IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY... October 1, 2010

September is over after today... teams that are still alive tomorrow can officially say they were in it into October. But how far?

It is now October and only 2 National League spots are locked up while all four playoff teams in the American League have clinched.

However by the end of the day, the two Division Series could be set in the National League while nobody could know who is playing who in the American League.

Sound confusing? It is.

Anyway... Let's look at the current match ups.

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

TAMPA BAY RAYS (AL East Champion)
has home field advantage over
TEXAS RANGERS (AL West Champion)


MINNESOTA TWINS (AL Central Champion)
has home field advantage over
NEW YORK YANKEES (AL Wild Card)



NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (NL East Champion)
has home field advantage over
CINCINNATI REDS (NL Central Champion)

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (NL West Champion)

has home field advantage over

ATLANTA BRAVES (NL Wild Card)

If the Giants win tonight... that's it. They are in as NL West Champs. And they will have home field in the Division Series.

If the Giants and Braves win, then everything will be locked.

The Reds will not finish ahead of the Giants (San Francisco has the tie breaker) and the playoff match ups as shown above would be locked in. And alas, there would be no room for the Padres.

The team that on August 28th had a 6 game lead and the best record in the National League would be playing golf.

Meanwhile the Yankees and Rays could continue to mirror each other.
Which will host the Rangers at home?
Which will play the Twins on the road?

We might not know until the final day.

Oh let's play October ball already!