Magic Number Thread

by Matt in LA on Sep 10, 2008 12:04 AM EDT

Not sure if I'm figuring this right, but I believe that a combination of 29 Indians wins and 1st place teams losses would catapult the Tribe into the postseason.

Of course, with 19 games remaining, that means going undefeated requires an 8-10 finish for Chicago.

I think our biggest enemy is the 3 game series between Minnesota and Chicago. Is it possible for them both to lose? With some help from a surging Royals team, it could happen.

Go Tribe!

Tweet Comment 64 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Thank god we have Bullington and Zach Jackson pitching for this final push.

by Toxicadam on Sep 10, 2008 4:02 AM EDT reply actions

I miss magic number pictures in the game threads. Should we adopt a team?

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Sep 10, 2008 8:15 AM EDT reply actions

I vote for Milwaukee and Tampa Bay.

Andy Marte is free at last! Now, if only he got to bat with men on base...

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Sep 10, 2008 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I can support those choices

by APV on Sep 10, 2008 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

With Toronto winning the wild card.

by Ryan on Sep 10, 2008 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions

To win their divisions, TB and Milwaukee are, respectively:

and

by FredOx on Sep 10, 2008 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

For the Wild Card(s):

by FredOx on Sep 10, 2008 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions

hell. yes.

by Gradyforpresident on Sep 10, 2008 12:15 PM EDT reply actions

I feel conflicted about Minnesota. On the one hand, I want to see both Chicago and Minnesota lose, so the Indians can finish as high as possible. On the other, I would much prefer to see the Twins go to the postseason than the White Sox, which requires rooting for Minnesota a bit.

Either way, I’m with you on the Brewers, for the PTBNL sake if nothing else, and the Rays, for Boston being taken down a peg, if nothing else. I’m rooting for the Phillies in the NL East, but I don’t know if I’ll get much support for that from y’uns (oops, that’s Pittsburgh). I’d also like to watch Casey Blake in the playoffs, though that’s not a high priority (it does, however, doevetail with an interest in failure by Brandon Webb, for “our Cy Young is better than your Cy Young” reasons).

by Logodaedalus on Sep 10, 2008 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

We’ve been instructed not to care about Casey Blake, since he’s no longer an Indian. In case, I have no trouble complying.

by peter m on Sep 10, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

that should read “In his case”

by peter m on Sep 10, 2008 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

THREE. STRAIGHT. JOYLESS. BUNTS.

The Twins can get bent.

by fleerdon on Sep 10, 2008 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I never understood the meaning of “get bent.” Am I too young?

Burn on, big river, burn on...

by Turkmenbashi on Sep 11, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Almost certainly not.

by FredOx on Sep 11, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m rooting for the Dodgers strictly because Arizona is the most boring team in all of baseball. I love playoff baseball and want to be entertained.

by Toxicadam on Sep 10, 2008 1:29 PM EDT reply actions

You’ve obviously never attended a game at Chase field. When that retractable roof opens, it’s like watching God spreading heavenly light from above. Oh wait, they never open the roof, it’s always 110 degrees out. What a stupid waste of money.

That Adam Dunn pickup was exciting. Too bad his play hasn’t been. What about the red uni’s aren’t they exciting?

by RD74 on Sep 10, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Since joining the D-Backs, Dunn has posted a .318 EQA, .18 higher than his career average.

by ClarkM on Sep 11, 2008 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m rooting Dodgers all the way. I adopted them as my official NL team a few years ago. Even though their GM is an idiot and their owner is an ass, for some reason I have just always liked the team.

by mrich on Sep 10, 2008 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I would like to see the Dodgers make the playoffs for two reasons: 1. I love watching Manny hit. 2. Chad Billingsley, Defiance, Ohio native and an absolute beast.

by ClarkM on Sep 11, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I also get some measure of satisfaction from seeing a team managed by “Clue-less Joe” Torre make the playoffs while the one managed by “Joltin’ Joe” Girardi-o does not.

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Sep 12, 2008 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

This is where the “Brewers don’t make the playoffs, they pick the PTBNL” thing annoys me. My natural NL rooting interest is the Cardinals, having lived in suburban St. Louis, but the probability that the Cards and Brewers both make the playoffs is non-existent. My grandparents were from Louisville, and I watched a lot of Reds games as a result, but, well, you know. I guess I’ll root for the Brewers, but I do so under protest. In the AL, go ~~Devil~~ Rays.

by FredOx on Sep 10, 2008 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

How about our magic number to finish ahead of the Yankees? I believe it’s currently at 26.

by mrich on Sep 10, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Amazingly, the two teams’ run differentials are basically identical. It’s hard to believe that the Yankees are six games ahead of us in the “wild card race.” Bad luck, bad bullpen, etc.

by peter m on Sep 10, 2008 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

We’re actually a game up on them in the Pythagorean race…

by Logodaedalus on Sep 11, 2008 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions

How about a playoff elimination magic number for the Yankees?

