In NL, which big lead is most susceptible to being lost?

[DiggerODell]

With 20+ games left, which team in the NL . . . Wash, Cincy or SF is most susceptible to losing that big lead? Wash is 5.5 up, Cincy 8.5 up, SF 5.5 up . . .

I'm thinking Wash although I admit, I'd hate to see it.

[PlanetZoltan]

Yeah im going to agree and say Washington is most suseptible, I think they will hang on but the Braves are hot, and the Nats are in the middle of a shakeup with the whole Strasburg thing.

[dominik]

I would agree with that too because the braves are the best of the chasers. STL hits very well but their pitching is just not good. SF is not really good this year but LA flat out sucks since kemp was out.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I would agree with that too because the braves are the best of the chasers. STL hits very well but their pitching is just not good. SF is not really good this year but LA flat out sucks since kemp was out.

Not really good? Why do you say that? The Giants are in command of the NL West. It would take a huge collapse by the Giants to not win the division. I like their chances against any NL team in playoffs.

[RaysFan_98]

Nats i think i also think SF is and could falter down the stretch

[SamtheBravesFan]

With 20+ games left, which team in the NL . . . Wash, Cincy or SF is most susceptible to losing that big lead? Wash is 5.5 up, Cincy 8.5 up, SF 5.5 up . . .

I'm thinking Wash although I admit, I'd hate to see it.

I wish I could feel that way. Even without Strasburg, I think the Nationals are a superior club to the Braves and they should retain their lead. The Giants, I believe are most susceptable.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Here are the remaining schedules for the Giants and Dodgers.

Giants
Mon, Sep 10 @Colorado
Tue, Sep 11 @Colorado
Wed, Sep 12 @Colorado
Fri, Sep 14 @Arizona
Sat, Sep 15 @ Arizona
Sun, Sep 16 @ Arizona
Mon, Sep 17 vs Colorado
Tue, Sep 18 vs Colorado
Wed, Sep 19 vs Colorado
Thu, Sep 20 vs Colorado
Fri, Sep 21 vs San Diego
Sat, Sep 22 vs San Diego
Sun, Sep 23 vs San Diego
Tue, Sep 25 vs Arizona
Wed, Sep 26 vs Arizona
Thu, Sep 27 vs Arizona
Fri, Sep 28 @San Diego
Sat, Sep 29 @San Diego
Sun, Sep 30 @San Diego
Mon, Oct 1 @LA Dodgers
Tues, Oct 2, @LA Dodgers
Wed, Oct 3, @LA Dodgers

Dodgers
Tue, Sep 11 @Arizona
Wed, Sep 12 @Arizona
Thu, Sep 13 vs St. Louis
Fri, Sep 14 vs St. Louis
Sat, Sep 15 vs St. Louis
Sun, Sep 16 vs St. Louis
Tue, Sep 18 @Washington
Wed, Sep 19 @Washington
Thu, Sep 20 @Washington
Fri, Sep 21 @Cincinnati
Sat, Sep 22 @Cincinnati
Sun, Sep 23 @Cincinnati
Tue, Sep 25 @San Diego
Wed, Sep 26 @San Diego
Thu, Sep 27 @San Diego
Fri, Sep 28 vs Colorado
Sat, Sep 29 vs Colorado
Sun, Sep 30 vs Colorado
Mon, Oct 1 vs San Francisco
Tue, Oct 2 vs San Francisco
Wed, Oct 3 vs San Francisco

The Giants don't play another team with a winning record until the final three games of the season. The Dodgers meanwhile play the Cardinals, Nats, and Reds over a 10 game stretch starting on Thursday. Also the Dodgers are six games back in the loss column. It would take an epic collapse of 1964 proportions for the Giants not to win the NL West title.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Good point. I guess by default that means the Nationals do have the biggest chance to falter.

[DiggerODell]

Good point. I guess by default that means the Nationals do have the biggest chance to falter.

Baboom!!!!!

[SamtheBravesFan]

Baboom!!!!!

Yeah, yeah. But games like last night (Braves lose a game they should win, Nationals clobber like they should) are reasons why I had that instinct in the first place, that the Braves can't come back. Just a week ago I was convinced they'd slip out of the wild card. This is the fourth-best team by record in the majors I'm talking about here.

i'm changing my vote to the Reds by default. That's my final answer.

