MLB: 8 Reasons This Is the Most Boring September in Years

As a Red Sox fan I can't say I personally find this September boring—at all. Boston is doing their best to squander their once comfortable AL Wild Card lead.

But outside of this drama, it is a very uninteresting last month for sure. 

There are really just very few compelling teams to watch right now, from a general interest point of view.

There is one thing, however, that Red Sox fans, uninterested general fans and Billie Joe Armstrong can all agree on—wake us up when September ends!

Here are eight reasons why this is the most boring September in years:

1. The Phillies Are Already in

In what should be a surprise to no one, the NL East will not be the source of any September drama.

The Phillies became the first team to clinch a playoff berth on Wednesday night, behind a complete game shutout from the big guy, Roy Halladay.

2. The Brewers Have a Solid Lead

The Brewers slid into first place on July 27 and haven't looked backed. They lead the Cardinals by 5.5 games.

Milwaukee's on track for their first playoff appearance since winning the wild card in 2008. They haven't won a division since 1982, when they won the AL East and played in the World Series.

3. The D'backs Are Close to Clinching

Buoyed by their purple-laden throwback weekend celebrating their 2001 championship, the Arizona Diamondbacks have brought their magic number to clinch the NL West down to six.

Prior to their loss to San Diego last Sunday, the D'backs had won 15 in a row, a franchise record.

4. The Braves Won't Blow Their Lead

Heck, even the NL Wild Card race lacks punch.

The Braves' magic number is nine, and unlike Boston, Atlanta has shown no signs of self-destructing.

5. The Yankees Are a Lock

It looks like the Yankees will eke out the division after a contentious summer battling with the Red Sox.

The AL East remains interesting, however, because of Boston's ineptitude. The Red Sox have seen their wild card lead slip to a mere three games over the Tampa Bay Rays.

6. The Tigers Are Cruising

In a fittingly anti-climatic manner, the Tigers clinched the AL Central last night even by having their 12-game winning streak snapped, thanks to a loss by the second-place White Sox.

The Tigers are a team getting hot at the right time, and they should be a force in October, but they are now just a bore for the rest of September.  

7. The Giants Will Miss the Playoffs

Adding to the lack of September energy is the poor play of the Giants. They need a miracle to make the playoffs, and it doesn't look like that's going to happen any time soon.

Losing Buster Posey for the year really hurt, huh?

The defending champs sit 7.5 games back of the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

8. The Pirates Have Yet Another Losing Season

A less traditional storyline of interest would have been seeing if the Pittsburgh Pirates could have reversed 18 years of hard luck and ineptitude by finally putting together a winning season. 

2011 isn't the year. Since they last held first place, July 19, the Pirates are a woeful 16-37.

Even a wonderful first half wasn't enough to balance out the Bucs' second half shortcomings.