Andy Marte is free at last! Now, if only he got to bat with men on base...

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Sep 10, 2008 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

by FredOx on Sep 10, 2008 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

They Yankees just lost.

Because America hates the Yankees

by Bernie19Kosar on Sep 10, 2008 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Indians magic number to finish ahead of the Yankees is now 24.

by mrich on Sep 11, 2008 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions

by FredOx on Sep 11, 2008 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Twins losing to the Royals 3-2.

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Sep 11, 2008 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

Update:
Tribe needs to sweep The W.Sox and Twins, and go 9-2 against the rest of their competition. The Sox have to go 4-9 vs. the rest of their competition, including 2 out of 3 against the twins The Twins must go 5-8 vs. the rest, including 1 out of 3 against the Sox. Tribe 15-2. Sox 4-12. Twins 5-11. Tribe wins division by 1 game.

by AD in LV on Sep 12, 2008 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Tremendous job you’re doing on these.

by Jay on Sep 12, 2008 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s stunningly plausible. I mean, an incredible longshot, but certainly possible. Let’s Go Tribe!

LeCavs!
If you were good enough, maybe we'd name it after you.

by Matt in LA on Sep 12, 2008 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

i’m not going to get greedy. i’d settle for a one game play-off scenario.

by Brick. on Sep 12, 2008 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

If only we had Sabathia to start it.

by fleerdon on Sep 12, 2008 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll bite. He’d probably fold.

by peter m on Sep 12, 2008 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

So setting aside the intradivision serieses, and assuming we can win a 1 game tie-breaker, the ChiSox can win a total of 3 in 10 games against the Tigers, Yankees and Royals, and the Twins can win a total of 4 games against the Orioles, Rays and Royals. Meanwhile, we have to lose at most two of 11 against the Royals, Red Sox and Tigers, while sweeping both Chicago and Minnesota. Then, so long as neither of those two sweeps the other, the winner of the series plays us in the tiebreaker game.

I give Chicago one win each against DET, NYY and KC, while MIN wins 2 against BAL, and 1 each against TB and KC. We lose 2 against BOS, and sweep everyone else.

I like it. Let’s do it. :-)

by Logodaedalus on Sep 12, 2008 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I figure it’s going to take 15 more victories to win this thing. Every time we win, we peel off a section.

"...leading the league in most offensive categories. Including nose hairs."

by sarcasmdave on Sep 12, 2008 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions

This is shaping up nicely. We won on Friday (putting the pressure on!). Both MIN and ChiSox rained out, forcing them to play 2 on Saturday. One bad day can turn into TWO losses…

That incredible, majestic, and miraculous finish that I mentioned earlier. Well, here it…

…COMES!

by AD in LV on Sep 13, 2008 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Don’t ever lose that spark, Little Foot.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Sep 13, 2008 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I am more like BigFoot! … but i am not here to discuss body hair.
Needless to say, I DIE HARD! Remaining delusional is the only way to cope with this season. Besides, how else could I set myself up for the pain and personal anguish that goes along with being a Cleveland fan?

by AD in LV on Sep 13, 2008 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Sep 13, 2008 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Harry? Is that You? Where’s Chewy?

by AD in LV on Sep 13, 2008 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

i’m not going to lie. if min and chi both lose two today, and we win two … 7 games.

by Gradyforpresident on Sep 13, 2008 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I predicted 79-83 on April 12.

I am sticking to that prediction.

Pinch-hitting Carroll for Marte at this point in the season is inexcusable. I’ve had it with Wedge. He’s a younger, paler Dusty Baker.

by emd2k3 on Sep 15, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

what is this, Boo Thome day at LGT?

by Brick. on Sep 15, 2008 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Every day at LGT is Boo Thome Day – and Boo Manny – and Boo CC – and Boo Blake too!!!

Resident LGT beer kinda sewer

by mauichuck on Sep 16, 2008 7:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Not Casey. I said it before – Casey Blake will be the MVP of the 2011 season, the same way or best player this year was Bartolo Colon.

by FredOx on Sep 16, 2008 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Speak for yourself – I think most of us here are enthusiastically cheering C.C. on.

by Voltaire on Sep 16, 2008 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

As should Chuck, if for two reasons only: (1) to increase the chances Milwaukee makes the playoffs, with all the concomitant implications regarding the P yet TBN; and (2) so he can gloat if and when CC falls on his face in October.

by FredOx on Sep 16, 2008 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Of those four, I boo Manny because he disrespects us. I boo Thome as I would any White Sox player, not because he’s FT. I boo Blake because he’s Blake. I cheer for CC because I like him as a player and he seems like a good guy. If he pitches against us, I’m against him (although good baseball fans often applaud a great effort by an opposing player, especially one that exhibits skill and grace).

by peter m on Sep 16, 2008 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions