<font color=goldenrod>Although the Phillies are the clear favorites, all bets are off in the postseason...especially in a 5-game set.

I was initially against the idea of a 1-game wild card playoff, but if nothing else it will keep the teams in the hunt...just so long as the Wild Card game loser doesn't have it count towards their stats as an actual playoff appearance.

Bet if they implement it though, there will be a 92-win WC team that loses to an 85-win WC team and everybody will bitch about how unfair it is.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>lol Parnell with another blown save. 5 blown saves since being inserted as the closer a few weeks ago.

ATTN Mets: hard fastball does not a closer make</font>

Pirates give GM Neal Huntington an extension into 2014 with a club option for '15.

I had him on the axed list after the season was over. The team pretty much saved his ass early in the season when they broke .500 and sat atop the NL Central for a little bit. Then they had that 10 game losing streak after the all-star game.

:nono: Red Sox keeping the yearly tradition active of falling apart or having a really bad slide once September occurs.

Won't be surprised if the Rays managed to take the Wild Card with how badly the Red Sox stopped caring about winning games for the rest of the season.

Seems like the Tigers are the only team in the AL playing good baseball right now. I could totally see Verlander carrying them all the way through the playoffs if things stay the same.

<font color=goldenrod>The Mets were banned from wearing their FDNY/NYPD/Port Authority caps tonight. Stay classy MLB.</font>

Rays only 4 games behind the Red Sox. Sox are playing like shit right now. Would be gr8 if that could happen

Yeah, they're ripping people to shreds. Obviously hungry for that first division title since '87. Can't believe they've strung together 9 straight with three consecutive sweeps (Chicago White Sox, Indians, Twins). Makes me very happy to be a Tigers supporter for the first time in a few years.

Yankees beat the Mariners and King Felix on the road. That's a first.

It's so impressive that they are managing to beat junior varsity teams. If the Tigers were in the East they'd be in last.

Manny being Manny.

Funny story about Brian LaHair. I forget if I told this. Probably only amusing to me. Two months ago me and my work buddy were looking at Cubs minor league prospects. My buddy found LaHair and pointed him out to me because he had like 30hr's in the minor leagues . We couldn't figure out why he hadn't been called up. He's 28. It seemed long overdue, but there wasnt much buzz about him.

Fast forward two months later, September 6th. I had long stopped following the Cubs prospects for the season. Me and my work friend attend our 2nd Cubs v Reds game this season. We're sitting in right field bleachers. It's bottom of the ninth and my buddy can't wipe the shit eating grin off his face because he's a Reds fan. Castro legs one out safe to first. Two outs and they announce Brian LaHair now batting. We both look at eachother like " LaHair! Look at that! ". We seemed like the leading authority on Brian LaHair knowledge in the bleachers. Two minutes later, BOOM! LaHair jacks a bomb about 10 feet from where we were sitting. Mass fucking hysteria. Probably the most excitement I've had at a sporting event. My buddy was shaking his head. He couldn't believe it was Brian LaHair.

Amazing personal moment I guess.

I'm going to the Reds/Cubs game tonight. I will definitely steal this to impress people in my section.

I was like " yah man Bryan LaHair. Duhhh Triple A MVP, come on guys!".

I was pretty drunk off Old Style when all this went down. Made like five bleacher friends.

"Hat Flap" becomes a bigger embarrassment to Selig after news today showed that MLB really didn't have a strong reason to deny the Mets the commemorative hats besides not wanting to create a "precedent for other incidents".

It also didn't help that Selig called the Mets to yell at them saying because they went public, the team embarrassed MLB and him in the eyes of the public.

Torre is trying to diffuse the situation by saying MLB wasn't yelling or trying to cause a problem denying the Mets request.

Mets players claim MLB officials physically took away the hats after the pre-game ceremony to prevent them from sneaking the hats back on the field.

Some people also think had the situation been reversed with the Yankees at home and Mets away, MLB would have allowed the request for the special caps.

