Eye Toward October: Sept. 22
With the playoff pursue coming down to the cable, our MLB editor circulars up the five biggest pennant race stories in Eye Toward October.
- Drama Dwindling: With one week left in the season, the wish and heart-fluttering of the September pennant races has largely been replaced by trampling reality. Three teams are yet in the October competition. With a conquer or a Yankees loss any time in the next week, the Red Sox will connect the gathering too.
Miniscule, seemingly insignificant leads in August convert colossal with less than 10 games to play. The Dodgers (up 2 1/2 games) and the Phillies (up a de facto three games) are virtual locks to enable for the postseason as well.
The reality is this: only two races that actually stuff remain. The three-way wild-card race in the AL never materialized. Neither did the down-to-the-wire NL West race. The AL East is tight,
men nike air max, but not consequential in a knockout vogue.
The Mets and Brewers are left to fight over one playoff spot in the NL. The marathon between those 2 is seemingly fueled by angst and tiny else. Both groups arise fragile; both team's fanbases most certainly are. When one of them sneaks into the playoffs, it ambition be greeted with relief more than any other affection.
That leaves us with the White Sox and Twins. Neither union has played well down the stretch, whereas neither has seemed quite as precarious as New York and Milwaukee, but they will at least encounter this week at the Metrodome with a playoff spot above the line. Unlike last season, when we were treated to Colorado's unlikely sprint and the historic breakdown of the Mets,
hogan shoes outlet, the terminal week of 2008 diagrams to be fairly tame.
- Halo of a Decision: It looks favor the Angels will all over with the best record in the AL, which means they will get to dictate their schedule in the ALDS. One series comes with an extra off daytime, presenting an interesting embarrassment for Los Angeles.
Under maximum circumstances, it would probably be best to opt as the accessory repose,
nike airs, yet with the Red Sox the Angels' possible competitor, the sequence with four games in five days might be preferable. The trio of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka is for formidable as anyone in the game,
sennheiser headphones, but there's a significant drop from there to Boston's No. 4 starter -- either Paul Byrd or Tim Wakefield. It would behoove the Halos to force the Red Sox to start 1 or the other in a opener game.
- Leery Over Lidge: Phillies closer Brad Lidge resided perfect in save opportunities Sunday, but that doesn't average there isn't reason to be at least a little anxious approximately him. Lidge walked a maul and gave up a hit in the ninth against the Marlins. The OPS of hitters facing Lidge has spiked 163 points in the second half of the season and his hike rate since the destroy (4.78 per 9 innings) is also worrisome.
Then there's the mental aspect of returning to the postseason. The last time Lidge was on a team that made the playoffs, he gave up a family run to Albert Pujols that, to lend a hackneyed statement, is still in orbit somewhere. It turns out Lidge might have been tipping his pitches then, so take that with the suitable grain of salt.
- Dice-K Rolling: Daisuke Matsuzaka has been a morsel of an enigma this year, posting a gaudy win-loss log and ERA,
tods mens, but struggling mightily every so often with his control and failing to get deep into games consistently. Matsuzaka weary down the stretch last year, but he'll achieve the normal season with 30 fewer innings pitched than in 2007. So he'll be fresh.
But he likewise appears to be getting stronger. If you look at Matsuzaka's premier 14 starts and his last 14 starts the difference namely stark. The right-hander has gotten via the sixth inning in 10 of his last 14 turns. In his first 14, he merely obtained via the sixth inning 5 times. He's meant 6.33 innings per start in his last 14, an boost of a entire inning over his first 14. Best of entire, Matsuzaka appears to be attacking the buffet region extra aggressively. His BB/9 over his last 14 is 4.36. It was 5.88 in his first 14.
- In Awe of Manny: The rendition of Manny Ramirez this annual has been nought short of amazing. According to statistical Web site Baseball-Reference.com, Ramirez is kicking .400 in high-leverage locations.
tory burch booties- Nike information
inexpensive vibram- Nike Sportswear Flywire Air Max 90 Current 8211; Influencer
Nike 6.0 Zoom Mogan Mid 2 Men’s ShoeGet the support you need to stand up to every challenge in the Nike 6.0 Zoom Mogan Mid 2 Men’s Shoe. With a time-tested profile that packs a big punch, you get it all with a protective fit and the performance you need to push the boundaries.Combination leather and nubuck upper with increased layers for durabilityNike Zoom in heel for low-profile cushioning and lightweight performance
sennheiser headphones- - Leery Over Lidge
Linear Mode
