Wild Card Speculation (Latest: 10 Game September Roadtrip)

[bullox]

I just want to let it be known that I will in fact NOT pee my pants for the Brewers this year. It was a one year deal only.

[pitchleague]

ha! that's funny, bullox! I totally forgot about that thing!

 

Good memories!

[Klements Bratwurst]

I just want to let it be known that I will in fact NOT pee my pants for the Brewers this year. It was a one year deal only.

I almost pee'd my pants when I heard we got Sabathia!! Good memory from last year!

 

Here are the updated Wildcard Standings with the Crew on top. Now we focus on the higher goal!!!

 

 

2008 National League - Wild Card Standings
NATIONAL	W	L	Pct	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10	DIV	WC	POFF
Milwaukee	49	39	.557	-	28-13	21-26	406	395	+11	Won 3	6-4	25.4	31.3	56.7
St. Louis	50	40	.556	-	26-21	24-19	415	399	+16	Lost 1	5-5	12.0	23.3	35.3
Florida	45	43	.511	4	26-20	19-23	439	460	-21	Won 1	5-5	9.4	3.4	12.8
NY Mets	44	44	.500	5	22-18	22-26	419	408	+11	Won 2	5-5	14.7	5.4	20.1
LA Dodgers	43	45	.489	6	22-20	21-25	365	356	+9	Won 1	7-3	49.8	0.8	50.6
Cincinnati	43	47	.478	7	26-19	17-28	384	439	-55	Won 4	7-3	0.4	1.5	1.9
Atlanta	42	47	.472	7.5	30-18	12-29	395	367	+28	Won 1	4-6	9.0	4.1	13.1
Houston	41	48	.461	8.5	22-21	19-27	387	426	-39	Lost 1	4-6	0.2	1.0	1.2
Pittsburgh	40	47	.460	8.5	25-19	15-28	420	482	-62	Lost 3	3-7	0.2	1.1	1.3
San Francisco	39	50	.438	10.5	17-28	22-22	367	408	-41	Lost 1	5-5	9.7	0.2	9.9
Colorado	37	52	.416	12.5	25-21	12-31	402	471	-69	Lost 1	5-5	3.2	0.1	3.3
San Diego	35	54	.393	14.5	21-26	14-28	329	416	-87	Lost 1	3-7	0.6	0.1	0.6
Washington	34	56	.378	16	18-26	16-30	326	447	-121	Lost 5	3-7	0.1	0.0	0.1

[Patrick425]

I realize that it probably will not matter this year, but it still drives me nuts that two teams from the same division can not play each other in the first round of the playoffs. Regardless of the unbalanced schedule or what division each team is in, the team with the best record should play the team with the worst record in the first round (and 2 should play 3).

[uwisfan]

with the CC trade, Cubs just became frontrunner for the wildcard

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

with the CC trade, Cubs just became frontrunner for the wildcard

Cubs fans don't seem to be worried. If you read NSBB, they are all scoffing at us and saying we'll be better but not anything close to them. Ah, yes, the arrogance of Chicago Cubs fans never fails.

[tigerbrew]

