Major League Baseball

[45HG 1,539]

Mind-explosion.

"If, for the first time in history, there is a three-way tie for playoff spots, the first tiebreaker would be played between the Indians and Rays in Cleveland at 4:07 p.m. on Monday, with the winner of that game earning a Wild Card berth. The loser would play against the host Rangers at 4:07 p.m. on Tuesday. All games will air on TBS.

The Rays hold a 4-2 edge over the Indians, who hold a 5-1 advantage over Texas.

The winner of the second tiebreaker would advance to the AL Wild Card game, which will take place on Wednesday.

If the Indians and Rangers end up tied atop the Wild Card standings, the Indians will host the Wild Card Game. If the Indians and Rays are tied for the top two Wild Card spots, the Rays will be the home team."

[Macca 16,173]

Cleveland win the right to host the wild-card playoff game against ... the Rays or the Rangers (who play off against each other tomorrow in Texas)

All the playoff games are being broadcast on ESPN radio whilst cable will cover a number of games.

Here's the basic line-up of match-ups ...

NL Wild Card ... Reds @ Pirates (Wed our time)

AL Wild Card ... TBD @ Indians (Thurs our time)

NLDS ... Reds/Pirates @ Cardinals (starts Friday our time)

NLDS ... Dodgers @ Braves (starts Friday our time)

ALDS ... Rays/Rangers/Indians @ Red Sox (starts Saturday our time)

ALDS ... Tigers @ Athletics (starts Saturday our time)

[pantaloons 2,018]

I see the LA Dodgers and Arizona are opening their season in a month with two games at the SCG. I find it peculiar that they didn't take the one-hour flight to Melbourne for the second game. You'd get 100,000 and exposure to both the country's biggest cities. Slack. The MLB is the only one of the four major US sports I don't follow, but I'd have gone for sure if it was on here.

[45HG 1,539]

Don't ask Zack Greinke about it!

[pantaloons 2,018]

Don't ask Zack Greinke about it!

Haha! I was on ESPN LA and that's how I found out they were playing Sydney! Yes, he doesn't seem to be too fond of the idea.

[Macca 16,173]

"Two years ago, Yasiel Puig fled Cuba in the hands of black-market smugglers. This is the story of how the cost of the defection journey - in money and human lives - shadows him still."

... No one walks off the island

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

The streak's over, so I can talk about it now without having to worry about cursing it. Jays won 9 in a row and are sitting pretty atop the AL East. Encarnacion is on fire; 16 HRs in May...tied with Mickey Mantle for the all-time record.

[Maple Demon 449]

We'll see if the Jays are still playing like this after the All Star break. It's only been 21 years since they were in contention at that point of the year. Unfortunately.

[Macca 16,173]

Yeah GTG, Toronto are doing well (15 wins from 17 games in actuality) I haven't taken a lot of interest in the baseball other than noting that as your blokes were on a winning streak, my Red Sox were on a losing streak (10) We've now recovered to win our last 5 but I wonder if the hunger is there.

Our division is always a tough one to win but the Yankees aren't doing a great deal either. Might be your best chance if New York and Boston don't get a move on.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Yeah GTG, Toronto are doing well (15 wins from 17 games in actuality) I haven't taken a lot of interest in the baseball other than noting that as your blokes were on a winning streak, my Red Sox were on a losing streak (10) We've now recovered to win our last 5 but I wonder if the hunger is there.

Our division is always a tough one to win but the Yankees aren't doing a great deal either. Might be your best chance if New York and Boston don't get a move on.

The thing that bothers me about baseball is that in the grand scheme of things, a 15/17 game record and a 10 game losing streak don't really have a massive impact on the final standings. It is still very much anyone's game in the AL East, with over 100 games to go!

[Cards13 9,117]

100 games to go, haha isn't that nuts.

And the A's for all of there in season ability won't make it past the Divisonal round because of the budget constraints in the toilet stadium.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Cards13

[Macca 16,173]

With my Red Sox out of things, I'll be hoping for a Cardinals triumph ...

