Yeah I'm not even gonna talk about last night's epic fail from the Red Sox. God what is it w/ them, the rain, and epic fails? I dunno but **** better stop soon. Anyways, playoff chases are interesting and there's really not much else I can really say. Nobody has officially clinched yet (though I think the Yanks at least guaranteed themselves a playoff slot) However, I'm not 100% sure on that ish. So anyways, moving right along! This one is just gonna be giving the elimination number though because I'm lazy. Though if a playoff chase is close enough (about 5 games) I'll give that number too. AL EastNew York Yankees - XBoston Red Sox - 8 (5.0 GB)Tampa Bay Rays - EToronto Blue Jays - EBaltimore Orioles - EAnalysis: As I heard on WEEI this afternoon (I like Dale and Holley, so there) "A funny thing happened on the way to sew up a playoff spot, the Red Sox are now back in the thick of things". Of course, it'd hafta take a near miracle tonight (Greinke vs Byrd -- yeah like the Red Sox will win this one) and a sweep at Yankee Stadium to make that actually happen. But it's nice to think "hey it's possible" because anything is possible. However, I just want to get that playoff spot sewn up. AL CentralDetroit Tigers - XMinnesota Twins - 11 (2.5 GB)Chicago White Sox - 6Cleveland Indians - EKansas City Royals - EAnalysis: Kansas City and Cleveland are officially eliminated while Minnesota is REALLY making a run at it. Of course this means that Gardenhire will get Manager of the Year...well either him or Girardi. Both insanely overrated IMO. But hey, unless if you're a big name or your team goes from worst to first, you have no chance of winning this award...or you're Terry Francona who is the Rodney Dangerfield of managers. Anyways rant aside, I dunno how the **** the Twins do it, but they do it. I like Detroit's pitching better though and I think they'll hold on.AL WestLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim - XTexas Rangers - 6Seattle Mariners - 1Oakland Athletics - EAnalysis: Texas is really ******* it up bad against the Angels. Way to shoot yourselves in the foot, guys. I wanted to see them take the West. Seattle has had an improved season and I think next season could be even better. I mean my predictions are almost always a year behind anyway. Oakland...well I dunno WTF with Oakland.NL EastPhiladelphia Phillies - XFlorida Marlins - 6Atlanta Braves -6New York Mets - EWashington Nationals -- EAnalysis: On Natinals, you are faily and I'd feel bad if you actually made an effort to not be faily. Also I'd feel bad more if you didn't leave Montreal and didn't have such a ****** name. New York...I really don't know what the **** to say about the Mets. They were just...I dunno did someone place a curse on them or some **** because their luck was just horrible. It was Murphy's Law in team form. Atlanta improved greatly from last season and Florida is probably going to really go for it soon if they don't trade off their entire team this offseason. Philly is keeping strong and I expect to see them in there. NL CentralSt Louis Cardinals - XChicago Cubs - 3Milwaukee Brewers - EHouston Astros - ECincinnati Reds - EPittsburgh Pirates - EAnalysis: Now the Pirates I REALLY feel bad for. One of the oldest baseball teams out there and they get THIS kind of fail consistently? Man, those poor fans. They deserve better. The Reds...well...let me just say this -- you have Dusty Baker as your manager. That's all that needs to be said. Please get him off your team before you ruin any of your phenom pitching prospects. Just ask Mark Prior. Poor guy. Houston just fired their manager, because 13 games left in the season really makes all the difference. Houston is just weird. Milwaukee did okay. Not good, not bad, just okay. Chicago was a severe disappointment. Dunno what to say about them really. Cards should have this wrapped up in the next two days. NL WestLos Angeles Dodgers - XColorado Rockies - 8 (5.0 GB)San Francisco Giants - 4Arizona Diamondbacks - ESan Diego Padres - E Analysis: San Diego...really I don't know WTF is going on with them. It's Adrian Gonzalez and everybody else. They need something to spark them stat. David Eckstein is not the answer for sure (just don't tell the sportswriters that because they'll get all pissy). Arizona is an interesting team. This year just didn't really work for them. They have some great pitching but Webb was injured and Haren can't do it alone. San Francisco greatly improved and have a devastating 1-2 punch in Lincecum and Cain. However, they have no hitting really which is what doomed them. You need hitting in the regular season to help you in those days when your pitching has nothing or is not up to par. Colorado is...well...it's Colorado. They're like Minnesota -- they got very little but they do a lot with it. They also really piss you off because they're just so damn overrated and you KNOW you can beat them but somehow they just got all the luck on their side or some ****. Los Angeles is doing well and up to par. I expect them to wrap up the NL West. AL Wild CardBoston Red Sox - XTexas Rangers - 7Seattle Mariners - 2Minnesota Twins - 1Tampa Bay Rays - 1Chicago White Sox - EOakland Athletics - EToronto Blue Jays - EKansas City Royals - ECleveland Indians - EBaltimore Orioles - EAnalysis: Boston has this but nothing is certain as they say. Texas has made a great run but they just kinda sputtered out in the end. Seattle has improved greatly. Minnesota is still in it for the AL Central. Tampa has the "Rockies Effect" like the Rockies in 2008 kinda fell apart after making it to the World Series in 2007. It seems like a very common thing to happen to young teams (win or lose)...I may need to look this up. Basically year after is a mega hangover effect that comes into play somewhere down the line and makes you skip a year. However, the next season usually bodes better. Well, something like that. So anyways that's all for this right now.NL Wild CardColorado Rockies - XSan Francisco Giants - 9 (4.0 GB)Florida Marlins - 8 (5.0 GB)Atlanta Braves - 8 (5.0 GB)Chicago Cubs - 6Milwaukee Brewers - 2Houston Astros - ECincinnati Reds - ESan Diego Padres - EArizona Diamondbacks - ENew York Mets - EPittsburgh Pirates - EWashington Nationals - EAnalysis: May not be the closest race going on, but it has the most players still in it with a somewhat possible chance. If San Francisco can up their offense and get good performances out of the guys who aren't Cain and Lincecum as well then I think they can actually do it. Florida and Atlanta are interesting cases. It'll be interesting to see how they do down the line as well. I think Colorado is catchable but there's no room for error at this time.So basically this means...They're Pretty Much InPhiladelphia PhilliesNew York Yankees (in general)Boston Red Sox (in general)St Louis CardinalsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThick of ThingsColorado RockiesLos Angeles DodgersDetroit TigersMinnesota TwinsSan Francisco GiantsFlorida MarlinsAtlanta BravesHey, It Could Happen!Chicago Cubs (WC)Chicago White Sox (AL Central)Texas Rangers (AL West)Hanging By a ThreadSeattle MarinersTampa Bay RaysMilwaukee BrewersOfficially EliminatedWashington NationalsNew York MetsKansas City RoyalsCleveland IndiansPittsburgh PiratesCincinnati RedsHouston AstrosOakland AthleticsToronto Blue JaysBaltimore OriolesSan Diego PadresArizona DiamondbacksWell that's all for now.