As we race into the final weekend of the 2008 Major League Baseball season, there's only one American League slot left up for grabs: the division title for the AL Central. Minnesota Twins lead the Chicago White Sox by half a game (apparently Chicago must've had a rain-out that hasn't been made up yet, which could be interesting if the two teams finish within half a game of each other after Sunday!) so anything could happen over the weekend.
[Update Sep 28/08: As of the end of the 2008 MLB season today, those two teams are still just 1/2 a game apart, and therefore Chicago gets to play Detroit tomorrow afternoon to get their 162nd regular season game in. If they lose, the Twins claim the Central; but if they win, then they'll be tied with Minnesota and will therefore play a 1-game playoff with the Twins on Tuesday night!]
Anyway, they're both hosting teams this weekend who are out of contention (aka "spoilers"): the Twins are home to the lowly Royals, while Chicago has Cleveland in town. As of right now, Minnesota is down 6-0 while the Sox, after building up a 4-3 lead by the end of the 4th inning, are now behind 9-4, thanks to giving up 6 runs in the 5th! You'd think, with so much on the line, those two contenders could do a little better than that, wouldn't you?
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay, Boston and LA Angels wait to find out who they'll play, starting on Wed and Thu of next week. If I understand the various rules correctly, I think it's all but decided that LA will host Boston (assuming TB claims the division), since the Wildcard team (Bos) never plays their first series against their division winner (TB). Since the Angels have some ridiculously-long post season losing streak at the hands of the Red Sox, that could be fun. The Central winner will head to Tampa, for some sun 'n' surf and maybe even a game or two.
In the National League, three teams are fighting for the last two playoff berths: the NL East, where the Phillies lead the stumbling Mets (who absolutely collapsed at the end of the season last year and fell out of the playoff race right at the finish line and could repeat that dubious feat this year) by a single game; and the Wildcard, which has the Brewers and Mets dead-even with three games left each. I'm watching the Mets lose to the visiting Marlins (down 5-1 in the 8th), while the Phillies just dispatched Washington, 8-4. Assuming the Mets can't rally in the final 2 innings, that'll makes Philadelphia's magic number just 1 (meaning any win by them or loss by the Mets gives them the division). Meanwhile, Milwaukee is tied 1-1 with the Cubs in the 6th, so they may pull a game ahead of New York or simply stay tied in that neck-and-neck Wildcard race (again, assuming a Mets loss).
The Cubs and Dodgers have already punched their own tickets to the playoffs, but about all we know at this point is that Chicago will start at home, and Los Angeles will play their first two games on the road. After that, there are just too many different permutations still possible!
As usual, it's proving to be a very exciting conclusion to the season for those who are interested in such things (like me!)
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