I can't believe the Astros have actually managed to get back into the race, especially without Pettitte. As a Houston fan, I know I'm foolish for having renewed hope, since it's a lot of ground to cover when the Cubs have a relatively favorable schedule ahead. But I'm at least proud they haven't thrown in the towel on the season when, a month ago, I was already trying to figure out what we needed to do for next year.


As of tonight ...

Chicago --
San Diego 1/2
San Francisco  1/2
Florida  3
Houston  3

Your 'stros got a shot, but I'm not sure they can outpace Florida, who seems to have kicked into that same gear they were in at the end of last season.

I think the Cubs and Marlins face each other a few times in the next month, so I'm hoping they'll split their series.

Scratch that: I just checked the two teams' schedule, and maybe I should hope for a Fish sweep of the Cubs and a Braves sweep of Florida.

As I said, I'm probably a moron for even getting sucked back into believing. lol So many things have to line up for us to grab the spot.

[ August 31, 2004, 08:41 PM: Message edited by: SportsOutdoorsGA ]

Cubs have the easiest schedule. I'm thinking the Giants may come out on top in the NL West, in which case the Cubs have the wildcard in spades.

Marlins are HOT and can't be stopped. Beckett is back in form; Burnett was overpowering in his last starts; Pavano has been steady all year; and the bullpen has been much improved with the additions of Mota and Seanez and the return of Benitez. Castillo is hurt but Easley is actually an upgrade as a replacement. Lowell and Cabrerra are both gaining their stride, and the addition of Lo Duca is the final ingredient to a wild-card berth.

I tend to agree. Of the four teams I see in real contention here (San Fran, Houston, Florida, and Chicago. sorry Pads, I'm rooting for you next year) Florida appears to be rising on a bullet. They have the pitching, the offense, and the experience to finish the season strong.
Houston has impressed me greatly by stepping up and not just playing out the string (Phil Gardner could be this years Jack Mckeon). The 'stros are the one x-factor I can't rule out or jump on board. Oswalt and Clemens could be the one-two punch that nobody wants to see in the post season. Age and injuries could still factor in them coming up short for the postseason.
Chicago just is not the team they were last year. Inconsistency from Prior and Wood is going to doom them. From my vantage point as a Braves fan, the Cubs appear to be treading water right now like the Phils were before we took their ass. Everyone is gaining ground behind them.
"You can't rule out a team with Barry Bonds." Bullshiot, San Fran is an average team at best with Barry and Jason Schmidt, which is saying something because they would be Diamondback-esque without them. If the Dodgers weren't so damn mediocre, we could be spared another post season of "Will Barry get his ring?"
The G-men do not have the juice to out punch any of the other three teams I've mentioned. Their only hope is that the Dodgers continue their post Lo Duca trade meltdown.

I think the Marlins do face a serious challenge in having six games left vs. the Braves and, despite their struggles right now, six games vs. the Cubs — but especially the Braves. Atlanta doesn't appear to have any intention of doing its usual fade down the stretch.

The Astros have probably the even bigger hurdle: six games vs. the steamrolling Cardinals.

If — and it's a big if — the Astros could win again tonight vs. St. Louis and the Padres and Reds could manage to get one win out of the next two vs. the Giants and Cubs, respectively, then Houston, San Francisco and Chicago would be in a three-way tie heading into their final series.

[ September 29, 2004, 08:06 AM: Message edited by: SportsOutdoorsGA ]

Yes, that would be something but I'm going with the Giants all the way!!!

Losing that weekend series against the Cubs to Hurricane Frances killed the Marlins. They had to make up too many games. Ah well. As long as either Houston or San Francisco wins the Wild Card, I'll be happy.

What a relief that I didn't stay up here in the Eastern Time Zone for nothing: Padres 4, Giants 3 in 10.

What a nasty way to end -- the Giants' Dustan Mohr hurt himself tripping over the bullpen mound while catching what turned out to be the game-winning sac fly.

Well shit. I'm glad I wasn't watching, I was doing convulsions just reading the game recap.

This reminds me of living in L.A. and watching the Dodgers beat the Giants in the last game of the season to keep them out of the playoffs...1993, 103 wins and no dice. I was 10 at the time and started crying in the stands!

Just three weeks ago, I figured there was no way the Astros could make it to the wild card--they had started their push too far back and would run out of steam--and am just gobsmacked they now lead the wild card chase by 1/2 game. And that Roger Clemens--who could have spent this season fishing & watching his kids play ball--could be the Cy Young winner again.

~Adam

The replays ESPN was showing of Dustan Mohr's injury was one of those "turn away from the screen" injuries as his leg tisted underneath him. Doctors believe he injured the patella tendon and anterior cruciate. Bummer that the game ended on this kind of note. These "bullpens" in the field are just ridiculous.


