Baseball (quasi)-Playoffs

My problem with regular season Major League Baseball - too many games. I've long thought the World Series is the pinnacle of American professional sports, and the playoffs have been really good when there's something interesting going on. Like 2003, when the long-suffering Cubs and Red Sox looked destined to meet in the WS. And look how that ended up - a total classic meltdown: Bartman, Little/Martinez. But each regular season game just means too little... until now!



Well, in Houston at least. About a week ago, the season seemed almost done-for, and maybe even a little pointless. I think the Astros were 6-1/2 games out of the Wild Card race, nevermind the pennant. Now? A four-game winning streak (8-2 over the last ten), including: a 14-1 domination, actual run support for Clemens, and two pitchers' career first home runs (Oswalt, Pettite). The Astros must be feeling like Jeff Kent.



Now? 1-1/2 games out in the NL Wild Card, in 4th place. There are six teams within 2-1/2 games, and suddenly everything has changed. Each game really means something to Cincinnati, San Diego (1/2 game back, playing Astros), Arizona (1/2), Houston (1-1/2), Philadephia (2, playing the Reds), and Colorado (2-1/2 games back). The Astros are closer to the NC Central pennant now (5 games) than they were to the Wild Card a week ago.

Weird, wacky stuff...

(O yeah, and to answer the question linked behind Kent's walkoff picture: We were over by the Conoco pump, because Cheato wouldn't walk back up to our seats at the end of the 9th. He mocked me for suggesting it! But the thing I said I'd never forget was seeing Roger Clemens come in as a pinch-hitter. Bi-zarre.)

[Update: Just found this NL Wild Card round-up from Thursday.

Schedule: If the Astros plan on making a statement, the current nine-game homestand with Pittsburgh, San Diego and the Cubs is as good a time as any.

Right.]