MLB Playoff Update: Day 162

It's the last day of the regular season.  I could not leave the citizens of Pond Scum without a quick update to the MLB update. All Day 162 updates will be in italics.

Zip up those hoodies and pull on your knitted hats, October is finally upon us. Only ONE day left in the MLB regular season and all the playoff teams are accounted for. While some of the familiar faces are making returns, I.E. Yankees, Giants, Cardinals, and Rangers, there are three clear Cinderella clubs also making the October push, Baltimore, Oakland, and Washington. With no time to waste, let’s jump right into the current postseason standings and see which teams can still improve.

National League- Clinched Playoffs

·         Washington Nationals- NL East Champions
·         Cincinnati Reds: NL Central Champions
·         San Francisco Giants: NL West Champions
o   Wild Card: Atlanta Braves

o   Wild Card: St. Louis Cardinals 

When the Nationals said they were going to shut down Stephen Strasburg, you would've thought Washington’s playoff hopes were extinguished with him. However one player does not make a team. With the help of  Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, and Ross Detwiler the Nationals lead the league in ERA.  While some will say the Nationals are not a Cinderella story because they have been playing at a high level all year I disagree. WAS had loss over 100 games in 2008 and 2009. They were only 80-81 last season. This is a monumental turn around for the franchise as a whole and it is certainly a Cinderella story for the city of Washington D.C. Averaging 27 years of age this Nats team, even without Strasburg, has a chance to go all way in 2012. Not to mention contend for many years in the future.

First though, The Nationals continue to fight with the Reds for the best record in the NL and all of baseball for that matter. Both teams are locked at 97-64, with WAS owning the tie breaker. Cincinnati is riding high from a no-hitter performance this past Friday by Homer Bailey. At the moment, they are set to face San Francisco in the first round, with the Wild Card winner traveling to D.C.

This afternoon (10/3) WAS will face the Phillies. A win will secure the Nationals the number one seed in the playoffs. However, if they lose, CIN can steal the top spot with a win over the Cardinals. Speaking of St. Louis, they have finally secured their place in the postseason Tuesday night. Although it did not come in winning fashion. Instead they clinched with a Dodgers loss to San Francisco. That's the last time I openly support any Los Angeles team. Either way, the defending champions have found their way back to October. 

The Atlanta Braves assured they will play at least one game in the post season. What a farewell tour for Chipper Jones, one last chance at the October dance. Certainly would be a cherry on the top of a Hall of Fame career. Now that they are officially slated to face the Cardinals in the NL Wild Card, the Braves also have chance at revenge. Let's not forget the Cardinals were the club who took advantage of  Atlanta's collapse in 2011 and knocked them out of the postseason.

American League- Clinched Playoffs

·         Detroit Tigers- AL Central Champions
·         New York Yankees
·         Baltimore Orioles
·         Texas Rangers
·         Oakland A’s

The AL is proving to be more dramatic then the NL this year. While the American League has all its playoff teams decided, two division titles are up for grabs.  About a week ago in my playoff update, I mentioned that Detroit was slowing creeping up the Central standings and could make a move for the division crown. Well, what a difference a week makes. The Tigers are sitting pretty as the Central Champs, while the White Sox virtually eliminated themselves from the playoffs. Also, in case you've been avoiding all baseball news besides these weekly updates, Miguel Cabrera is in contention for the first batting Triple Crown in 45 years.

In the AL East, the Yankees are sitting with a one game lead over the Orioles. After missing 20 games on the DL, New York is happy to have Mark Teixeira return to the line up to bring some much needed power. He jacked a two run homer in his first game back. Boston will be working to keep their arch rivals from clinching another division, but Baltimore needs to do their part and win out in order to have a chance at the East title. The O’s are making their first postseason appearance in 15 years.

With only one game left, the Yankees are in the drivers seat to win the AL East. If they win their final game against Boston they are the division champs. However, if they lose and the Orioles can defeat Tampa Bay the division will go to a game 163 tiebreaker in Camden Yards. 

I've been hyping the final series between Texas and Oakland since the start of my MLB Playoff Update. ONE games remain between the Rangers and A’s in the Coliseum that will decide the division. This is truly a Cinderella tail, considering OAK trailed TEX by 13 games before the All-Star break. Now the Athletics are tied in the West with the two time defending AL Champion Rangers.  The A’s accomplished their October push with 19 different rookies throughout the 2012 season. The victor in today's game takes the division while the other gets to face either Baltimore or New York in the Wild Card. Each team I'm sure is hoping the AL East goes to a game 163 so they can take advantage of a tired club. 

Only ONE day remains in the 2012 regular season and still countless, if, buts, and what ifs to happen. Possible tie breaker, Wild Card and division games will all take place at the end of this week. Once the Division Series is set,  I will get the PSS crew involved with their picks for the World Series. Until then, please enjoy the drama that is Day 162.