36 minutes ago, maloney.adam said:

So if the games get cancelled tomorrow instead of postponed does it mean the magic number goes down to 1 and a clinch of a share of the division title? 

No, still 2 because they would play it if they had to. They’ll probably call it postponed tomorrow, and then cancel once the Astros clinch the 2-seed. 
When the Sox beat the Indians on Thursday, it’s over because it’s a Sox win and an Indians loss. 

1 hour ago, maloney.adam said:

So if the games get cancelled tomorrow instead of postponed does it mean the magic number goes down to 1 and a clinch of a share of the division title? 

No, the Sox and Detroit would be forced to make up that game in the event it mattered in the final standings.

In other playoff news,

• The New York Yankees remain a 1/2 game out of the second wild card spot, after New York, Toronto and Boston all won tonight. For Boston, it's their 6th straight win.
• Saint Louis won and Cincinnati lost, putting the Cardinals 4 up with 10 (Cincinnati) / 12 (Saint Louis) games to go. The Cardinals have won 10 straight.
• The Dodgers are tied late in Colorado, San Francisco is down 4-1 in San Diego early. The Dodgers will be tied with San Francisco if they win and the Giants lose.

Edited September 22, 20214 yr by South Side Hit Men

9 hours ago, maloney.adam said:

So if the games get cancelled tomorrow instead of postponed does it mean the magic number goes down to 1 and a clinch of a share of the division title? 

The game can't officially get cancelled until after the Sox clinch, so no.

I think they ultimately make it up next Friday as a straight DH, with Detroit getting to be the "home" team for one of the games.

9/22:

Magic number = 2

Today is, in theory, the second day the Sox have a chance to clinch, but the odds of even one of the Sox-Detroit and Cleveland-KC games is almost zero, let alone both.

Houston is now within 2.5 games of Tampa for the #1 seed.

In the Wild Card race Boston is in the first spot 1.5 games ahead of Toronto in the second spot. New York is 0.5 back, with Oakland and Seattle both 3 back.

 

Over in the National League, the Giants are in front of the Dodgers by 1, with both having clinched at least a WC spot. St. Louis holds the 2nd WC spot, with Cincinnati 4 back, Philly 4.5 back, and San Diego 5 back. Philly 3 behind Atlanta in the East.

Astros 2-seed magic number is 6.

Rays 1-seed magic number is 9.

Kinda sucks the Sox lose the off day on Monday, but whatever. Guessing they’ll make the Royals go back to Cleveland too after they get rained out tonight.

Tomorrow is clinch day.

Edited September 22, 20214 yr by flavum

As I was saying  last week, good chance the Astros jump the Rays and we head to Tampa.

 

Just now, HOFHurt35 said:

As I was saying  last week, good chance the Astros jump the Rays and we head to Tampa.

 

TB-Hou play each other next Tue-Thu, so you never know. Good for the Sox if they’re really pushing to win by taxing their pitching staffs.

3 minutes ago, HOFHurt35 said:

As I was saying  last week, good chance the Astros jump the Rays and we head to Tampa.

 

For some reason I like that better for the White Sox. 

3 minutes ago, HOFHurt35 said:

As I was saying  last week, good chance the Astros jump the Rays and we head to Tampa.

 

I think I would rather play Tampa in the 1st round

4 minutes ago, wegner said:

I think I would rather play Tampa in the 1st round

With Tampa's pen, you're better off playing them in as long of a series as possible.

43 minutes ago, Harry Chappas said:

For some reason I like that better for the White Sox. 

100%. 

 We don't have the fire power offensively to get into a slugfest with the Astros.   We have just way too many guys inconsistent in our lineup, health playing a big factor on that.   

Give me the weaker offensive team who we stand a chance to be able to pitch against. 

The Sox took 2 of 3 from the Rays here at home and dropped 2 of 3 there (but the two losses there were with Kuechel and Reynaldo starting). 

 

Astros would have to beat the Rays at least twice next week to have a shot a the 1-seed, and the tie breaker would go to them, so their Magic number on the Rays is 13. 
 

Rays- 1 vs Tor, 3 vs Mia, 3 at Hou, 3 at NY

Astros- 2 at Laa, 3 at Oak, 3 vs TB, 3 vs Oak

Rays beat the Blue Jays. Their 1-seed magic number is 8.

But if the Astros beat the Angels the next two, their magic number on the Rays is 11 with three head-to-head. I’d put it at 30% the Sox start with the Rays.

 

The Houston Astros escape a bases loaded, no one out situation to start the bottom of the 10th but get out of it after Shohei Ohtani is gunned out at the plate for the third out after pinch hitter David Fletcher flied out to Right Field. Ohtani did not slide, ran around the tag attempt, but was tagged out once he stopped past the plate.

Neither team scored in the 11th. However, Houston scored four times in the 12th to win 9-5. Houston's magic number for the second seed is 5, and they 2 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay with a head to head series on tap.

