Doesn't any team want AL wild-card spot?

AlwaysWrite

Addicted Member
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Updated with Wednesday's results]

It doesn't seem that ANY of the seven contenders for the second American League wild-card spot want to get into the playoffs. Take a look at how all of them have been playing down the stretch ...


* TWINS: current record 78-74 ... last 10 games 4-6 ... were 77-69 on Sept. 15, then lost 5 of 6

* ANGELS: currenty 76-75 ... last 10 games 4-6, inc. 3 straight losses... were 76-72 on Sept. 16

* MARINERS: currently 74-78 ... last 10 games 3-7, inc. 5 losses in row ... were 59-56 on Aug. 9

* RANGERS: current record 75-76 ... last 10 games 4-6 ... were 70-68 on Sept. 6

* ROYALS: current record 74-77 ... last 10 games 4-6 ... were 54-47 on July 29

* RAYS: current record 74-78 ... last 10 games 4-6 ... were 51-44 on July 18

* ORIOLES: current record 73-80 ... last 10 games 2-8 ... were 68-65 on Aug. 30, and 3-11 lately

If ANY of those teams could play better than .500 ball down the stretch, or if ANY of them could mount any sort of win streak, they would be in command for the wild-card spot, but none of those teams seem capable of doing so.

By comparison, the CELLAR-DWELLERS have been playing better ball than the wild-card contenders. Over the last 10 games, the A's are 7-3, the Blue Jays 6-4 and the White Sox 5-5.
 
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AlwaysWrite

Addicted Member
The problem with many teams is that too many players are home run happy, and teams are finding out the hard way that it's often tough to win when the only runs they score are on one or two solo homers.

Perhaps more attention should be paid to a team like the Boston Red Sox, who are DEAD LAST in the league in home runs, but they manufacture runs by hitting with runners in scoring position, advancing runners on grounders and fly balls with less than two out, stolen bases and bunts, etc.
 

WAMO

Spanking His Monkey
THATS HOW WASHINTON COACHED WHEN HE WAS WITH THE RANGERS, "SMALL BALL". 2 WORLD SERIES APPEARANCES, MADE THE PLAYOFFS EVERY YEAR, WON THE DIVISION MOST OF THOSE YEARS. NOW WHERE ARE THEY? BUT, FANS WANT HOME RUNS!!! PERIOD!
 
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