Wild Card Weekend Is More Like NASCAR Than Baseball

Baseball kicks into high gear this weekend as there are some extremely pivotal matchups that could shape the race for playoff positioning.

The number of teams with post-season aspirations has more than doubled due to the wild card and it creates an uncomfortably crowded situation all the way down the stretch run.

Rubbin’ is Racin’ boys!

Baseball traditionalists may not have liked the idea of a Wild Card team in the playoffs, but they can’t argue that it is proving to be a substantially positive addition to Major League Baseball’s competitive drive.

Although the season is still far from over, it seems the wild card is the best hope for two-thirds of the remaining teams still in contention for a playoff spot.

All but two of the divisions seem to be well in-hand with a minimum of five and a half games separating the leader from the second place team in the other four divisions. Only the Dodgers (3.5 game lead) and the Tigers (2.5 game lead) seem vulnerable to a pennant race.

The headlining matchup this weekend is the Red Sox hosting the Yankees. Not many believe this series will have an impact on the outcome of the division title, but more likely will shape the ever changing landscape of the wild card race in the American League.

Several other key matchups this weekend will hinge on the outcome of how Boston fairs after their three game sweep of Toronto this week. Similarly, the Colorado/San Francisco series will also help determine the National League races.

The wild card chase is wide open in both leagues with the Red Sox holding a slim one game lead over the Rangers and the Rockies just two ahead of San Francisco.

The race is on! Gentlemen, start your engines.

The Pole Position: Boston vs. New York

Boston just used their three best pitchers to sweep away their neighbors to the north in Toronto. This weekend they face a formidable starting pitching threesome of Pettitte, Burnett, and Sabathia.

If Boston can pull off the improbable and win the series they will cut into the Yankees’ division lead and probably distance themselves from both Texas and Tampa Bay in the Wild Card standings.

If the Red Sox crash and burn like they did last weekend against New York they would, for all intensive purposes, eliminate themselves from the division race and would likely be looking up at Texas for the wild card (again).

Fastest Lap: Thin air, faster car?

Colorado has been tearing up the track since they changed managers early in the season. However, the Giants are in town this weekend and are literally pressing on their bumper just two games back.

This series could see the Rockies close the gap on the Dodgers. San Francisco, meanwhile, hopes they can draft (draught?) around the Coors Field crazies and into the Dodgers’ rear view mirror.

Jimmie Johnson vs. Carl Edwards: Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Just like the drivers, these teams currently are next to each other in the standings a couple spots back of the leaders. Just like the drivers, these teams represent the defending champ (American League) and the young upstart who always seems to be just one race away from greatness.

This weekend the Champs host the Upstarts while both are hoping Boston dumps a tranny against New York. That would allow the winner of this series to gain two or three games in the wild card race.

Tampa is just four car lengths behind Boston, while the Rangers have been playing leap frog with the Red Sox for the last week.

The caution flag (especially for Boston) has just come out and they’re ready for the restart. Single file with a couple laps to go, it may all depend on how fast or slow Boston comes out of the caution. Oh yeah, watch for debris on the roadways.

One lap down: Will the South rise again?

Atlanta and Florida had to hit Pit Row as they needed some minor adjustments to their chassis. They are now fighting to get back on the lead lap, but the Phillies are about to lap them again.

If either team can put some distance between the other they can make a run towards the pack and with a little luck they may be in a position to crash into a fourth place finish (that’s the wild card winner).

They’ll need Colorado and San Francisco to fall back into the pack and hope for a blowout or engine failure from one or both of them down the stretch.

The Lucky Dog: Los Angeles Dodgers (Dog-ers?)

In racing, the "Lucky Dog" is a driver who gets back on the lead lap due to a caution. Essentially, the driver is allowed to move up with the other leaders even though they didn’t really do anything to deserve the advancement.

The LA Dodgers are already on the lead lap, but they are the luckiest of dogs this weekend as their closest competition plays head-to-head and allows them to move a couple spots ahead if they take care of business against the fading Cubbies (speaking of dogs).

Lou Piniella may want to put on four new tires and top off the tank before the road trip to So-Cal. The Cubs are going to need it because they’ve already “wrecked” in the trial runs and are currently using their “backup” car. The Dodger’s are likely to gain a few positions without really earning it- Lucky Dogs.

Two wide in the corner: The AL Central

Detroit is one of two teams in danger of being chased down in their division. The White Sox are just two and a half games back and both teams will be taking on pretenders this weekend. The Tigers host the A’s, and Chicago travels to Baltimore.

Whoever, wins the “Nationwide” race this weekend will be in a fine position to win the “Sprint” race the rest of the way.

In the Garage: The Twins, Mariners, Astros, and Cubs.

Sorry, boys. The race is over and the car is up on the lift, smoking and bleeding.

They were running strong and even gained a couple extra points by leading a lap here and there. The race was just too long. The other teams’ cars were running just a tad better, their drivers just a little bit hungrier.

Thank your sponsors and throw your helmet at the guy who spun you out as he drives by!

The Major League Baseball season, like a NASCAR race, is often described as a marathon rather than a sprint. Although, the last couple laps are the most exciting, many times the race is won in The Pits and in the positioning leading up to the final turns.

We’re on lap 120 and there are 42 laps to go. The tires are melting, the engine is gasping, and the body is being held together with duct tape and glue.

This is where the race is won or lost and the chance to wave the checkered flag hangs in the balance.

Boogity, boogity, boogity! Let’s go racin’ boys!!!