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PLERERFFS!



Rangers just took the lead against the Angels with Yu on the mound...if they hold on, there'll be a one-game playoff between the Rays and Rangers to determine who will get to compete in a one-game playoff against the Indians to determine who will get to play in a series of slightly more civilized length.

You know what would suck? Being a team whose three best hitters are left-handed, playing a do or die game against a guy who has been getting lefties out at a ridiculous rate. Cueto's going to have to be light-out for the Reds to have a chance.

I like the Rays in the other wild-card. Like the pitching match-up against the Rangers, and have no idea who the Indians will start considering Jimenez pitched today and Masterson hasn't started since his injury. I'd guess it would be Kluber, with Cobb going for the Rays.

I read somewhere that the Indians will start Salazar.

I could not care less about the Dodgers so I am not sure if this is big news or was expected.

Dylan Hernandez @dylanohernandez 11m
Matt Kemp ruled out for playoffs.

Kemp missing the playoffs on its own isn't the hugest of deals; he's their fourth-best outfielder at this point, so losing him limits options (particularly in the World Series, if they were to reach it), but is manageable.

The problem is that Ethier is also in rough shape...his ankle is bad enough that he might be reduced to pinch-hitting duties, at least initially, and he's unlikely to be able to play center field reasonably. Thus the Dodgers might be reduced from having a glut of outfield options to starting Skip flippin' Shumacher in center.

Having Kershaw, Ryu and Greinke sure doesn't hurt. I can easily see them taking out the Braves.

So I have an interview at Emory School of Medicine next Friday and I decided to squeeze in a Braves playoff game Friday night. First trip to Turner. It'll be fun watching good teams for a change! Guess I'll buy a Braves hat or something.

Evan Longoria is pretty good.

Keep bunting, Ron.

Hopefully the Indians take out the Rays on Wednesday.

Santoki wrote:Hopefully the Indians take out the Rays on Wednesday.

Can't see that happening. Rays have a better team and have a better starting pitcher going. Obviously in a sudden death game anyone can win, but the odds are heavily in the Rays favour.

RapsFanInVA wrote:So I have an interview at Emory School of Medicine next Friday and I decided to squeeze in a Braves playoff game Friday night. First trip to Turner. It'll be fun watching good teams for a change! Guess I'll buy a Braves hat or something.

Hey, best of luck man.

Yeah, I hope the Tribe makes it over the Rays. Would be awesome for them to get the spot.

As I said yesterday, the Rays just find a way. Hopefully they keep finding a way against Cleveland and more importantly Boston.

Tyrone Slothrop wrote:

Santoki wrote:Hopefully the Indians take out the Rays on Wednesday.

Can't see that happening. Rays have a better team and have a better starting pitcher going. Obviously in a sudden death game anyone can win, but the odds are heavily in the Rays favour.

As we've seen, Salazar can be pretty unhittable when he's on, though he can't go deep in games right now. That could be a problem Wednesday.

Tyrone Slothrop wrote:

Santoki wrote:Hopefully the Indians take out the Rays on Wednesday.

Can't see that happening. Rays have a better team and have a better starting pitcher going. Obviously in a sudden death game anyone can win, but the odds are heavily in the Rays favour.

It's a one-game playoff in Cleveland who are currently the hottest team in the league. "Can't see that happening" really shouldn't be in anyone's vocabulary right now.

Santoki wrote:Hopefully the Indians take out the Rays on Wednesday.

Why don't you want the Rays to win? I personally want them to at least get into the post-season since Texas and Cleveland both got where they are from being in crappy divisions and beating up on bad teams while the Rays had the 4th toughest schedule to play.

Predictions:

Rays over Indians
Pirates over Reds

Dodgers over Braves
Cards over Pirates

Red Sox over Rays
Tigers over A's

Dodgers over Cards
Tigers over Red Sox

Dodgers over Tigers

MLB has always said it does not want to do a 3 game series because it does not want its team taking to big a layoff... and here we are, with an AL team only starting on Friday... 4 days rest.

Just give me the teams in a 3 game series no days off after the season, and everything is fairer.

Raptor_Guy wrote:

Santoki wrote:Hopefully the Indians take out the Rays on Wednesday.

Why don't you want the Rays to win? I personally want them to at least get into the post-season since Texas and Cleveland both got where they are from being in crappy divisions and beating up on bad teams while the Rays had the 4th toughest schedule to play.

Mainly because they're a division rival who has abused us for the better part of 6 years. And, there's nothing really about their team that I find that interesting. I also tend to root for Cleveland teams since they're about the only city who's had it worse than Toronto.

A team that always beats you is not a rival. Go Rays!

Nice atmosphere in Pittsburgh tonight. Go Reds!