MLB Playoffs: Who I Want In (and Who I Don't)!

The last month has been a bit of a slog for Reds fans.  Sure, we know not to count the proverbial chickens before they hatch, but between the Reds solid (not spectacular) play and both the Cardinals and Pirates collapses, there hasn't been much interesting happening in the NL Central (at least at the top spot).  With the Reds all but assured a post season berth, I figured it would be an interesting exercise to see who else I'd like to see make the playoffs.  As of Thursday evening (the day I wrote this post), the Nationals (8.5 game lead), Reds (11.5 game lead), and the Giants (7 game lead) all appear to have mostly locked up their respective divisions.  That means that there are two wild card spots up for grabs in the National League and not much else.

Again, as of Thursday, the following teams are all within 6.5 games of the second wild card spot:


Atlanta 81 63 .563 -
St. Louis         75 68 .524 -
LA Dodgers 74 69 .517 1
Pittsburgh         72 70 .507 2.5
Philadelphia 72 71 .503 3
Milwaukee 72 71 .503 3
Arizona 71 72 .497 4
San Diego         69 75 .479 6.5

Put another way, one can only safely rule out the Mets, Marlins, Rockies, Cubs, and Astros from postseason contention as of mid-September.  If I had my choice, here's how the Wild Card would play out.

For the Reds' sake, I don't want the Phillies in (Reds fans remember the embarrassment that was the 2010 playoffs).  The wound is still too fresh.  I don't think most Reds fans want Milwaukee in either, not because of any particular dislike of the Brewers but rather it'd be nice to keep them from getting an influx of postseason money (and fame).  The Padres are made up of mostly ex-Reds - so having to face them in the playoffs could be dangerous for Cincinnati as well, let's hope they don't make up that 6.5 game deficit.

After narrowing down the list to five teams, there's still one more team that no Reds fan wants to see in the playoffs - St. Louis!  Unfortunately, they still control their own fate but hopefully a few losses will knock them back behind some of the other teams in the hunt.

The way I see it, the Braves seem like an almost lock to be one of the wild card teams (I know, I know, look at Atlanta's track record when they are an "almost lock").  I still think the Braves make the playoffs.  Thus, there are three teams left to choose from:  the Dodgers (aka the Yankees West), the Pirates, and the Diamondbacks.


Without looking up the Reds record against any of the clubs (what, you think I'm going to actual research right now, pshhh).  I would say that the Reds match up the worst against the Dodgers.  LA has great pitching and a lineup that's simply too scary, especially at Great American.

The Diamondbacks are...well...they are the D-backs.  I can't tell you much about the team in the desert to be honest.  I wouldn't care if they made it I suppose - but this Reds fan is going to be rooting for the only team left on the list:  The Pittsburgh Pirates!

Yes, that's right.  I am officially throwing my rooting interests behind the Pirates for the remainder of the regular season (except the last weekend in September when they play the Reds - we'll see what the state of the various playoff races is before I make a judgment call about that).

Thus, here's my (in order) list of teams that I'd like to see make the playoffs (in addition to the three current NL Division leaders):

1.  Pirates
2.  Diamondbacks
3.  Dodgers
4.  Braves
5.  Brewers
6.  Padres
7.  Phillies
8.  Cardinals

Who says there's nothing to root for (or against) right now?!