ESPN.com breaks down how thge tiebreak possibilites will play out, including a possible 4 way tie with the Dodgers, Giants, Cubs and Astros! eek!



[ September 30, 2004, 09:35 AM: Message edited by: George_vikingfan ]

The Cubs season is officially over.....in my book.
frown

Giants are currently leading the Pods 4-1. Next face the questionable dojers. Chicago is losing big time, so we should be able to bury the dojers in the last 3 games. We either win the NL West or the WC either way!

Astros always choke.

Cubs lose...Giants win...Stros did not play...Bums ??? (gotta get some zzz's)
Race for the playoffs this weekend! The season comes down to the final series.
GO GIANTS!!!

I'd say it would be tough to label the Astros as chokers this time, no matter what happens. The fact that they put themselves back into contention after where they were six weeks ago is amazing. If you're going to label someone in this wild-card race chokers, it would have to be the Cubs. You said it yourself a month ago, billsf: Chicago certainly had the schedule on their side.

I agree -- this time it's the Cubs, not the Astros, who should be viewed as chokers, especially after losing the last 3 games to the Reds. The Astros did what I wish the Phillies would have done -- got Carlos Beltran and kept plugging away until they got back in the race.

Cubs come up short in a 9th inning rally vs Braves. GO GIANTS!!!

The Astros aren't gonna choke.. not this year...

it's do or die time for bags and biggio

The killer Bs, Bagwell, Biggio, Berkman, and Beltran...along with....

my ever hunky Ausmus and the guy i vote as the baseball player i'd like to see in a cop's uniform or some tight , tight wanglers or 501s and open button cowboy shirt , sweating after a hard day in the field, with a very hungry look in those cowboy eyes...... opppps there i go again... .
ah hemm.....that would be ... mr. kent....

they're gonna put it on he line and take the pennant...and then they're gonna take the all the marbles....

and then they will all come over to my place to celebrate with me and my Javy....yes.. that Javy... and the one who's name i dare not mention will be on hand...


hey, it's a plan... wink :cool:


Go ASTROS...

[ October 01, 2004, 04:48 PM: Message edited by: satxbuddy1 ]

Jeez, what a season for the Astros. Play like shit most of the year, have the GM openly musing about breaking up the team so he can start a rebuilding progam and they're going to win the wild card? Wow. Morgan Ensberg rules my world about now.

I think you're going to find the Astros now defeat the Braves in round 1 and give the Cards all they can handle in the NLCS but little premature as they are still tied for the wildcard.

I gotta think though Astros win these last 2 while Dodgers find a way to beat the G-Men one of them.

R.I.P to my Cubbies =( What a choke job huh.

Well, hats off to the Dodgers for the NL West win and a big spitball in the ears of Dustin Hermanson for blowing a perfectly great lead for the Giants.

Now it's up to what Houston does today and what both Houston and SF do tomorrow.

What a nail biter!

eek!

Seven in the ninth? Oh. My. God. I was reading the 9th inning game log on ESPN.com. The Giants brought in Cody Ransom to play shortstop in the 9th and he made an error to help the rally. They start the 9th with their closer and make THREE pitching changes. Oh. My. God.

If the Astros win tonight and tomorrow they're in. If they lose one of the two, and the Giants win tomorrow, it would force a playoff in SF on Monday.

Update: Astros win 9-3 tonight. If they win tomorrow it's over for Bonds and the Giants.

[ October 02, 2004, 06:56 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

Holy shit, I'm glad I wasn't watching the game.

Yeah it was not pretty. Total nightmare, meltdown and exposed all the Giants faults... a big letdown. Finley put the stake into Giants hearts with the Grandslam.

The papers here are full of comparisons between Finley's grand slam & the Kirk Gibson '88 shot. Oddly, no one seemed to mention that the Dodgers--and Finley--had a similar situation earlier in the week. Trailing by 4 going into the 9th inning, old-blue-eyes capped the comeback. Ah well, when the Dodgers got Steve Finley earlier this season, I cheered the acquisition; glad to be proven right.

~Adam

Well, Astros lead 5-0 in the 4th inning. Giants/LA game starts in about an hour. Chances for an Astros/Giants playoff game tomorrow look slim to none.

Winning the last 7 games of the year to make the playoffs...that's incredible. I obviously hope the Astros will lose, but their run this last week and a half has been something to watch.

GO 'STROS!! I'll never count 'em out again.

But you left out the BEST of the killer B's:

BRANDON BACKE!!!!!

With him pitching and Bradley catching, all I can say is: PUT ME IN THE MIDDLE.....

Watch out Braves, here they COME!!!!