Wild-card playoff games

Wednesday 10am Oakland at Kansas City

Thursday 10am San Francisco at Pittsburgh

American League match-ups (begins Friday our time)

LA Angels vs Kansas City/Oakland

Baltimore vs Detroit

National League match-ups (begins Saturday our time)

Washington vs San Francisco/Pittsburgh

LA Dodgers vs St Louis

Most of the playoff games will be covered by ESPN radio (hopefully that link will work - if not, try tunein)

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Is anybody following the MLB playoff race? The Jays and Yankees have just begun a very important series in terms of the AL East title. The Jays won last night to pull 3.5 games clear, and the outcome of the next two games will go a very long way to giving a clearer picture of how the playoffs are going to look. Go Jays!

[Macca 16,173]

Is anybody following the MLB playoff race? The Jays and Yankees have just begun a very important series in terms of the AL East title. The Jays won last night to pull 3.5 games clear, and the outcome of the next two games will go a very long way to giving a clearer picture of how the playoffs are going to look. Go Jays!

There's a few iconic teams represented by the looks of it ... St Louis, Yankees, Dodgers & Cubs.

Would like to see the Mets and the Royals do well but even though I'm a Redsox fan, I lean towards the Cardinals as well because of their storied history. They've had another very good season and they might just pick up their 12th World Series title.

I suppose I just like playoff baseball so will catch up with as many games as possible. Your Blue Jays might win the American League to reach the World Series but it's wide open in the AL.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

There's a few iconic teams represented by the looks of it ... St Louis, Yankees, Dodgers & Cubs.

Would like to see the Mets and the Royals do well but even though I'm a Redsox fan, I lean towards the Cardinals as well because of their storied history. They've had another very good season and they might just pick up their 12th World Series title.

I suppose I just like playoff baseball so will catch up with as many games as possible. Your Blue Jays might win the American League to reach the World Series but it's wide open in the AL.

It's hard to not have a soft spot for the Cubs. Their fans have arguably had a tougher time of it than us Dees supporters have. They should clinch a wildcard spot in the next few days as they're 10 games clear of any challengers. The AL is more interesting in that Minnesota and the LA Angels are keeping the heat on Houston for the second WC spot.

It looks like the NL playoff picture is pretty well sorted out, with the Cubs and Pirates to play-off with the winner facing the Cardinals. The Mets look set to play the Dodgers.

Kansas City are the only team to have clinched their division, though I'd be very surprised if Texas didn't finish on top of the AL West. The Yankees had a win last night, so the AL East is still up for grabs. The Jays should lock in a playoff berth this weekend, however it would be very disappointing to have to play-off for the wildcard if the Yankees can make up the 3 games that they trail us by.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Goodbye, Yankees!

Chicago v Pittsburgh in the NL Wildcard Playoff in a few hours. Go Cubs!

[Macca 16,173]

Cubs through but St Louis will be tough opposition - if they can beat the Cardinals they might go on and beat the curse ... here are the 4 match-ups with my tips in dark italics (for what it's worth)

St Louis vs Cubs

Royals vs Houston

Blue Jays vs Texas

Dodgers vs Mets

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Cubs through but St Louis will be tough opposition - if they can beat the Cardinals they might go on and beat the curse ... here are the 4 match-ups with my tips in dark italics (for what it's worth)

St Louis vs Cubs

Royals vs Houston

Blue Jays vs Texas

Dodgers vs Mets

Good picks Macca. I agree with them all, though I wouldn't be surprised if the Astros pulled off an upset. Hoping the Cubs can win as well, but would have to think it's unlikely.

Here's a good story about a Cubs fan's request to his professor to postpone a test so that he could see the Wildcard game.

Edited October 8, 2015 by Good Times Grimes

[Macca 16,173]

Good picks Macca. I agree with them all, though I wouldn't be surprised if the Astros pulled off an upset. Hoping the Cubs can win as well, but would have to think it's unlikely.

Here's a good story about a Cubs fan's request to his professor to postpone a test so that he could see the Wildcard game.

Yikes ... what's happened to your Blue Jays GTG? - they've now got to win the last 3 games of their series against Texas to progress. Good luck with that!

Cardinals winning was no real surprise but the Mets going 1 up was really important for them. The Royals clawed 1 back after falling behind in their 2nd game against Houston.

I know the MLB doesn't like messing with their traditions but having a longer post season with a shorter regular season appeals to people like me ... I'd like to see the wild-card playoffs be a best of 3 and these divisional series to be a best of 7.

That would add approximately 8-10 days to the post season but is a 162 game regular season really necessary in this day and age? There is talk of a 154 game regular season anyway.

I do like the 2 month long NBA & NHL playoff schedule.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Yikes ... what's happened to your Blue Jays GTG? - they've now got to win the last 3 games of their series against Texas to progress. Good luck with that!

Cardinals winning was no real surprise but the Mets going 1 up was really important for them. The Royals clawed 1 back after falling behind in their 2nd game against Houston.

I know the MLB doesn't like messing with their traditions but having a longer post season with a shorter regular season appeals to people like me ... I'd like to see the wild-card playoffs be a best of 3 and these divisional series to be a best of 7.

That would add approximately 8-10 days to the post season but is a 162 game regular season really necessary in this day and age? There is talk of a 154 game regular season anyway.

I do like the 2 month long NBA & NHL playoff schedule.

I'm devastated, Macca. I was at the game yesterday and the whole crowd seemed to be in disbelief after the Rangers took the lead in the 14th. I think the Blue Jays have been overconfident and let being World Series favourites go to their heads. It would take a miracle for them to come back from this.

I agree that the regular season needs to be shortened, and I quite like the idea of lengthening the first two rounds of the playoffs. I also think it wouldn't be a bad idea to let in 8 teams from each League and remove the wildcard playoff.

Really hoping that the Cubs can win today to even their series. They're the only other team in the playoffs that I would like to see win.

[Macca 16,173]

I'm devastated, Macca. I was at the game yesterday and the whole crowd seemed to be in disbelief after the Rangers took the lead in the 14th. I think the Blue Jays have been overconfident and let being World Series favourites go to their heads. It would take a miracle for them to come back from this.

I agree that the regular season needs to be shortened, and I quite like the idea of lengthening the first two rounds of the playoffs. I also think it wouldn't be a bad idea to let in 8 teams from each League and remove the wildcard playoff.

Really hoping that the Cubs can win today to even their series. They're the only other team in the playoffs that I would like to see win.

And .... you're back in it - one of the commentators on the radio broadcast today said that whoever won game 3 would win the series - I didn't catch the reason but I'm assuming it might be because of the pitching match-ups in games 4 & 5 (?)

Houston won again but that series could go to 5 too.

4 games tomorrow so we'll obviously know a lot more then.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

And .... you're back in it - one of the commentators on the radio broadcast today said that whoever won game 3 would win the series - I didn't catch the reason but I'm assuming it might be because of the pitching match-ups in games 4 & 5 (?)

Houston won again but that series could go to 5 too.

4 games tomorrow so we'll obviously know a lot more then.

If Houston were able to knock off the Royals that would be a massive upset.

I think today will be the Jays last game of the season...I have absolutely no confidence in Dickey, especially away from the controlled climate of the Rogers Centre.

[Macca 16,173]

If Houston were able to knock off the Royals that would be a massive upset.

I think today will be the Jays last game of the season...I have absolutely no confidence in Dickey, especially away from the controlled climate of the Rogers Centre.

2 x game 5's now with KC & Toronto right back in it - home field for both teams as well. All happens Thursday our time.

In the NL the Mets had a big win and the Cubs also - both the Dodgers & the Cardinals need to win out but both teams are capable of doing that - we might see 2 x game 5's with these 2 series as well.

It's anyone's World series

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

2 x game 5's now with KC & Toronto right back in it - home field for both teams as well. All happens Thursday our time.

In the NL the Mets had a big win and the Cubs also - both the Dodgers & the Cardinals need to win out but both teams are capable of doing that - we might see 2 x game 5's with these 2 series as well.

It's anyone's World series

Very happy about yesterday's results, with the exception of Houston/Kansas City. Houston seemingly had it in the bag but managed to cough up their 6-2 lead and now have to head to KC feeling deflated. I don't like their chances.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Happy to see the Cubs advance...their fans have suffered as badly as we have.