Saturday, October 2nd, 2010

Making the Last Day Matter

The San Diego Padres decided to make the final regular season game of the 2010 Major League Baseball season matter. At one point down the stretch, they held a commanding lead over the teams in the National League West. But lately, the San Francisco Giants seized control of the division. It's fitting that the schedule makers matched these two teams for the final three games of the regular season.

Entering the final series, the Giants held a three game lead over the Padres. The Giants only needed one win in the final three games to clinch the NL West and force the Padres to battle for their playoff lives against the Atlanta Braves for the NL Wild Card. So far, the Padres have accomplished just that. The Padres defeated the Giants on Friday (6-4) and Saturday (4-2) to force meaning into the final regular season game on Sunday. That being said, the Philadelphia Phillies pounded the Braves this afternoon, 7-0. Following the games on Saturday, the Giants hold a one game lead over the Padres in the NL West standings. In the NL Wild Card standings, the Braves and Padres find themselves even.

The American League playoff picture is basically set. Both the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays clinched spots, but they need to determine which team will win the AL East and which will be the AL Wild Card. The Minnesota Twins have won the AL Central and the Texas Rangers have won the AL West. The National League is still up for grabs. The Phillies have won the NL East and the Cincinnati Reds have won the NL Central.

Who knows. We may have another tie-breaker game this season. Bonus baseball is alway good. Well, for me anyway.