So let's venture into an Alternative Universe!
According to Pythagoras, the AL standings should look like this:
And that in turn means the Battle for the Wild Card would look like this:
Now that would give the next two months a chance to be much more interesting than they're actually going to be.
Yeah, well, shoulda woulda coulda. But in the case of the Blue Jays, we're talking of a four game swing - turning four losses into wins.
What would have been required? Can I find just four measly at bats in the course of this lamentable season, wave a magic wand, and make everything better? That's not so many, right?
Well, obviously I can. It's far too easy, in fact. If that ground ball David Murphy hit in the bottom of the ninth last night was hit straight at Scott Rolen - the Jays turn the DP and win the game. If B.J. Ryan throws Jason Giambi a good slider instead of a hanging meatball at the Stadium back in early June, they win that one. If Lyle Overbay had doubled into the gap instead of hitting a comebacker that the Mariners turned into a 1-2-3 DP back on June 9, he's got a walkoff game-winning hit. That's just off the top of my head.
Except. Closers do blow games. Ryan has only blown three saves all season, however spectacular each individual immolation might be. And he's been much closer to Miguel Batista 2005 than BJ Ryan 2006, anyway. You have to let those stand.
And the Jays hitters are what they are.
So here are the ground rules.
1. The changed at bat can not happen in the other team's ninth inning, or later.
2. No Blue Jay at bat changes an out into a hit.
3. Everything after the changed at bat occurs exactly as it did in the game (although changes in the ensuing situations may create additional changes. I'm thinking of things like baserunners being at different bases.)
Can you find just four at bats, change the result somehow, and make this season a more interesting thing. I certainly can. Makes me crazy, too.
According to Pythagoras, the AL standings should look like this:
AL East
Boston 64 46 .582 -
Tampa Bay 59 49 .546 4
New York 59 50 .541 4.5
Toronto 58 51 .532 5.5
Baltimore 52 56 .481 11
AL Central
Chicago 62 46 .574 -
Minnesota 58 51 .532 4.5
Detroit 57 52 .523 5.5
Cleveland 54 54 .500 8
Kansas City 47 63 .427 16
AL West
Los Angeles 61 48 .560 -
Oakland 59 49 .546 1.5
Texas 52 58 .473 9.5
Seattle 46 63 .422 14
And that in turn means the Battle for the Wild Card would look like this:
Tampa Bay 59 49 .546 -
Oakland 59 49 .546 -
New York 59 50 .541 1
Toronto 58 51 .532 1.5
Minnesota 58 51 .532 1.5
Detroit 57 52 .523 2.5
Cleveland 54 54 .500 5
Baltimore 52 56 .481 7
Texas 52 58 .473 8
Kansas City 47 63 .427 13
Seattle 46 63 .422 13.5
Now that would give the next two months a chance to be much more interesting than they're actually going to be.
Yeah, well, shoulda woulda coulda. But in the case of the Blue Jays, we're talking of a four game swing - turning four losses into wins.
What would have been required? Can I find just four measly at bats in the course of this lamentable season, wave a magic wand, and make everything better? That's not so many, right?
Well, obviously I can. It's far too easy, in fact. If that ground ball David Murphy hit in the bottom of the ninth last night was hit straight at Scott Rolen - the Jays turn the DP and win the game. If B.J. Ryan throws Jason Giambi a good slider instead of a hanging meatball at the Stadium back in early June, they win that one. If Lyle Overbay had doubled into the gap instead of hitting a comebacker that the Mariners turned into a 1-2-3 DP back on June 9, he's got a walkoff game-winning hit. That's just off the top of my head.
Except. Closers do blow games. Ryan has only blown three saves all season, however spectacular each individual immolation might be. And he's been much closer to Miguel Batista 2005 than BJ Ryan 2006, anyway. You have to let those stand.
And the Jays hitters are what they are.
So here are the ground rules.
1. The changed at bat can not happen in the other team's ninth inning, or later.
2. No Blue Jay at bat changes an out into a hit.
3. Everything after the changed at bat occurs exactly as it did in the game (although changes in the ensuing situations may create additional changes. I'm thinking of things like baserunners being at different bases.)
Can you find just four at bats, change the result somehow, and make this season a more interesting thing. I certainly can. Makes me crazy, too.
