Scoreboard Watching

[DaveW]

Mariners give up a bomb.

 

2-1 (Mariners) top of 5th.

[stringer bell]

 

If Houston loses to Seattle (down 2-0 Early) twins still essentially control their own destiny, going 4-0 gets them to a tie at worst.

Go Mariners!

Yup. And everyone knew the Twins wouldn't win their last nine or ten games. Now they need a comfy little four-gamer to make at least a Game 163.

[stringer bell]

Texas wins, Astros rallying.

[DaveW]

This freaking Astros game is going to end so poorly. The Mariners are such a disaster of a team.

[DaveW]

The Mariners bullpen makes Garham, Duensing and Boyer look like the  cmobined second coming of Mariano Rivera.

 

In Nelson Cruz and Cano we trust?

[DaveW]

And Gomez....pulls a Gomez.... in the field.

Astros up 3-2 5th inning but Mariners have guys on 1st and 3rd now, no outs.

[DaveW]

Seager with a BOMB. Mariners up 5-3, 5th inning.

[DaveW]

Cruz goes back to back! 6-3 Mariners.

[DaveW]

Mariners awesome super sweet pen gives up a 3 run BOMB to Carter on a 0-2 count.

 

6-6, top of 6th.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Seattle right fielder does Oswaldo Arcia impression while blindfolded rollerskating on banana peels, allows Houston to take lead in 7th.

[DaveW]

Astros win tonight, up 1 game in the loss column on the Twins. 3 games left at a TERRIBLE Diamondbacks team. Absolutely the Twins can't expect more than one loss from the Stros, which means, the Twins need to go 4-0 the rest of the way and hope Houston drops one game against Arizona to get into at least a one way "tie" for the wild card.

 

At least the Twins know what they need to do now. Win. Win. Win. Win and pray that the Diamondbacks find a way to win ONE game.

[DaveW]

Houston wins. Twins now need to go 4-0 and hope Houston loses one of three vs Arizona to force a game 163.

 

Not. Good.

[glunn]

Maybe Houston could lose 2 of 3 in Arizona and the Angels could lose 3 of 4 (or get swept) in Texas.

[glunn]

With all due respect, it seems to me that there must be at least a 10% chance that the Astros could lose 2 out of 3 and the Angels could lose at least 2 out of 4.  If not, at least we are guaranteed to see at least one meaningful game in October.

[DaveW]

Maybe Houston could lose 2 of 3 in Arizona and the Angels could lose 3 of 4 (or get swept) in Texas.

Highly unlikely that both things happen. Can't count on either. Gotta aim for 4-06

[glunn]

I agree that the Twins need to aim for 4-0, but that's tough against the Royals.  I am hoping that the universe might be generous in terms of the Astros and Angels faltering.

[stringer bell]

Rangers and Angels: Rangers are at home and need two to win the division. That means they win two.  A 2-2 split gives Los Angeles 85 wins. That's exactly my prediction. No way do the Angels come into Texas and sweep. Anyway, count on LA with 85 wins, Texas 87 and the division.

 

D-Backs and 'Stros:   The Astros are a lousy road team. Arizona was surprising until September, but I don't know much about them. History says that teams out of the race usually lose to teams that have something to play for. But also, that this is much more pronounced when the team that is out of it is playing on the road. My verdict: The Astros win one of three, so a 4-0 finish for the Twins squeaks them into the wild card game. 3-1 nets a three-team playoff with the Twins drawing the short straw.

 

 

[glunn]

Rangers are winning 4-3 in the bottom of the 7th, with men on 1st and 2nd and no outs.  Insurance runs please.

[Vanimal46]

Come on Rangers!

[glunn]

Texas gets a run on 2 sacrifice flies in a row, both of which made it to the CF warning track.  Now Texas faces Trout and Pujols in the 8th.  

[glunn]

Rangers SS makes 2 great plays and the Angels get nothing in the 8th.  Go Rangers! 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

ballgame Texas!

[glunn]

Rangers win 5 to 3.  Angels announcers praying for help from Diamondbacks and Royals.

[stringer bell]

One to catch, one to pass. If the Twins make the wild card, Texas will be the West Champion. Tied with LAA, trail Houston by a single game. If only the Mariners could have held that lead last night.

[Hornhead]

Who would have imagined this team would rise after the epic meltdown to start the second half?  I feel guilty asking for more, but we're sooooo close.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Rangers still have a win to play for. And being a intradivision series, I don't think Texas would have any problem keeping the heat on the Angels on high, if and when they do clinch.

[DaveW]

Depends on how much Texas "Parties" tonight, or if they wait to clinch the division to party.

 

If it's tonight? Pretty much give a win to the Angels for tomorrow.

If they clinch tomorrow or Saturday? It's 50/50 both days. (though the Angels likely win the day after)

[jokin]

 

Who would have imagined this team would rise after the epic meltdown to start the second half?  I feel guilty asking for more, but we're sooooo close.

 

...Which is why all those games that were frittered away before and after the ASG could end up coming back to cost them when it's finally all said and done... and they've had a couple meltdowns this month, too... That 5 game losing streak and the crushing loss to Detroit when victory was all but assured should have done them in, already. And yet still, here we are, the Twins' September resilience, and even that dreaded word, "grittiness", are positively palpable with this group- tonight was about as tense and electric as it gets in a pretty empty stadium.

[Hornhead]

 

...Which is why all those games that were frittered away before and after the ASG could end up coming back to cost them when it's finally all said and done... and they've had a couple meltdowns this month, too... That 5 game losing streak and the crushing loss to Detroit when victory was all but assured should have done them in, already. And yet still, here we are, the Twins' September resilience, and even that dreaded word, "grittiness", are positively palpable with this group- tonight was about as tense and electric as it gets in a pretty empty stadium.

I was thinking the exact same thing.  Those apparently meaningless games when they let victory slip through their fingers are looming very large right now.  I console myself with the thought that this current squad is not built for a playoff run and would fold quickly anyway.  But this truly is a group you can never count out, pardon the cliché.

[Carneal&Gordon]

I'm sure every team has games they'll look back on if they miss out, but tonight, tonight they stepped up down 1 with 5 outs left and stole one back. Only team with a home series remaining, let's do this!!!!