If you’ve been following the MLB season, you’ve probably enjoyed some of its late season drama – thanks to the Red Sox and Braves who have choked away massive wild card leads in the span of a few weeks.
In my opinion, these collapses have been bad for the Rex Sox and Braves organizations, but great for everyone else. Attendance has been down in ballparks across the country and with a 162-game schedule, who cares to follow the MLB unless there is some drama involved?
Hoping for a Play-in Game or Two
As it stands right now, the Cardinals have caught the Braves in the NL wild card race, and the Rays have caught the Red Sox in the AL wild card race. With just one game remaining in the regular season, all four teams are going down to the wire here.
Tonight, the Braves get the Phillies and the Cardinals get the Astros. Unless the Phillies decide to rest all their starters, my bet is on the Cardinals to clinch the wild card spot considering the sorry state of the Astros.
In the AL, the Red Sox have managed to lose 4 out of 5 to the Orioles, who they will play one more time tonight. The Rays, meanwhile, get the Yankees who have already clinched home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs. I think both teams will win…setting up a play-in game for the wild card spot.
Hopefully, the Cardinals and Braves either both win or lose to set up two play-in games for tomorrow, before the playoffs start on Friday.
Why The Choking?
Switching gears, do you wonder what has caused the Red Sox and Braves to play like 5-year old girls over the last month or so? Me too.
But if I had to answer that question, I would center it around a lack of leadership in the clubhouse. If Bobby Cox was still the manager of the Braves, they wouldn’t be playing for their playoff lives tonight.
As for the Red Sox, I believe Terry Francona is a good manager, but some piece of the puzzle is missing with that baseball team. All the talent in the world is there, but guys aren’t stepping up when the pressure is at its highest. Is that Francona’s fault or the players?
It’s probably a mixture of both.
Final Thought
I’ve pretty much been rambling this whole blog post like a drunken sailor but I’ve got one more thing to say. Isn’t it ironic that after 161 games, 2 of the 6 MLB playoff spots still haven’t been decided? Aren’t we always complaining about how long the baseball season is?
Perhaps the schedule is perfect as it is. Oh and may I add, the BCS is the best system in sports and pigs will travel to the moon one day as well.