MLB: Day One Hundred and Fifty-Five

Posted on | September 7, 2007 | No Comments

On Sunday the Atlanta Braves pretty much sealed their fate and the Detroit Tigers let a game slip away that could’ve helped them out a lot.

Before we completely write off the Atlanta Braves I should mention that the Braves do have a lot of talent and still aren’t officially out of the playoff race. But losing three straight games to the New York Mets at home, this late in the season has all but sealed their fate. And what a disappointment after they made moves at the trade deadline that many people thought would catapult them to the division title. Now the Braves barely have a pulse. Next up the Braves face the Phillies. It will be interesting to see if the Braves bounce back or simply pack it in for this season.

Meanwhile, another team with high hopes and a lot of talent missed out on a great opportunity on Sunday as well. The Detroit Tigers knew midway through their game that they had a chance to gain a game on the Cleveland Indians, the New York Yankees, and the Seattle Mariners. The Indians are leading the AL Central and the Yankees and the Mariners are ahead of the Tigers in the AL Wildcard race.

Everything looked great for the Tigers through the first half of the game. In fact the Tigers held a commanding lead of seven to nothing. But slowly the lead disappeared. Then in the ninth inning the Tigers’ closer, Todd Jones, surrendered two more runs so the game went to extra innings ties at seven. Then the Tigers lost the game in the tenth.

It was a crushing defeat and it might be one that’s as damaging for the Tigers as the Braves loss was for them. Only time will tell if the Tigers can bounce back and play well in their next series against the Chicago White Sox. If the Tigers hope to stay within the Wildcard Race then they better start winning games in bunches and they better not let anymore large leads (like seven to nothing) slip away late in a game.

Now, tomorrow will begin a new week so I will take a look at the standings in the American League. Then on Tuesday I’ll take a look at how things shape up in the National League. Right now it looks like the only close race in the American League is the Wildcard race, while in the National League the close races are pretty much everywhere.

Related posts:

1. MLB: Day One Hundred and Fifty-Nine
2. MLB: Day One Hundred and Fifty-Four
3. MLB: Day One Hundred and Fifty-Six
4. MLB: Day One Hundred and Fifty-Two
5. MLB: Day One Hundred and Fifty-Three

Comments