for years to come. The D-Backs finally cooled off the Rockies and clinched a playoff berth themselves. The Rockies are still in it but need to win and get some help, their late desperate dash may go for naught. The Padres are still very much in control of their destiny won a tense game in Milwaukee and are now the front runner in the Wild Card race and still have an outside chance of winning the NL West.
Meanwhile there is the train wreck that is the Mets, their stunning collapse nearly complete. The Mets, bowed to the Marlins 7-4 and combined with Phils 6-0 whitewash of the Nats, fell out of first place. This was a team that was up 7 games on Sept 12th. 7 up with 17 to play. The Mets lead was so secure it was thought, MLB didn't even bother to include them in any coin flips for possible playoff game scenarios. Now the Mets might not even get any shot at playing for anything, a wild card spot or division title. The Phils went from trying to duel with the Padres for the wild card to having control of the divisional title. The Phils have to keep winning to keep the pressure on the Mets, but they are now writing things. But the Phils have been doing the damn thing as of late. Winning 12 of 14 and making what maybe one of the more historic late seasons charges in MLB history. The Mets shocking collapse may very well cost Willie Randolph, and otherwise capable manager, his job.
The weekend holds so many questions and scenarios. And even then there still might be a four way tie for the playoff spots. With two spots still up for grabs, its anyones guess on how this will turn out. You have the feeling that if the Mets finish their Hindenburg-like crash, they will be placed in the annnal of great collapses. The Mets benefitted from a Cubs collapse in 1969, The Phils were the victim of a legendary collapse in 1964. Karma will come back, it may take awhile but it always does. Hold on tight, fellow sports fans this is gonna be one heck of a finish.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment