Playoffs?

With just over a week remaining in the regular season, things are getting pretty interesting. At this point, three teams have clinched a playoff spot. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Washington Nationals, and the Baltimore Orioles each won their respective divisions this week, with Orioles and Nationals clinching on Tuesday and the Angels clinching on Wednesday.  The Nationals are one of two franchise to never have played in a World Series, the other being the Seattle Mariners.

The Orioles have been a team to beat since their sudden insurgence in 2012. It almost seemed like fate would match up the two teams nobody saw coming in the ALCS, but both Baltimore and the Athletics were eliminated in game fives of the ALDS. Last year, many expected them to build on their success from 2012, but the Boston Red Sox fed on the energy of the Boston bombing, carrying the city on their back all the way to World Series champions. I’m excited to see what Baltimore can do in the post season this year, especially without Manny Machado, and recently suspended slugger, Chris Davis. The post season, however, is different than the regular season. You’re facing the best teams, and anything can happen. Tuesday was the Orioles first time winning the American League East division since the 1997 season, when they were eliminated in six games in the ALCS.  The Orioles last World Series appearance was in in 1983, which they won in five games.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, you sneaky bastards. I have to give the Angels props for capitalizing on the A’s woes, and not only surging from 6 games back to claim the lead in the division, but to move a whopping 11 games ahead. The Angels have played well, and got hot at the perfect time. The A’s, well, they have gotten frigidly cold at the worst possible time. After leading the division all season, the second half, which has always been the A’s strong suit, has been disappointing. Everybody is quick to blame the Cespedes trade for the woes, but that can’t be all of it. Players aren’t hitting, and with the closer, Sean Doolittle hurt, the bullpen all but collapsed, much like the season. Last night, the A’s were eliminated from back-to-back-to-back AL West Champions. The Angels are last week were winners of ten straight, which helped them pad their division lead while the A’s had won 14 of their last 33 games.

Staying in the AL West, the Seattle Mariners are surprising everybody this year. With the GM dropping money like it was hot this past off-season, the M’s have put together a good team that’s hanging tough for a shot at one of the wild card spots. Saturday night, the A’s and M’s faced off in Seattle with the first ever night court with their king on the mound, looking to leap frog the A’s in the standings. With the Royals winning, their first win against Boston this season (I guess you could say I was good luck), they were in a virtual tie with the A’s for the first wild card spot. Now, the A’s, along with every other team, have struggled against Felix Hernandez, and have yet to record a win in games he starts. Until Saturday. The sellout crowd in Seattle was looking to capitalize on the A’s struggles, and with King Felix pitching, they by all means should have won. After 12 innings, the Mariners lost 3-2, with Fernando Rodney walking in the winning run; a scene A’s fans saw themselves the weekend before. Sunday’s game was huge, as the two face off for the last time in the regular season. It would be extremely interesting if the two teams win the wild card spots and are forced to play a one game playoff for the final spot in the playoffs.

The Kansas City Royals would much rather the Mariners watch the playoffs at home and claim a wild card spot from them. After years of being the worst team in baseball, the Royals stock piled on draft picks and are making their move. Loaded with young talent, the Royals are a major threat to not only the wild card, but the AL Central. I would personally love to see the Royals beat out the Tigers for the division, and for the Tigers miss the playoffs all together, but that could be the bitter hatred I have for them after having to watch them beat us in game five at home two years in a row. Just maybe.  The Royals and Tigers face off for the final time during the regular season in Kansas City.  These three games are going to be a big piece in the playoff picture.  At the moment, the Royals are sitting just half a game behind the Tigers for first place in the division and half a game in front of the A’s for the first Wild Card spot.  The Tigers have Justin Verlander going tomorrow night, and this will be important for the Tigers to see how he performs in a playoff type game.  With all the talk around Verlander’s arm this year, the best thing he can do is go out and silence them by pitching like we all know he is capable of.  However, if he struggles, the Tigers could be in trouble.  It’s going to be rocking in KC this weekend!

To the Yankees fans, I’m sorry.  It would have been nice to see Derek Jeter go out with once last playoff appearance, but it is looking like the Yankees will miss the playoffs for the second straight year.  Congratulations to the Washington Nationals and their fans on clinching the National League East this week as well.  It’s going to be an intense next week of baseball, and I can’t wait!