*Down to the Wire*: AL East/West/WC race thread.

[SephClone89]

Don't look now, but Oakland got two huge homers from Cespedes and Reddick in the bottom of the 8th, bringing them 1.5 games behind the Rangers.

Texas is currently playing the second game of a doubleheader against the Angels, and are down 4-3 early. Texas ends the season with a three game set at...Oakland. And the Angels are only two games back in the wild card, too.

Baltimore and New York are still tied for first--Orioles go to Tampa for the last series of the year, though, whereas the Yankees host Boston.

Looks like we could see at least one tiebreaker on Thursday to determine who wins the division and who is subjected to the play-in game.

[SOXSINCE'70]

The sad part: the White Sox won't be playing any of those games.

[SephClone89]

Pretty good and easy to read guide to the AL playoff possibilities here.

[PorkChopExpress]

One thing I hadn't realized in all of this is that Jim Thome is on the Orioles. I mean, I knew he was, but I had forgotten. Anyway, maybe this is finally Thome's chance to get that ring. The O's are playing solid baseball right now. Since the Sox appear to be on the verge of elimination, at least that will give me something to watch for in the playoffs.

[ChiSoxGal85]

Originally Posted by PorkChopExpress

One thing I hadn't realized in all of this is that Jim Thome is on the Orioles. I mean, I knew he was, but I had forgotten. Anyway, maybe this is finally Thome's chance to get that ring. The O's are playing solid baseball right now. Since the Sox appear to be on the verge of elimination, at least that will give me something to watch for in the playoffs.

Yeah, Thome was on the DL for quite a while and just came back recently. I'll be rooting for the Orioles myself as I'd like to see Big Jim get that ring.

[DSpivack]

James Shields set a franchise record with 15 K's, but the O's Miguel Gonzalez was better and Baltimore survived 1-0. There was hope for them in the Bronx, but Boston blew a 3-1 lead in the 9th and the Yankees won in extras, 4-3. New York will take a one-game lead into the final day.

Out west, the Rangers and A's are directly fighting for the AL West. Oakland cut the lead down to 1 game last night in a 4-3 win, as the team celebrated on the field when they clinched a playoff spot. They just took a 2-1 lead in the 5th inning; if they prevail tonight the division will be tied.

[thomas35forever]

Rangers have put a 5-spot on the board in the 3rd and knocked Griffin out. Talk about seizing the momentum. A's better pray for a miracle.

[DSpivack]

Originally Posted by thomas35forever

Rangers have put a 5-spot on the board in the 3rd and knocked Griffin out. Talk about seizing the momentum. A's better pray for a miracle.

A miracle happened there, I suppose you could say. Coco Crisp double down the line ties it with two out in the 4th, after Derek Holland comes on in relief for Texas.

[JB98]

Originally Posted by DSpivack

A miracle happened there, I suppose you could say. Coco Crisp double down the line ties it with two out in the 4th, after Derek Holland comes on in relief for Texas.

No miracle, really. Ryan Dempster might have been the Cubs ace, but he's just a No. 4 or No. 5 guy on a contending AL team. He's just not as good as many Chicago folk made him out to be. Even some Sox fans were fooled, wanting KW to acquire Dempster at the deadline.

[DSpivack]

Originally Posted by JB98

No miracle, really. Ryan Dempster might have been the Cubs ace, but he's just a No. 4 or No. 5 guy on a contending AL team. He's just not as good as many Chicago folk made him out to be. Even some Sox fans were fooled, wanting KW to acquire Dempster at the deadline.

Oh, I know, was just riffing off of the post I quoted.

Still an exciting game. Crazy finish in the AL West; per Elias, no team has ever had this big of a comeback with so few games remaining.

They were down 5 games with 9 to play; HR just put the score at exactly that, 9-5, somewhat ironically.

[harwar]

Originally Posted by DSpivack

Crazy finish in the AL West; per Elias, no team has ever had this big of a comeback with so few games remainin

Yea, and if they win today it will be their only game in first place ..

[Hitmen77]

Originally Posted by DSpivack

Oh, I know, was just riffing off of the post I quoted.

Still an exciting game. Crazy finish in the AL West; per Elias, no team has ever had this big of a comeback with so few games remaining.

They were down 5 games with 9 to play; HR just put the score at exactly that, 9-5, somewhat ironically.

Good for them. They're the opposite of the 2009-12 White Sox by coming on strong at the end instead of collapsing at the end.

The A's first division title since 2006. They actually finished 1st or 2nd every year between 1999 and 2006. Their worst record in that stretch was 88 wins. After 2006, they haven't been between 74 and 81 wins.

Maybe someday they'll get a new stadium and they can start drawing more fans.

[TDog]

Originally Posted by JB98

No miracle, really. Ryan Dempster might have been the Cubs ace, but he's just a No. 4 or No. 5 guy on a contending AL team. He's just not as good as many Chicago folk made him out to be. Even some Sox fans were fooled, wanting KW to acquire Dempster at the deadline.

The miracle was what happened after Demster left with Mr. Everything, waling-on-water Josh Hamilton forsaking the Rangers. I wonder what vice he will blame for his poor play today.

But Hamilton will sign for more money than Demster during the offseason.

[harwar]

A's just tied it up .. what a game

[harwar]

OMG what was Hamilton thinking