:D Red Sox end loosing streak with a 18-6 beating of Toronto and Wakefield got his 200th win tonight.

No mention of Mariano breaking 600 saves? 2 more and he has the record because Hoffman retired with 601. Pretty damn impressive, as much as I hate the Yankees.

Russell Martin said he didn't realize it was 600 until everyone was celebrating more than usual.

I crack up at people who say Riveria is overated. Imagine if Carlos Marmol was the Yanks closer for the last 15 seasons.

Lol

He's so nice of a guy he showed Roy Halladay how to throw a cutter.

Brendan Morrow is a disaster.

Yum, I love feasting on that gas can Daniel Bard.

Pirates notch their 19th losing season in a row today. No way they can get above .500 now.

I'm quite bumed out by this. I kinda thought this was their year the way things were going.

2012 schedules were announced today. The Miami Marlins open their season at their new staduim against the Cardinals April 4th.

You heard it here first: Yankees fan ClockShot wants a salary cap in baseball so the Pirates can be competitive.

They're gonna be known as "The Miami Marlins" starting in 2012?

Where does salary cap come into play on this?

<font color=goldenrod>Love it when Triple A lifers get a shot. I remember in 2008 Valentino Pascucci was tearing shit up in the minors and Mets fans (myself included) were rallying to give him a call up. He didn't, and the Mets continued to use horrible players in pinch hitting spots down the stretch, each one shittier than the last.

Pascucci finally got a September call up this year, when he's not even really needed. Think he's only had 1 at bat. Still pretty cool, since it's his first big league experience since a cup of coffee with the Expos in 2004.</font>

It was part of the financing deal for the new stadium since it was almost entirety funded by the city.

The Florida name never really made much sense because only Miami ever provided the funds for the team when needed while the other cities and state government refused.

They should have a new Manager for next season, too, someone who will bring some life to that ballclub. It just doesn't feel right to have the team open up a new stadium (their OWN stadium), which in essence is viewed by some as a "rebirth" for the Marlins, and have Jack McKeon as Manager.

Most people would say Ozzie Guillen should be Manager, but I don't know...I don't really like Ozzie, to begin with. If the Marlins were able to land Ryne Sandberg, that'd be awesome.

Jack McKeon is awesome

I'm not saying he SUCKS, but I believe the Marlins organization views next season as a "rebirth", so they should also start the season with a new Manager, someone younger.

"Out with the old, in with the new".

I'm pretty sure the only way Jack McKeon is not going to be the manager of the Marlins next year is if he doesn't want to/dies or if they can get Ozzie

Kershaw ejected... what a fucking joke.

What the heck is up with Mitch Williams' head while he talks? He always has some kind of a head wiggle as he speaks...always moving it around lol.

<font color=goldenrod>Fucking can't wait for the playoffs. Every potential matchup looks intriguing. Doesn't really seem like any teams are going to be doormats.

Plus the Mets have pretty much killed my interest in the final 2 weeks. Brutal homestand, leading to Terry Collins accusing the team of quitting. Harold Reynolds and Sean Casey took him to task for that tonight, saying it would offset the team liking him all year, etc. but I don't see the big deal. They've looked beyond lacksadaisical and like they don't care...which isn't very inspiring considering everybody should be in audition mode. The only players on the current roster that are locks for next year are Wright, Bay, Niese, and Dickey. Everyone else is up in the air.</font>

Are the Rays really going to overtake the Red Sox? Are the Cardinals going to catch the Brewers?

The Boston team, specially, looks just...tired. They've had a bunch of injuries and IDK...even if they make the playoffs, they may have trouble.

Gonna be honest, I think the Braves are going to back into the playoffs like nobody has done before. Our best starters are out, our bullpen is overworked, and the team is in its worst offensive slump they've had this year. Too many ifs for me to feel good about their chances.

Honestly both Texas and Detroit frighten me as a Yankee fan.

YOU WANNA SEE TERRY COLLINS INTENSE!