Rocky Mountain High

The National League wild card ended in a wild fashion.

After thirteen innings of extra regular season baseball, the Colorado Rockies are going to the playoffs. But listen to how it happened.

The Rockies and Padres were tied 6-6 through 12 innings. In the top of the thirteenth, Scott Hairston hit a two-run home run, putting the Padres up 8-6.

This led to the bottom of the inning, where Trevor Hoffman took the mound. Now Hoffman is arguably the greatest closer in the history off baseball (holds career record for saves with 524). With a two run lead, you would think the game is a done deal. Right?

Wrong.

Kaz Matsui (former Met who was designated for assignment) leads off the inning with a double. Think he wasn’t happy with the past few days?

Troy Tulowitzki followed that with a double to score him. Matt Holliday comes up next, and triples to deep right on a ball that looked like a home run.

The final batter of the game, Jamey Carrol then hit a sacrifice fly to right, allowing Holliday to score and end the game.

The win marked the 14th time the Rockies won in 15 games, giving them the right to play Philadelphia in the National League Division Series, or as I like to call it, the Battle of the Cinderella’s.
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The Video
(MLBTV)

Wild Wild Card Sunday

With one day left in the MLB’s regular season, FOUR teams in the National League are vying for TWO playoff spots. So for those who aren’t familiar with what is going on, let me fill you in.
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The Teams
The New York Mets (88-73), the Philadelphia Phillies (88-73), the San Diego Padres (89-72), and the Colorado Rockies (88-73)

Sunday’s Games
Florida Marlins vs. New York Mets
Washington Nationals vs. Philadelphia Phillies
San Diego Padres vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies


The NL East
Currently, the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets are tied for first in the NL East with records of 88-73.
If one team loses and one team wins on Sunday: The Winning Team wins the NL East and goes to the playoffs.
If both teams lose or win: The teams would play a tiebreaker on Monday for the NL East title in Philadelphia.

The NL West
The Arizona Diamondbacks have clinched a playoff spot.
If the Arizona Diamondbacks win today: The Diamondbacks clinch the division.
If the San Diego Padres win today: The Padres clinch a playoff spot and the Rockies are eliminated from playoff contention.
If the Padres lose and the Rockies win: The Diamondbacks clinch the division and there will be a tie for the Wild Card spot.(See below).

*NOTE: The only way the Padres can win the division is if in a record tie, both teams cannot make the playoffs. The Padres would then have the opportunity to win the division in a one-game playoff. If the Padres and Diamondbacks are tied and both assured of a playoff spot, the Diamondbacks win the division based on their head-to-head record.

The Wild Card
If San Diego wins today, they will clinch the Wild Card position. However, if San Diego loses today and finishes 89-73, any team that has the same record is in Wild Card contention.

So lets assume San Diego loses today.
Mets win, Phillies win, Rockies win: Four teams finish 89-73. New York would play in Philadelphia on Monday night to decide the NL East Champion. The loser of that game would enter a two-day, three team playoff with the Rockies and the Padres. If that happens, Colorado (the team with the best head-to-head record among the three teams in the wild-card tiebreaker) would get the choice of having a bye on Tuesday or playing both games at home.

Mets win, Phillies win, Rockies lose: The Mets and Phillies would play on Monday night to decide the NL East Champion. The loser would then play a wild card tiebreaker on Tuesday against San Diego to determine the Wild Card winner.

If two teams tie for the wild card: One-game playoff to determine the winner. Coin flips have determined who would be home and who would be away.

TEAMS THAT CONTROL OWN DESTINY: Padres, Mets, and Phillies
TEAMS THAT NEED TO WIN AND NEED HELP: Rockies

Got that? Should be a wild Sunday.