…So Crack a Bottle

The 2010 MLB Playoffs welcomes its first guest, and unlike most other parties, there is a definite advantage to showing up early. The Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, and Philadelphia Phillies all showed up early to the Playoff Party, and are hoping that they have what it takes to be the last team standing.

*At the time of this article, the Phillies had clinched a playoff berth, but not necessarily a division title, so their champagne remains on ice a little longer*

Why Clinching Early Matters

Clinching early puts your team in the drivers’ seat a lot earlier than teams who clinch late. Bullpens and starting rotations get to rest when you already own a playoff spot, as opposed to teams like the Giants, Padres, & Rockies who are facing “must win” situations night in and night out.

As it Stands Today

Some teams, like the Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals are still hanging onto a faint chance of making the playoffs, but I doubt that the clubhouse manager has been instructed to purchase any cases of bubbly just yet. Other teams with champagne on ice include:

• Philadelphia Phillies (6 Game Lead in NL East)
• Cincinnati Reds (6.5 Game Lead in NL Central)
• San Francisco Giants (0.5 Game Lead in NL West)
• San Diego Padres (0.5 Games Back in NL West)
• New York Yankees (0.5 Games Back in AL East)
• Tampa Bay Rays (0.5 Game Lead in the AL East)

Of the teams with a decent chance of spraying the clubhouse down before the end of the season, the Phillies and Cincinnati Reds have the best chance of being the first guests from the National League. The NL West probably won’t be wrapped up until the final week of the season, and the same goes for the Yanks and Rays.

Playing for the Love of the Game

The only difference between the Yanks & Rays and the rest of the league, is that their playoff lives aren’t depending on winning their division. The division runner up will take the wildcard, assuming they avoid a seven game losing streak *fingers crossed*. The AL East race is all about pride and not wanting to see the other team crowned champ which actually makes it a pretty fun race – they are competing for a true love of the game.

The Braves Woes Move San Diego into the Wildcard Lead

The National League sits in stark contrast to the AL, however. Up until the recent stumbling by the Atlanta Braves, it was generally believed that despite having one of the best divisions in baseball, the NL West would only send one representative to the playoff party in 2010. This has all changed now as the Braves have faltered and now don’t even hold the lead in the wildcard anymore. If the season ended today, the Giants would wrap up the West, and the Padres would edge out the Braves for the final playoff spot.

All we can do as fans is sit back and enjoy these playoff races as they enter their final week. While we may not be the host, these teams are all fighting to be invited to a party for our entertainment. So crack a bottle, grab some chips and let the battle resume.

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Aaron

Aaron is an avid sports fan who passionately follows the NFL, NBA and MLB, in addition to NCAA Sports. He is an Arizona State University grad who loves the Dodgers and the Patriots.

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