A September To Remember

a blog by Schoolboy Jew

​It's coming down to the wire, and I am HYPED

As a Tigers fan, I have been spoiled four out of the last five years. I haven't had to worry about winning a wild card game, or worrying about if we are gonna make the playoffs(other than 2015 when the Tigers fell on their face). But this year is different. I have been stressing like crazy since the Tigers now have a decent shot at the playoffs(they currently are tied for the second wild card spot in the AL). But I am not the only one stressing. The playoff picture in the AL and the NL is so uncertain right now and I love it. This is what baseball is all about, an exciting playoff race in September to determine who makes it to the playoffs. In the AL east, it is a log jam at the top, between the first place Jays and then the Red Sox and Orioles. The Red Sox trail the Jays by just two games and currently hold the top wild card spot. The Orioles are a little farther back, trailing the Sox by 4 games but are tied with Detroit for the second wild card spot. In the Central, the damn Indians are up by 4.5 games on my Tigers and since they won't stop winning, I don't see the Tigers catching them, but I can hope. In the AL west, it's all Texas right now. The Rangers are up 8.5 games on Houston, who has been struggling since the All star break. In the Wild Card, the Red Sox currently hold the top spot, but it fluctuates on a daily basis. The Tigers and Orioles are tied for second but Houston is only one game back and the streaking Yankees are only 2.5 back.

Now, in the National League, it is only a similar story in one division. In the NL East, the Nationals are kings right now. They have nothing to worry, as they are nine games up on the second place Mets. In the NL Central, the MLB best Chicago Cubs are FIFTEEN GAMES up on the Cardinals. Fifteen games!! That is nuts. Lastly, in the NL West, there actually is a close race, unlike the other two divisions. The Dodgers are only up by 1.5 games on the Giants, who have to win the World Series because it's an even year. In the Wild Card, the Giants hold the top spot with St Louis behind them in the second spot. The Mets trail by 1.5 games out of the second spot and the Pirates are somewhat still in it, behind by 2.5 games. It should be a great finish to the season and I can't wait to see how it turns out.