Heave, ho, blow the man down!!
by cthabeerman on Sep 2, 2011 1:19 PM EDT
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PrintAs we get closer to the end of the regular season, fewer and fewer teams will be playoff-eligible. Their playoff candles will be snuffed, leaving the teams virtually nothing to play for...save pride, effing their rivals, and draft position. As of today, two teams have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. I'll try to keep track of each team's fate over the next two weeks, as the pretenders fall.
Goodnight, sweet princes.
Teams eliminated from postseason play thus far (once your name is here, you're out entirely):
Hanging by a thread (either division or wild card eligibility has been lost)
Eliminated from AL Wild Card only: None
Eliminated from NL Wild Card only: None
Eliminated from AL East Championship: Toronto Blue Jays
Eliminated from NL Central Championship: Cincinnati Reds
Teams on the ropes
(9/15/2011): Cincinnati Reds, out of NL Wild Card w/ ATL win or CIN loss; Los Angeles Dodgers, out of NL West w/ AZ win or LAD loss, out of NL Wild Card w/ ATL win and LAD loss; Chicago White Sox, out of AL Central w/ DET win or CHW loss, out of AL Wild Card w/ BOS and CHW loss; Cleveland Indians, out of AL Central w/ DET win and CLE loss.
I'll try (and likely fail) to update this daily...
-C
This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.
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I guess this is what happens when you end up with one of the least interesting playoff chases in recent history, huh?
Just teasing—it’s a fun idea. But it really does feel like the waiting for someone to achieve failure (mathematical elimination from postseason) is really just a substitute for the usual rapt attention to the dozens of playoff possibilities that usually manifest themselves around this time of year.
The Twins being on this list pleases me to no end.
"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton
Not I
It makes me sad to see that one of the great examples of creating a small market boon that can fund and support a new stadium and a tremendous increase in payroll to compete with the larger markets struggle this season, and worse because mainly of the exact issue that will keep them away from ever truly competing with the Yankees and Red Sox and, to a lesser degree, the Rangers and Angels. When the Twins miss on a $15M player, it kills their payroll. When the Yankees or Red Sox miss on a $15M player, they cut him and cut their losses. Heck, even the Cubs can afford to do that, and when I was in Chicago, that was the word among most fans is that the team will just cut Zambrano and his $18M owed loose and eat the loss. A team like Minnesota that is typically well run and able to be consistently competitive gives hope to smaller organizations like the Rays and Pirates and Royals hope that they can also create long, sustained periods of success from where they are at now.
The Braves actually have less of a payroll than the Twins right now (though very close), and we know how $15M to one Mr. Lowe has hamstrung the organization’s ability to pursue top-end hitters and even held back young pitching. If anything, the Braves and Twins have a large amount of similarities in how they approach the business of baseball.
Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2011 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2010)
Twitter: @biggentleben
by biggentleben on Sep 3, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
1991
NEVER FORGET
"SABERMETRIC ANALYSIS CONFIRMS "WIN" OUTCOME PROBABILITY CAN INCREASE VIA GRITTY DIRTFRONT JERSEY HUSTLEPOINTS" -CyborgHansonTommy
Especially since ahole Twins fans
won’t let you.
"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton
Eh, pretty easy
Just remind them in 1995, they were mourning the loss of Kirby while Braves fans were celebrating a world series win. Been 20 years for them now!
Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2011 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2010)
Twitter: @biggentleben
The Braves celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 1991 season....
with a reunion, retiring Bobby’s number, and a probable return to the playoffs.
The Twins celebrated with this:
Not nearly so funny when you’re 23 games under 500, is it Twinsies?
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
I still cheer for them
They’re my AL team, and other than Tampa, I can’t think of anyone in the AL I’d like to cheer for.
Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2011 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2010)
Twitter: @biggentleben
Yikes
If that’s going to make you HATE someone, than I hope you never, ever mention Lonnie Smith in a positive light. Or Tom Glavine, who flat out lost the series vs. San Fran in 2002 before having a much better postseason performance in his time as a Met than he did as a Brave.
It’s a game. It was a funny moment because it was such an obvious missed call. I don’t know a single Twins fan who seriously believes Hrbek did nothing wrong. They used the humor of that moment as a way to sell a piece of their 1991 commemorative bobbleheads. If you can’t leave that at the door, I truly sympathize for your mental state.
Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2011 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2010)
Twitter: @biggentleben
a) I was saying that tongue-in-cheek Ben
b) Do you think the Braves would ever come out with a Julio Lugo bobblehead like so?
Or the Marlings with a Livan Hernandez and Eric Gregg bobblehead to celebrate ’97?
Humor is supposed to be funny, and celebrating a cheap move and grievous error isn’t exactly comical.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
For some reason, the official is off limits in making these jokes, which could make the Pirates one viable, except that it happened in the regular season. If you had a major incident in a World Series where you could capture two or more of the players involved, I absolutely could see it done.
Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2011 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2010)
Twitter: @biggentleben
I'm 100% with you on this.
I think it was ridiculous. I’ve always liked the Twins, even after the referenced World Series loss. I, too, can see a lot of similarities in our organizations. However, I thought this bobblehead was plain old bush league, and ever since I saw it I haven’t felt the same way about the team.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
Something unexpected happened that I had not anticipated, which is mine own fault. The Red Sox slipped below the Yanks, changing the AL Wild Card standings. Now Minnesota and Seattle have a one-game respite. If either team loses once or the Red Sox win once, they’re out of the wild card.
Looks like I called the goose cooked one frame too soon…my apologies, and I will try to do better in the coming days.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
no worries C
much appreciated posting. Great idea man and again, much appreciation for putting in the work.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
Close, but not quite...
If the Cubs win all 22 of their games, they finish with 82 wins, same as the Braves’ current total for a tie with 23 Braves losses.
The number of games remaining actually plays a big part in the elimination, and I’m finding it harder to update than you might think. For instance, the Nationals are 25 GB the Phillies with 24 games to go…out, right?? Nope. Since Philly has 26 games, they could lose those two extra games to put it back to 24 GB, and the Nationals could win all of those while Philly loses all of theirs to tie. So I’ve had a screw-up here and there on those accounts.
Nevertheless, the second lowest tier of teams (i.e. not Baltimore and Houston) are all getting close to elimination on at least one front, and many on both of their playoff opportunities. There will probably be an elimination spike in the next 2-3 days and then a 2-3 day lull before more teams face the chopping block.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
7 teams now on the ropes...
San Diego is in danger of losing both their wild card and division hopes today. If they lose, they’re out of the wild card (or if Atlanta can take one from the Phillies). If they lose and the D-Backs win, they’re out of everything.
Four teams (Minnesota, Kansas City, Seattle, and the aforementioned San Diego) could be eliminated entirely today, the first teams to have their dreams of a championship officially crushed since Baltimore limped its way out of the playoff race.
The Athletics and the Royals play each other in an elimination battle of sorts. KC is out with a loss, while the Athletics could lose and hang onto hope if Boston also loses. If Detroit wins, KC is out regardless of the outcome of the game.
San Diego could know their fate in the wild card before they play tonight w/ an Atlanta win and the Mariners may already be eliminated prior to their contest if Texas can beat Tampa Bay. There are no day games today, so a lot of these teams could find out they’re out sometime during tonight’s games.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
It's both, or none...
Depending upon which version of the sea shanty you’re listening to.
Lots o’ changes today, folks.
Eliminated entirely: Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, and Seattle Mariners.
Eliminated from NL Wild Card: San Diego Padres (they barely held onto their division hopes)
Eliminated from AL Wild Card: Oakland Athletics
The New York Mets make their first appearance in “Teams on the Ropes.”
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
We abstain from ebonics and womanization on this blog.
“Heave, ho” it shall remain.
Disclaimer: Not to be cruel...
I don’t relish in other teams’ eliminations, after all, I’m just trying to report the facts.
The Astros’ magic number for getting the first pick in the draft is now 14. A combination of 14 Houston losses and Baltimore wins should give the Astros the first pick.
Of course, many teams are still eligible for this dubious but fruitful distinction, but the window is closing as rapidly as the playoff race.
On the other side of the ball, the Phillies’ playoff magic number is six. Not for the division, that’s still 14, but to clinch a berth via wild card is just six. The Yankees’ magic playoff number is 12.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Follow-up...
I did look at this the other day, and the only consensus was that there is no consensus #1 pick at this time. Of course, Rendon was the consensus #1 at this time last year and fell to sixth, so there’s no guarantees.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Another update in the books...
And I’ve actually updated every day thus far.
Mets out of NL East, leaving Atlanta as the only division foe standing in Philly’s way…it’s the first division to become a two-team race despite the fact that the NLE has been the 2nd-winningest division in the league. Florida was eliminated entirely today.
Only Pittsburgh’s on the chopping block tonight, but we’re probably going to see Oakland, Washington and Colorado join the last-ditch effort list soon enough. Those four teams round out the lower tier that should end up ~.465.
.500-ish teams (Blue Jays, Indians, Mets, Reds, and Dodgers) may start going on the chopping block as soon as Monday or so.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Updated.
Sorry I didn’t get to this through the weekend…my house gotten broken into and everything electronic was taken. Didn’t come into the office, had no other way to access the interwebs.
Oakland and Pittsburgh out, Colorado on the ropes for both of its applicable playoff positions. Washington on the board for the second time, and Toronto and Cincinnati (and the aforementioned Rockies) are the newcomers to the On the Ropes section.
1/3 of the league officially out of the playoff race…what else?? Oh, Philadelphia clinches a playoff spot with a PHI win and STL loss (magic number = 2). Similarly, the Yankees magic number for a playoff spot is 11. Houston’s magic number for the first draft pick is now 8.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
It sucks...