Let's take the division title away from the Cubs instead, that would be so much sweeter. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Team	W	L	PCT	GB	E#	L10	STRK	LAST GAME	NEXT GAME
St. Louis	50	40	0.556	-	-	5-May	L1	7/6 v CHC, L 1-7	7/8 @ PHI, 7:05P
Milwaukee	49	40	0.551	0.5	73	4-Jun	L1	7/7 v COL, L 3-4	7/8 v COL, 8:05P
Florida	46	43	0.517	3.5	70	5-May	W2	7/7 @ SD, W 3-1	7/8 @ SD, 10:05P
New York	45	44	0.506	4.5	69	4-Jun	W3	7/7 @ PHI, W 10-9	7/8 v SF, 7:10P
Arizona	44	45	0.494	5.5	68	6-Apr	W1	7/6 v SD, W 3-2	7/8 @ WSH, 7:10P
Los Angeles	44	45	0.494	5.5	68	3-Jul	W2	7/7 v ATL, W 3-0	7/8 v ATL, 10:10P
Cincinnati	43	47	0.478	7	66	3-Jul	W4	7/6 v WSH, W 6-5	7/8 @ CHC, 8:05P
Atlanta	42	48	0.467	8	65	7-Mar	L1	7/7 @ LAD, L 0-3	7/8 @ LAD, 10:10P
Pittsburgh	41	47	0.466	8	66	6-Apr	W1	7/7 v HOU, W 10-7	7/8 v HOU, 7:05P
Houston	41	49	0.456	9	64	6-Apr	L2	7/7 @ PIT, L 7-10	7/8 @ PIT, 7:05P
San Francisco	39	50	0.438	10.5	63	5-May	L1	7/6 v LAD, L 3-5	7/8 @ NYM, 7:10P
Colorado	38	52	0.422	12	61	4-Jun	W1	7/7 @ MIL, W 4-3	7/8 @ MIL, 8:05P
San Diego	35	55	0.389	15	58	7-Mar	L2	7/7 v FLA, L 1-3	7/8 v FLA, 10:05P
Washington	34	56	0.378	16	57	7-Mar	L5	7/6 @ CIN, L 5-6	7/8 v ARI, 7:10P

[LUKE232323]

If you want to get that L10 column to show it was "4-6" instead of "4-Jun", format the cell as Text (sure you might have known that already, just throwing it out there in case you were going to use this going forward).

[1992casey]

The first one was fine, but it'd be better not to continually be posting the standings directly into this thread. They're easy enough to look up.

 

As an occasional option, let me suggest this. ESPN's standings offer some nice sort options. Here's an example sorting for wild card order on June 1. Grab the date you desire, then copy and use the URL.

 

To grab an URL that would force today's standings to still show up tomorrow, toggle the popup to a different date, then toggle it back.

 

Good Excel hint, 232323. It may come in handy for those who want to paste elsewhere.

 

Also, while they occasionally flake out, tables usually paste directly into the post editor pretty easily.

[crewcrazy]

Well, even with the debacle that was last night's game, the Brewers are still only a half game behind the Cards and are still 3 full games ahead of the Mets. Beating up on George of the Rose today would do a lot to soothe the nerves. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[obobo55]

I would guess at 3-7 if we didn't have Sheets going twice. He really needs to pin down those wins though. If he wins both, I can see 4-6 and be satisfied. Any better than that and we are really gonna be excited when they come home.

 

If they maintain at 5-5, they come home at 46-39. I have to believe they can get one sweep at home and maybe a 8-2 mark going to the break at 54-41. With the remaining schedule in the 2nd half, that would look real nice.

 

I am not expecting such however and I would be happy at 52-43, going 11-9 in this stretch.

Well, not bad. After the 5-5 trip, they are 5-2 thus far at home, could they pull off a sweep of the Reds (Parra, McClung, CC) to make my most optimistic hopes of 54-41 come true? Probably doubtful as they face Volquez on Saturday, but one can always hope. He has given up 13 runs in his last 15.2 innings...

 

[Klements Bratwurst]

Nice! Brewers vault into sole possession of second place! They are the Wild Card leaders!

[splitterpfj]

I had hoped for two of three vs the Pirates, three of four vs the Rockies, and two of three vs the Reds.

 

I took the wrong route, but I could still get there. Go Brewers!

 

Watch out for the Mets.

[razzzorsharp]

I am scared of the Mets but the good news is that they could valut into first and the Phillies could falter.

[nate82]

I'm not liking this weekends games. The Cubs could win 2 of 3 this weekend while the Cardinals could easily sweep the Pirates this weekend. I do not like the second game of the series against the Reds. I'm not sure how well the Brewers will do against Volquez this weekend. It will be the first time the Brewers have seen Volquez this year.

 

Hopefully the Brewers take 2 of 3 from the Reds and end the half at 53-42 being tied with the Cardinals if the Cardinals sweep the series against the Pirates.

