Eye Toward: Sept. 26
With the playoff pursue coming down to the wire, our MLB editor rounds up the 5 biggest pennant marathon stories in Eye Toward October.
- Pressure on Brewers: With a pair of dramatic walk-off wins Thursday night, the Mets and Brewers acquired a little less than 24 hours of breathing chamber -- a instantaneous respite from the words choker and collapse. They enter the final weekend of the regular season tied for the wild-card lead, and, in another bit of symmetry, both teams have to await until Sunday for their aces -- Johan Santana and CC Sabathia -- to start.
The oppression is all on in the Big Apple,
audio technica headphone, but make no error, Milwaukee is facing a tougher road to the postseason. The Brewers must handle with the best team in the National League, the Cubs, as they claw and scratch for a playoff spot.
Lou Piniella rested Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto in Chicago's terminal game opposition the Mets Thursday, but it's unlikely he will sit them entire weekend against Milwaukee,
arizona birkenstock, principally with a contingency to beat out a Brewers team thas yets a real menace in October. And Piniella ambition likewise bring his best 2 starters of late -- Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly -- to the mound in the premier two games of the array. The Brewers will start the shaky Jeff Suppan and Ben Sheets coming off harm before cornering to Sabathia in the finale.
Of way, the Mets won't have it easy this weekend. The Marlins are a perilous team and New York is using a spot starter on Saturday. The Phillies will have to catch on affair against the Nationals also. But as good as the vibes have been for the Brewers this week against the Pirates, the Cubs present a important obstacle to Milwaukee's playoff hopes.
- Harden a Question Mark: The Cubs already have question marks approximately Carlos Zambrano going into the postseason. Other than the no-hitter, Big Z hasn't looked very good all month. Now, they might have some questions almost Rich Harden. The right-hander, who was acquired from Oakland in July,
Asics Whizzer Lo, namely probably Chicago's best pitcher while he's entirely healthy.
But he didn't see quite right against the Mets Thursday. Harden struggled with his velocity against New York, sitting in the cheap instead of mid-90s. It's possible the sloppy climate and cold conditions at Shea Stadium endowed to his struggles, but it's not like the conditions are going to be whichever more accomodating next month. Ryan Dempster has already been announced as Chicago's Game 1 starter. Even whereas he's probably the Cubs' third most gifted starter, it's cozy to see why he's their No. 1 braining into the playoffs.
- Danks as Everything: The White Sox appear well on their way to collapse. To stop their freefall, they will turn to southpaw John Danks against the Indians Friday night. Danks has been Chicago's best starter all season and he'll need to come up huge to reserve his union hanging on. As for the Twins,
MBT kisumu shoes, they'll send Francisco Liriano to the mound against the lowly Royals.
- Philly Fortune: The Phillies have enjoyed some distance from the Mets and Brewers over the past week, but they merely enjoy a one-game advantage entering the final weekend. If things go south against the Nationals,
puma shoes women, either New York and Milwaukee could pass them. But then,
discount nike air max, they're facing the Nationals, fair for they did aboard the final weekend of 2007. The schedule-makers have laughed on Philadelphia for the second straight season.
- Boston Gets Another Piece: Mike Lowell should return to the Red Sox lineup over the weekend, giving the vindicating champs another lacking chip back. Pay special attention to how Lowell plays on bunts at third base. If he's no mobile, the Red Sox might no be capable to rely on him in October.
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