It’s Magic!

This weekend in Major League baseball will be a huge one. The Yankees have clinched a playoff berth (which is a guranteed spot in the playoffs whether it be the wild card team, which is a team that is not a division winner, but makes the playoffs anyway) and are getting close to winning the division. I think they will win the division, regardless of what the Red Sox do down the stretch. The Phillies really need to figure out their closer problem. As of Wednesday, Brad Lidge has blown 11 saves (a save is pitching in the ninth with your team up by three runs or less, and getting the last three outs, OR pitching 4 innings or more as a relief pitcher)! That just will not get it done (usually, a blown save high is around only 5). How about Brett Myers? He has closer experience, and he really liked it. He was pretty good too. Other than that, the Phillies have a well-balanced team of starting pitching, offense, and defense.

A magic number is the # of wins the first place team need to win a division/wildcard. Also, if the second place team loses, the number decreases too. When it gets to 0, every team in the division/teams trailing that team are mathematically eliminated from the race (which means the first place team earns a spot in the playoffs). If the first place team wins and the second place team loses, it goes down by 2. If both teams (first and second place) win or lose, it goes down by 1. If the the first place team loses, and the second place team wins, it stays the same. If the second place team catches up with the first place team, and replaces them in first place, the magic number switches to the original second place team (who becomes the division leader). Yes it’s confusing, but the more you hear about it, the more you’ll understand. As of Friday, The Dodgers, the Angels, and the Phillies all had magic numbers of 4. The Yankees have a magic number of 3 to clinch the American League East, and the Red Sox have a magic number of 3 to clinch the American League Wild Card. The Cardinals have a magic number of 1.

Clearly, there are still 2 great races left in the baseball season. The Tigers and Twins are separated by just 2.5 games, and the Rockies and Braves are separated by just 3.5 games. Earlier, most of us thought Atlanta was just about out of it. But to there credit, they have not given up. San Francisco, in fact is starting to fade. They have now fell behind the Braves, when it looked like they might catch up to the Rockies. I predict that the Tigers will win the division, with the help up of a 4 game series at Comerica Park (home of the Detroit Tigers) and win three-out-of-4. which might, or might not clinch the division for them. If not, they’ll just clinch it against the Royals. I also predict the Rockies will hold on to the wild card, but just barely.

Last week, the Bears beat the Steelers 17-14. When I heard this, I was so shocked, I had to ask the guy that released this score if he was lying, to get a reaction. But he wasn’t. It sounded like Jay Cutler had a pretty good game, with 236 yards, and two TDs (touchdowns). And of course, it happens to be against the Steelers, with, even without Troy Polamalu, is still one of the best defenses in the NFL. Don’t forget about the defense, and Alex Brown, wgo put in a great effort. Let’s hope they continue. Now, for my week 3 in the NFL picks. I think the Vikings will beat the 49ers, 27-14; Patriots over Falcons, 20-17; Bears over Seahawks, 28-18; Miami over SanDiego 23-21; and Colts over Cardinals 24-15. Tune in next blog!