11-05-2013, 02:22 PM
Poll Info: http://www.firstclassmogul.com/showthread.php?tid=9594
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September Rankings
ALE Outlook: Toronto and Baltimore have basically already punched their playoff ticket, it would take a monumental collapse from either to keep them on their couch in September.
Tampa is eyeing their first playoff appearance since 2017. Yes, 2017! They open up September with 12 of their first 15 games against Boston or New York, so they need to take care of business early before facing Baltimore and Toronto at the end of the month.
ALC Outlook: Minnesota has come out of nowhere with a 22-6 August to take the lead. They have a good enough pitching staff and a very good top half of the lineup. A home-and-away series against the Royals should spell one of the two teams from the playoff race by September 18.
Detroit should've ran away with the division, now it's a race to 85 wins. They tour the East, before settling in at home for 14 of their last 19 (all against the Central). Unless the ALE knocks them down a peg, I see Detroit taking control of the ALC.
The Twins and the Rangers stand in the Royals' path to the playoffs. Not to mention a season final four games at Detroit. It's going to be very tough for them to make it. Especially with a ticking time bomb of a bullpen.
ALW Outlook: The Rangers are going to have their hands full in sims 11 and 12. But despite their pedestrian record, they have a pretty complete team. Their load starts to lighten a little around the middle of the month. As long sim 11 doesn't sink them, they should be in good position to win the West.
Injuries to Fix and D-Will has probably done the Angels in. Their lineup is average and even with a few other good pitchers, it's just not enough. The Astros have the pitching to hang around, but their lineup is an eye sore.
NLE Outlook: The Mets and Phillies pretty much assured their playoff spot, it's just a question of who wins homefield advantage.
It's feast or famine for the Nationals opponents. They face division leaders (or Philly) in 14 of their September games and 13 games against sub-.401 clubs. They're in a prime position to take a wildcard spot, but need to take care of business against the weak teams and at least tread water against the stout opponents.
NLC Outlook: The Reds have a solid, above average team, nothing more. However, that should be enough to win the Central. They'll really be riding the arm of Peter Smith for any playoff success.
While I like the moves the Cubs have made to try to contend, I think they fall just short. Their pitching staff is solid, but their lineup is nothing to be overly concerned about. However, whoever made up the schedule was brilliant. The Cubs will face off against San Diego at the end of sim 12 and have a home-and-away series against the Reds in sim 13.
Despite a great run in August, the Cardinals are probably in too deep of a hole and too many teams to leapfrog to make the playoffs. Though if they defy the odds, look out. 10 of their last 13 are against the Giants, Brewers, and Pirates.
NLW Outlook: Like Baltimore and Toronto, unless the Rockies forget how to play baseball, the division is theirs. San Diego has kept up with a pretty solid season, but there's likely just too much ground to be covered in one month.
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September Rankings
| Rank | Team | W | L | L20 W | L20 L | RS/G | RA/G | Streak | G | Score |
| 1 | :PHI: | 93 | 42 | 16 | 4 | 6.71 | 4.05 | 7 | 135 | 0.511 |
| 2 | :NYM: | 94 | 42 | 10 | 10 | 6.09 | 4.12 | 2 | 136 | 0.413 |
| 3 | :TOR: | 90 | 44 | 9 | 11 | 5.40 | 3.76 | 2 | 134 | 0.354 |
| 4 | :BAL: | 85 | 52 | 13 | 7 | 5.23 | 3.90 | 1 | 137 | 0.305 |
| 5 | :COL: | 83 | 52 | 12 | 8 | 6.11 | 5.00 | 1 | 135 | 0.276 |
| 6 | :WAS: | 81 | 54 | 14 | 6 | 5.74 | 4.73 | -2 | 135 | 0.273 |
| 7 | :CIN: | 81 | 55 | 11 | 9 | 5.25 | 4.28 | -1 | 136 | 0.219 |
| 8 | :MIN: | 71 | 64 | 17 | 3 | 5.15 | 4.34 | 3 | 135 | 0.170 |
| 9 | :CHC: | 77 | 58 | 10 | 10 | 5.07 | 4.45 | -3 | 135 | 0.148 |
| 10 | :TEX: | 73 | 62 | 14 | 6 | 4.76 | 4.39 | 1 | 135 | 0.147 |
| 11 | :STL: | 70 | 65 | 14 | 6 | 5.47 | 4.40 | 7 | 135 | 0.117 |
| 12 | :TBR: | 72 | 63 | 12 | 8 | 4.57 | 4.21 | 1 | 135 | 0.102 |
| 13 | :SDP: | 71 | 64 | 10 | 10 | 5.34 | 4.63 | -1 | 135 | 0.062 |
| 14 | :KCR: | 69 | 66 | 12 | 8 | 4.99 | 4.94 | -1 | 135 | 0.052 |
| 15 | :DET: | 70 | 65 | 10 | 10 | 4.78 | 4.17 | -3 | 135 | 0.044 |
| 16 | :LAA: | 69 | 66 | 9 | 11 | 4.69 | 4.57 | -1 | 135 | 0.008 |
