2008 Woodie Awards
The Hunt for October: 13 Teams, 8 Spots, 1 Championship
Jonathan Stone
Issue date: 10/6/04 Section: Sports
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Once again Major League Baseball is presenting more September drama. The Wild Card in leagues NL and AL West, and the AL East are all up in the air. Only eight of thirteen teams fighting for post-season hope will make the playoffs. The last week of baseball will obviously have a great deal of meaning for players, coaches, and fans alike.
The St. Louis Cardinals have the National League Central all wrapped up, as do the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. This leaves the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants vying for the remaining two spots in the National League. In the American League, the Minnesota Twins are the only team set for the playoffs, having the Central locked up. In the American League the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees are fighting for the Eastern division title, although the team that falls into second place has the Wild Card guaranteed. The A.L. West is also undecided, featuring one of the biggest surprise teams of the year, the Texas Rangers, fighting along with the Oakland Athletics and the Anaheim Angles to win the division.
In the National League, the Wild Card is the only chance for the Cubs and Astros to make the playoff since the Cardinals have a sixteen game lead over them in the Central. The Cubs play Atlanta to close out the regular season, and seeing how things are shaping up, the two teams would be playing each other again only two days later if the Cubs hang on to the Wildcard. The Giants, who have been going up and down as the leader for the Wildcard, play the Western division leading Dodgers in the final weekend of the regular season. Both Houston and San Diego close out the season against sub-.500 teams. The Astros play the Colorado Rockies, and the Padres play the Arizona Diamondbacks. Thus, each team still has a chance to win the Wild Card.
The NL West showcases a season-ending series featuring the Dodgers trying to protect their lead over the Giants. The Giants would have to be, at maximum, three games out by the time their weekend series comes around in order to have a chance at winning the division. If the Giants can tie for first place by the end of the season, a one-game playoff would take place to determine the winner of the division.
The St. Louis Cardinals have the National League Central all wrapped up, as do the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. This leaves the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants vying for the remaining two spots in the National League. In the American League, the Minnesota Twins are the only team set for the playoffs, having the Central locked up. In the American League the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees are fighting for the Eastern division title, although the team that falls into second place has the Wild Card guaranteed. The A.L. West is also undecided, featuring one of the biggest surprise teams of the year, the Texas Rangers, fighting along with the Oakland Athletics and the Anaheim Angles to win the division.
In the National League, the Wild Card is the only chance for the Cubs and Astros to make the playoff since the Cardinals have a sixteen game lead over them in the Central. The Cubs play Atlanta to close out the regular season, and seeing how things are shaping up, the two teams would be playing each other again only two days later if the Cubs hang on to the Wildcard. The Giants, who have been going up and down as the leader for the Wildcard, play the Western division leading Dodgers in the final weekend of the regular season. Both Houston and San Diego close out the season against sub-.500 teams. The Astros play the Colorado Rockies, and the Padres play the Arizona Diamondbacks. Thus, each team still has a chance to win the Wild Card.
The NL West showcases a season-ending series featuring the Dodgers trying to protect their lead over the Giants. The Giants would have to be, at maximum, three games out by the time their weekend series comes around in order to have a chance at winning the division. If the Giants can tie for first place by the end of the season, a one-game playoff would take place to determine the winner of the division.