Mike Scioscia's tragic illness

Hey, Lookie Here: The Playoffs!

Sorry for the delay here, guys.  MSTI has been busy this weekend, leaving the ship to me, and you know how that goes (just Vin Being Vin).  But I’m here now, albeit a tad late, as I got back from the Coliseum pretty late last night and just dropped.  But I did notice something notable happen, last night.   

I noted that the Dodgers have clinched their 4th playoff berth in their last 6 seasons.  They did it in interesting style last night, leading the Pirates 3-1 for most of the game before the bullpen coughed up three runs in the 7th, only for the Pirates to cough up four runs right after that, and then an additional one in the 9th off a solo HR by Ronnie Belliard, who continues to impress. 

From the pitching side of things, Randy Wolf was great, as usual, going 6.1 IP, giving up 2 ER, while walking 1 and striking out 5, before the bullpen had a bit of issues in the 7th.  But fortunately the Pirates bullpen also had issues, walking everyone and their mother, until Jim Thome broke it open with a single to make it 7-4 and then Ronnie Belliard capping it off in the 9th with a solo HR to give the Dodgers the victory and a playoff berth. 

So here’s the way things sit, right now: 

The Dodgers have now clinched a playoff berth.  That’s done.  So now the magic number to clinch the division is actually 1, not 2 as some might think.  The reason is because the Dodgers have won the season series against the Rockies, 12-3.  So if the Dodgers can pull it out today, then guess what?  We win the division!  As I type this, it’s 2-2 in the 7th, although even if the Dodgers do clinch the division today, the work isn’t over yet, as they still have to fight off Philadelphia and St. Louis for the best record in the NL, for home field advantage in the playoffs.  Should be fun!