In other news,

• Boston won their seventh straight, New York their 4th straight, passing Toronto by 1/2 game for the second wild card spot after Tampa ass whupped the Blue Jays 7-1. Seattle remains 2 1/2 games back of the Yankees.
• San Francisco defeated San Diego once again on Southern California to extend their lead to two games over the Dodgers who lost in Colorado 10-5. Fernando Tatis Jr. flied out to Kris Bryant as the potential game winning run to end the game. Kris Bryant also knocked in three runs on a double in the top of the 1st for a 3-0 Giants lead.
• Atlanta remains three games ahead of Philadelphia, both winners. The Phillies travel to Atlanta for a three game series starting next Tuesday.
• Saint Louis extended their Wild Card lead to 4 1/2 games over idle Cincinnati after their 11th straight win.

9/23:

Magic number = 2

As expected, yesterday turned out not to be a potential clinching day, so today is the second potential clinch day.

Houston remains within 2.5 games of Tampa for the #1 seed.

In the Wild Card race Boston is in the first spot 2 games ahead of New York. Toronto is now 0.5 game out and Seattle is 2.5 out.

 

Over in the National League, San Francisco's lead over Los Angeles has edged out to 2 games, with both having clinched at least a WC spot. St. Louis holds the 2nd WC spot, with Cincinnati and Philly both 4.5 back. Philly 3 behind Atlanta in the East. Milwaukee has clinched a playoff spot but can't clinch their division until tomorrow at the earliest.

Astros win today and beat the A’s 4-2 and Rays 2-1 puts them at 98-64.

Rays lose a game to the Marlins this weekend, and go 1-2 in Houston and NY to finish, puts them at 98-64.

Sox go to Tampa Bay.

Magic number = 0

Gonna be wild when it’s a Mariners- White Sox ALCS, and Cardinals-Braves NLCS.

 

23 minutes ago, flavum said:

Gonna be wild when it’s a Mariners- White Sox ALCS, and Cardinals-Braves NLCS.

 

Revenge for 2000 good friend!!!!

AL Wildcard with 9 left-

Bos 88-65 (vs NY, at Bal, at Was)

NY 86-67 (at Bos, at Tor, vs TB)

Tor 85-68 (at Min, vs NY,  vs Bal)

Sea 84-69 (at LAA, vs Oak, vs LAA)

1 hour ago, flavum said:

AL Wildcard with 9 left-

Bos 88-65 (vs NY, at Bal, at Was)

NY 86-67 (at Bos, at Tor, vs TB)

Tor 85-68 (at Min, vs NY,  vs Bal)

Sea 84-69 (at LAA, vs Oak, vs LAA)

insane.

30 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

insane.

Sure beats the 2022 version (16 teams , say 1st and 2nd in each division and two additional teams).

AL Race

• #1 TB v #8 (Cle or Det)
• #2 Houston v #7 (Sea or Oak)
• #3 Chicago v #6 (AL East 4th Pl)
• #4 AL East (2nd) v #5 AL East (3rd)

Still “alive”: LA (73-80) & KC (69-83)

NL Race

• #1 SF or LA v #8 Cin or SD
• #2 Milw v #7 Cin or SD
• #3 Atl or Phil v. #6 Atl or Phi
• #4 LA or SF v. #5 Stl

”Incredible” race for three seeds:

• Atl (80-71) / Phil (79-74) loser
• Cincinnati (78-75)
• San Diego (77-75)

Still “alive”: Mets (73-79) & Col (71-81)

You’re still alive she said

Oh do I deserve to be

Is that the question…..

 

 

So the Sox are the 5th team to clinch a spot in the postseason, but the first to do so by clinching a division title.

Houston has a magic # of 3 in the West and Tampa Bay has a magic # of 4 in the East, with Tampa holding a 3 game lead over Houston for the #1 seed.

Boston is now 2 games clear of New York in the wild card race, with Toronto 1 behind the Yankees and Seattle 2 back. Oakland is 4 back.

 

In the National League, Milwaukee's division clinch has been put on hold by the white hot Cardinals, but they have locked up a playoff spot and their magic # to clinch the division holds at 3. The other divisions provide two chances to have a race go down to the final weekend, with Atlanta up by only 2 over Philadelphia in the East, and San Francisco up by 1 over Los Angeles in the West, with the Giants and Dodgers already locked into the postseason. St. Louis has put an absolute strangle hold on the second wild card spot, now up 4.5 over Philly, 5.5 over Cincinnati and 6 over San Diego.

Weekend series with the biggest impact have the Yankees at Boston, Toronto at Minnesota, Pittsburgh at Philly and Atlanta at San Diego.

9 hours ago, flavum said:

Gonna be wild when it’s a Mariners- White Sox ALCS, and Cardinals-Braves NLCS.

 

It seemed like growing up in the 90s always ended up with some sort of Cardinals Braves playoff series every year 

Man I seriously thought Boston was beat when they fell out of the Wild Card 5th spot a couple weeks ago. Did they add someone in August? (Checks notes) let’s see, lefty starter, 5-0, 2.57 ERA, man this guy looks like something else.