| 17 | :BOS: | 61 | 73 | 14 | 6 | 4.91 | 6.02 | -1 | 134 | -0.047 |
| 18 | :HOU: | 67 | 68 | 7 | 13 | 4.85 | 4.77 | 3 | 135 | -0.048 |
| 19 | :LAD: | 62 | 72 | 9 | 11 | 4.85 | 4.97 | -1 | 134 | -0.092 |
| 20 | :NYY: | 61 | 76 | 10 | 10 | 4.74 | 5.51 | 3 | 137 | -0.119 |
| 21 | :CHW: | 61 | 74 | 6 | 14 | 4.54 | 4.94 | -2 | 135 | -0.163 |
| 22 | :OAK: | 60 | 75 | 6 | 14 | 4.20 | 4.82 | 2 | 135 | -0.178 |
| 23 | :SEA: | 58 | 77 | 8 | 12 | 4.25 | 4.88 | -3 | 135 | -0.182 |
| 24 | :PIT: | 56 | 79 | 10 | 10 | 4.42 | 5.20 | -3 | 135 | -0.184 |
| 25 | :CLE: | 60 | 76 | 6 | 14 | 4.17 | 4.90 | -2 | 136 | -0.189 |
| 26 | :SFG: | 53 | 84 | 11 | 9 | 4.25 | 6.10 | 1 | 137 | -0.238 |
| 27 | :ARI: | 54 | 81 | 5 | 15 | 5.44 | 6.82 | 1 | 135 | -0.294 |
| 28 | :FLA: | 49 | 86 | 5 | 15 | 4.55 | 6.72 | 2 | 135 | -0.379 |
| 29 | :MIL: | 47 | 88 | 4 | 16 | 3.91 | 5.42 | -2 | 135 | -0.416 |
| 30 | :ATL: | 30 | 105 | 6 | 14 | 4.41 | 7.81 | -3 | 135 | -0.667 |
ALE Outlook: Toronto and Baltimore have basically already punched their playoff ticket, it would take a monumental collapse from either to keep them on their couch in September.
Tampa is eyeing their first playoff appearance since 2017. Yes, 2017! They open up September with 12 of their first 15 games against Boston or New York, so they need to take care of business early before facing Baltimore and Toronto at the end of the month.
ALC Outlook: Minnesota has come out of nowhere with a 22-6 August to take the lead. They have a good enough pitching staff and a very good top half of the lineup. A home-and-away series against the Royals should spell one of the two teams from the playoff race by September 18.
Detroit should've ran away with the division, now it's a race to 85 wins. They tour the East, before settling in at home for 14 of their last 19 (all against the Central). Unless the ALE knocks them down a peg, I see Detroit taking control of the ALC.
The Twins and the Rangers stand in the Royals' path to the playoffs. Not to mention a season final four games at Detroit. It's going to be very tough for them to make it. Especially with a ticking time bomb of a bullpen.
ALW Outlook: The Rangers are going to have their hands full in sims 11 and 12. But despite their pedestrian record, they have a pretty complete team. Their load starts to lighten a little around the middle of the month. As long sim 11 doesn't sink them, they should be in good position to win the West.
Injuries to Fix and D-Will has probably done the Angels in. Their lineup is average and even with a few other good pitchers, it's just not enough. The Astros have the pitching to hang around, but their lineup is an eye sore.
NLE Outlook: The Mets and Phillies pretty much assured their playoff spot, it's just a question of who wins homefield advantage.
It's feast or famine for the Nationals opponents. They face division leaders (or Philly) in 14 of their September games and 13 games against sub-.401 clubs. They're in a prime position to take a wildcard spot, but need to take care of business against the weak teams and at least tread water against the stout opponents.
NLC Outlook: The Reds have a solid, above average team, nothing more. However, that should be enough to win the Central. They'll really be riding the arm of Peter Smith for any playoff success.
While I like the moves the Cubs have made to try to contend, I think they fall just short. Their pitching staff is solid, but their lineup is nothing to be overly concerned about. However, whoever made up the schedule was brilliant. The Cubs will face off against San Diego at the end of sim 12 and have a home-and-away series against the Reds in sim 13.
Despite a great run in August, the Cardinals are probably in too deep of a hole and too many teams to leapfrog to make the playoffs. Though if they defy the odds, look out. 10 of their last 13 are against the Giants, Brewers, and Pirates.
NLW Outlook: Like Baltimore and Toronto, unless the Rockies forget how to play baseball, the division is theirs. San Diego has kept up with a pretty solid season, but there's likely just too much ground to be covered in one month.
Cleveland Record: 5631-4946 (.532) [2054-2071, 2083-2104, 2110-2135]
AL Post: 16 (ALC), 11 (WC) - ALDS Win: 12 - ALCS Champ: 7 - WS Champ: 4
ALW: Mariners + Angels Record: 1072-864 (.554) [2042-2048, 2105-2110]
AL Post: 3 (ALW), 4 (WC) - ALDS Win: 3 - ALCS Champ: 1 - WS Champ: 1
NLW: Rockies + Padres Record: 3230-2753 (.540) [2017-2042, 2072-2082]
NL Post: 18 (NLW), 4 (WC) - NLDS Win: 7 - NLCS Champ: 4 - WS Champ: 0