[TooLiveBrew]

Cubs loss today has us at 4 GB from the division lead. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

The NL East in general is dangerous -- Florida (play @ LAD tonight), Philly, NYM, Atlanta. Oh and of course add in StL, Arizona & LAD. Lotta teams to fend off.

 

 

Games remaining v. the above list:

 

FLA: 0

 

PHI: 4 (all away)

 

NYM: 3 (all home)

 

ATL: 3 (all away)

 

STL: 6 (all away)

 

ARI: 0

 

LAD: 3 (all away)

 

 

That's a tough draw. Of the combined 19 remaining games, 16 are road games. On the other hand, the remaining home schedule is pretty light save the 7 Cubs games.

[Glennron]

Have teams always played 3 series against 1 non-divisional foe? Last year the Brewers got the Giants two series at home, and this year they go to Atlanta twice. I don't really remember that happening before last year but maybe I just didn't pay any attention to it.

Just my opinion of course, but this is how I'd rank the teams TLB mentioned in terms of how worried I am about them:

Philly, NYM, StL, LAD, Arizona, Atlanta, Florida. I know Philly's been struggling lately but with that offense they could pretty easily go on a tear.

[splitterpfj]

My primary concern would be the Mets and the Marlins. I don't count Philly, because they're currently in first place, and somebody has to win each division, I'm most concerned about competition for the wild card.

 

I'm not worried about anyone in the NL West, because two teams there would have to get hot for one of them to enter into the wild card mix. I could imagine somebody having a great month over there, but I wouldn't expect two teams to pull it off - they just aren't that good.

 

St Louis deserves huge credit for what they've done, but if they don't improve themselves via trades, I just don't think they can hang in there for another 2 1/2 months. Mulder wasn't able to help, and I'd bet against Carpenter too, you just can't expect immediate impact from a guy who's been out that long.

 

It's going to be a race, for sure, very possibly into that final series with the Cubs, but I absolutely think the Brewers are the favorites to win the NL wild card. We'll see what happens with trades over the next few weeks, but I think the Mets are a little too old, and the Marlins are a little too young. They'll stay close, and the Cardinals might too, but the Sabathia deal does look like it sets Milwaukee apart.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Could we be rooting for the Cubs to be beating the Mets from Sept 22-25 when they have a 4 game series at Shea Stadium? It's very possible.

[RU Rah Rah]

Ugh, the Mets. I was kind of hoping that they would implode, but they are looking better lately. So much for dreams of just duking it out with the Cards for the WC....

[nate82]

St Louis deserves huge credit for what they've done, but if they don't improve themselves via trades, I just don't think they can hang in there for another 2 1/2 months. Mulder wasn't able to help, and I'd bet against Carpenter too, you just can't expect immediate impact from a guy who's been out that long.

It is going to take at least a whole month before Carpenter will be able to contribute at his best. I don't think Carpenter will be that good when he comes off the DL. Do the Cardinals really have the amount of time to wait for Carpenter to get around those first couple of starts where he doesn't really give them that much more than who would be pitching for them anyways?

 

I'm concerned about the Cardinals but yet I don't think they will have enough gas left in the tank to keep on playing the way they are.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

If the season ended today and we were the wild card...would we play the Phillies? Does the wild card play the top division team outside their own? Am I making this up?

 

If so, winning the division would be a big boost...homefield throughout and a whack at the West in the first round.

[bucks2281]

1. CHC

2. PHI

3. ARZ

4. MIL

 

Arizona vs. Chicago Cubs

Milwaukee vs. Philadelphia

 

Wild-card team plays the best team, provided they do not belong to the same division. It's a pretty safe bet that'd the Brewers would be playing the NL East Champion in the NLDS.

[Fear The Chorizo]

With how the Cubs finish the season in September, and with how the Mets have been starting to come alive, I think we're going to be really confused with who to root for in that 4 game set prior to the last weekend.