MLB Talk - 2010 Season

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Aw hell. Despite one mother of a comeback, Yanks still got beat..

Time for a silly question. I know the Yankees' magic number to clinch a postseason berth is currently 3. That number cannot go up, can it? Meaning, the fact that they lost tonight doesn't mean the number will go up to 4 or 5? If they lose, the number stays the same, and if they win, it goes down?

 

[tomalak301]

I think Lincecum is officially back. He's been Cy Young studly this entire month and tonight he took a perfect game into the 6th inning. Giants Sweep the Rockies this weekend and the Rockies are done in the division race. Hopefully the Reds can do their thing against San Diego and this lead can increase and we can be done with it by next weekend.

Here was my prediction when I started this thread regarding the NL West:

As for predictions, it's a weak NL west and I wouldn't be surprised if the Giants win it. I can see it being a three team race between the Rockies, Dodgers and Giants but here's hoping the Giants come out on top.

So I missed on one team. I didn't think the Padres would be this good at the beginning of the season but they really got the ball rolling early and the wins against the Giants proved that. Still, I can't say I'm really that far off though, which is nice.

 

[sidious618]

Seems like Pettitte still needs some time off.

 

[Kirby]

Congrats to the Giants, I'm betting they'll take the NL West. Too bad the Rockies have self destructed though...

 

[SVD]

Look at the predictions I made in March: whoops

AL East - Yankees
AL Central - Twins
AL West - Angels
AL Wild Card - Red Sox

NL East - Braves
NL Central - Cubs
NL West - Dodgers
NL Wild Card - Phillies

Ah, well! 5/8 is not bad.

... I didn't think the Padres would be this good at the beginning of the season but they really got the ball rolling early and the wins against the Giants proved that. Still, I can't say I'm really that far off though, which is nice.

I still cant believe that the Padrees have become a tough and good team since piking Baseball up again!

Worst in the west in my first binge (2000-2005) to contenders on this one (2008-present)

 

[Timby]

Bob Brenly has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Cubs' managerial opening, citing "personal and professional reasons." He declined to elaborate when reached for comment by Dave Van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune. Thus far, the only individuals to have interviewed are Eric Wedge (formerly of Cleveland) and Ryne Sandberg. Fredi Gonzalez has also declined to be interviewed. The Cubs are planning interviews with Pat Listach, and former Seattle managers Bob Melvin and Don Wakamatsu.

Way to aim high, Cubs. I have a feeling the team told Brenly, "Sure, we'll interview you, but if we hire you, we'll make Sandberg your bench coach, and you'll just be keeping the seat warm for him."

 

[Starbreaker]

Wow. We needed that win big time. Go anybody that helps the Braves later! Gotta get in the playoffs.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Fuckbeans. Yankees are getting their asses kicked. The pitching is really struggling. Girardi needs to light a fire under 'em and quick.

At this point I don't really care if they or the Rays win the AL East, home field advantage be fucked. I just hope the Yanks make the postseason *at all*. They got 4 more games against the Sox and three in Toronto...magic number is still 3...

 

[Kirby]

Rox won a sweet one in the 10th. Maybe the September magic is back? Probably not, they're still 4 games back with 8 games to go, but still, it's fun.

 

[Skywalker]

Fuckbeans. Yankees are getting their asses kicked. The pitching is really struggling. Girardi needs to light a fire under 'em and quick.

At this point I don't really care if they or the Rays win the AL East, home field advantage be fucked. I just hope the Yanks make the postseason *at all*. They got 4 more games against the Sox and three in Toronto...magic number is still 3...

I'll laugh my ass off if the Red Sox make a last-minute run and knock the Yankees out of the playoffs.

I highly doubt it will happen, but still...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I'm still a little confused as to what this "magic number" means. The Rays won tonight, but their magic number is still 3 - same as yesterday.

I thought the number simply meant the number of games a team had to win to clinch the postseason - regardless of the opponent....

The Rays' website says that they will clinch on Sunday if they win, *and* if the Yankees beat the Sox that night. How do they figure that?

 

[SmoothieX]

Magic number is a combination of your team's wins and your competition's losses.

Let's say Team A has a magic number of 5 over Team B. If A wins today, it goes to 4. Then B loses tomorrow, so it goes to 3.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ On the Yankees' website, it says that their magic number is 3, but it didn't say against who. The Rays *and* the Red Sox? Yesterday, before the game, it was 3. Now, it's still 3. But the Red Sox and the Rays both won yesterday...

MLB.com also says this:

With their elimination number still at three, meaning any combination of Yankees wins and Red Sox losses would end Boston's chances

What does this mean, exactly? Boston has to win all of their remaining games in order to clinch? Or do they just have to win all their remaining games (four) against the Yankees?

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Boston is 5 1/2 back with 7 remaining. All the Yankees have to do is make it so the number Boston is back is greater than the number games remaining. If my math is right, that means any three wins or Boston losses would do it. For example, if they beat Boston tonight, Boston will be 6 1/2 back with 7 games remaining. If Boston wins, they'll be 5 1/2 back with 7 remaining. If the Yankees beat Boston and win one more game, they're in. If they lose to Boston, they can get in if they win the next three games or Boston loses three games or any combination in between.

EDIT: Boston has a margin of error of one game. The Yankees can win only one game and Boston wins out or the Yankees lose out and Boston can lose once. They all but need to sweep the Yankees and will certainly need to sweep them next time. I believe the Yanks also need to lose 2 of 3 to the Jays. In other words, they would need to play like the Mets.

Either the Yankees need to go 0-7 and the Sox 7-1 or the Yankees need to go 1-6 and the Sox 8-0.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

If the Yankees beat Boston and win one more game, they're in.

Okay, that much I got.

If they lose to Boston, they can get in if they win the next three games or Boston loses three games or any combination in between.

Ah, I see. So the Yankees would basically have to win more games against the Jays than the Sox do against the White Sox? (those are the next series coming up)

 

[Starbreaker]

It's gonna be a long offseason in Atlanta. What a terrible September. Using the same tired bullpen guys over and over, playing the same three automatic outs at the bottom of the line up every day... it gets old.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Well, there goes Matt Cain's no-hitter...

 

[SVD]

Well, there goes Matt Cain's no-hitter...

A complete game, 4-2 win isn't a bad consolation prize, though!

EDIT: Come on Reds, HANG IN THERE!

 

[Tiberius Jim]

A big thank you to the Reds for spankin' the Pads, and holy Matt Cain, Batman. At this point, with 6 games left for the Giants I could not care less about no-hitters or shut outs. I just want W's, and that's what Cain's pitching and some timely offense got them today.

I'm just glad they're out of Denver...should be nice to go back home where all of the baseballs are the same.

 

[Starbreaker]

I'm really hoping the Braves in their final 6 and the Phillies lose their final 6. That would be epic.