By: Norma Loya
After seven long months of grass stains, sunflower seeds and tight pants, the postseason has arrived in full fashion. Every October, eight major league baseball teams fight for a chance at the big Commissioner’s Trophy. This year the lucky candidates include the American League New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays and the National League Arizona Diamondbacks, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers. After the nail-biting wild-card races, the AL Rays and NL Cardinals barely slid by the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves.
After overcoming a 7-0 deficit versus the Yankees in the last game of the season, the Rays managed to win the game 8-7 in a 12-inning battle. During the entire month of September, the Rays went 17-10, while the Red Sox went 7-20. In the Red Sox’s last game, Jonathon Papelbon blew a 3-2 lead in the bottom on the ninth allowing the Orioles to take the game. Over in Houston, the Cardinals stole the playoff spot from the Braves after winning 8-0. The Atlanta Braves lost their chance at the playoffs after going 11-20 in the final weeks of the 2011 regular season.
Last year’s champs—the San Francisco Giants—lost their chance at the playoffs a few games before the end of the season after landing one-too many games behind the Braves and Cardinals in the Wild Card. Though the Giant’s 2010 season was full of shine and talent, this season brought crushing injuries—catcher Buster Posey, especially—and also a huge lack of offensive support.
The American League Division Series (ALDS) began on Sep. 30 with the Tigers playing in New York. The National League teams started their playoffs on Oct. 1 with St. Louis at Philadelphia and Arizona at Milwaukee. Given that the National League won the All-Star Game, this year’s World Series will start off at the National League Championship winner’s field.
Recently, the Texas Rangers defeated the Tampa Rays for their chance in the Division Series. All of the six other teams have forced a decision-making game five set for Oct. 6 and Oct. 7.