Thankfully, thieves don’t steal books. Not that the insurance is going to bend over backward to ensure that we get our fair due, but at least depreciated value actually has some sense of meaning for electronics. I could just see them chalking up my book collection as worth $100 because I could go buy them at garage sales for pennies on the dollar. That would absolutely infuriate me.
If I can get enough back to make all my new electronic purchases cost only a few hundred bucks, I’ll be happy. I didn’t lose that much simply because I dig things like books, which apparently don’t have much value to thieves.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
It's Mike Wallace, run!!!
Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2011 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2010)
Twitter: @biggentleben
by biggentleben on Sep 12, 2011 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Another day...
Another dream falls by the wayside. The lone casualty of the playoff race came in the NL West yesterday, as Arizona won to knock Colorado out of the division playoff race.
Philadelphia moves another game closer to claiming a playoff bid as St. Louis lost to make the Phillies’ playoff magic number a single tally. Houston won and Baltimore did not, so the magic number remains the same (8) in the race for first pick. The Yankees win to drop their playoff-qualifying magic number to 10.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Lot of movement today...
Here comes that third wave of elimination, the teams fighting for .500. The Rockies were eliminated entirely today, the Blue Jays are out of the AL East race, and Cincinnati dropped its NL Central postseason chances.
Either the National or Mets will be eliminated today. Both are out of the division race, are one loss away from losing out of the wild card, and face each other. An Atlanta win eliminates both.
Cincinnati joins the Teams on the Ropes for the Wild Card and the Dodgers are now down to their last breath in the NL West race.
Philly remains one win or one STL loss away from a playoff berth. Baltimore won to lower the Astros’ magic number for the first draft pick to seven. And the Yanks won while Tampa lost to drop New York’s playoff berth magic number to eight.
The number of playoff-eligible teams will continue to dwindle in the next day or two, as Toronto, Chicago (AL), Cleveland, and Los Angeles (NL) fight to stay alive. Their seasons should now be considered on the brink. By week’s end, there may be only the 12 teams with legitimate shots at the playoffs (90+ potential wins) left – 6 in the AL, 6 in the NL. Philly will still likely be the first officially playoff-bound team, though the Tigers could be the first to wrap up its division.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
And after the next day or two C,...
it’d be time for a new one. 12 days old, and it drops after 14.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
Yep.
Fortunately, it falls on a weekday so we’re certain to get an early (for me, not so much the east coast) update. TBH, it’s probably just going to be a copy & paste job and update, with a new title.
Work let me borrow an old laptop, so now I can update at home as well as catch the games (thankfully, thieves can’t take my MLB.tv). It’s not ideal, but it’s the best I have to work with at the moment…
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Sounds like a good plan...
and I do love it when a plan comes together.
Hope insurance let’s you get new fancy stuff soon.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
Quick note...
I won’t update at mid-day because it could confuse people (with the w/ ATL win and/or stuff, etc.), but the Nats and Mets are officially out of the playoff race.
Detroit’s win over the White Sox puts Chicago on its very last leg…any future DET win or CHW loss eliminates them.
8 playoff-eligible teams left in the NL, 9 in the AL.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Oh...
Philly also clinched a playoff spot today. Houston’s draft magic number drops another game to six.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
As mentioned previously...
The Mets and Nats are out. Philly’s clinched a playoff spot.
Detroit doesn’t even need to win today to clinch the AL Central, as both the White Sox and Indians are a single loss away from falling out of the race. If Detroit wins, they’re in and the other two are out, regardless of the outcome of their games. This spot should realistically be decided by the end of tomorrow’s games at the latest. The White Sox could fall out of the playoffs entirely with a Boston win and Chicago loss. Boston begins a series with Tampa today, so all four AL contests today still have playoff implications.
Cincinnati beat the Cubs yesterday but is still on the ropes, one loss (or an Atlanta win, but the Braves are idle today) away from waving goodbye to the 2011 playoffs. The Dodgers face Pittsburgh tonight and need a win to stay in the NL West chase. Arizona and Atlanta don’t play, so LA can’t be knocked out of the both applicable playoff races with wins from those teams (and a LAD loss, in the case of the Wild Card). Worst-case scenario, they will still be in the running tomorrow.
Yet another Baltimore win drops the Astros’ first draft pick magic number to just five. A Tampa loss in that very same game drops the Yankees’ playoff magic number to seven.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Wait a tick...
My apologies to the Baltimore Orioles. They are no longer the second worst team in the league. The Minnesota Twins have taken that spot, so the Baltimore win was neither entirely consequential or inconsequential. Houston’s magic draft pick number remains six because Minnesota lost as well yesterday.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
I'm glad you caught that
I came to this post to see that about the Twins this morning after hearing bellyaching all night last night from Twins fans over it.
Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2011 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2010)
Twitter: @biggentleben
by biggentleben on Sep 15, 2011 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
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