[dominik]

Not really good? Why do you say that? The Giants are in command of the NL West. It would take a huge collapse by the Giants to not win the division. I like their chances against any NL team in playoffs.

they are not bad but they are mostly first because LA absolutely imploded in the second half of the season. and I'm not even talking about the rest of their division. if they were in one of the other 2 divisions they would still compete for the WC but I doubt they could have caught cincy or washington.

in the playoffs they are of course dangerous against anyone because of their pitching but over a whole season their hitting is just not cutting it. the same is true for atlanta and the pitching of STL.

cincy and washington are just better and more well rounded teams than STL, ATL and SF that is why they are having such a big lead. but that doesn't mean they cannot lose a short PO series of course. I would not be surprised if we saw another surprise winner after 2010 and 2011.

[dominik]

Here are the remaining schedules for the Giants and Dodgers.

Giants
Mon, Sep 10 @Colorado
Tue, Sep 11 @Colorado
Wed, Sep 12 @Colorado
Fri, Sep 14 @Arizona
Sat, Sep 15 @ Arizona
Sun, Sep 16 @ Arizona
Mon, Sep 17 vs Colorado
Tue, Sep 18 vs Colorado
Wed, Sep 19 vs Colorado
Thu, Sep 20 vs Colorado
Fri, Sep 21 vs San Diego
Sat, Sep 22 vs San Diego
Sun, Sep 23 vs San Diego
Tue, Sep 25 vs Arizona
Wed, Sep 26 vs Arizona
Thu, Sep 27 vs Arizona
Fri, Sep 28 @San Diego
Sat, Sep 29 @San Diego
Sun, Sep 30 @San Diego
Mon, Oct 1 @LA Dodgers
Tues, Oct 2, @LA Dodgers
Wed, Oct 3, @LA Dodgers

Dodgers
Tue, Sep 11 @Arizona
Wed, Sep 12 @Arizona
Thu, Sep 13 vs St. Louis
Fri, Sep 14 vs St. Louis
Sat, Sep 15 vs St. Louis
Sun, Sep 16 vs St. Louis
Tue, Sep 18 @Washington
Wed, Sep 19 @Washington
Thu, Sep 20 @Washington
Fri, Sep 21 @Cincinnati
Sat, Sep 22 @Cincinnati
Sun, Sep 23 @Cincinnati
Tue, Sep 25 @San Diego
Wed, Sep 26 @San Diego
Thu, Sep 27 @San Diego
Fri, Sep 28 vs Colorado
Sat, Sep 29 vs Colorado
Sun, Sep 30 vs Colorado
Mon, Oct 1 vs San Francisco
Tue, Oct 2 vs San Francisco
Wed, Oct 3 vs San Francisco

The Giants don't play another team with a winning record until the final three games of the season. The Dodgers meanwhile play the Cardinals, Nats, and Reds over a 10 game stretch starting on Thursday. Also the Dodgers are six games back in the loss column. It would take an epic collapse of 1964 proportions for the Giants not to win the NL West title.

yes. and even if they collapse the dodgers would have to actually win some games to win the division. since the beginning of june they are sub .500

[DownUnderDodger]

The Giants don't play another team with a winning record until the final three games of the season. The Dodgers meanwhile play the Cardinals, Nats, and Reds over a 10 game stretch starting on Thursday. Also the Dodgers are six games back in the loss column. It would take an epic collapse of 1964 proportions for the Giants not to win the NL West title.

If you look at the Dodgers' record you will find they have performed better all year against + .500 teams than they have against 'weaker' opposition so the schedule should not really be a factor. In saying that, the Dodgers' offense all season has been weak to say the least (with or without Kemp) and they will need a batting miracle to win the division or a WC position.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

If you look at the Dodgers' record you will find they have performed better all year against + .500 teams than they have against 'weaker' opposition so the schedule should not really be a factor. In saying that, the Dodgers' offense all season has been weak to say the least (with or without Kemp) and they will need a batting miracle to win the division or a WC position.

I think the Dodgers need Kemp back ASAP. This Giants/Dodgers "race" would have been much more fun and interesting if Kemp was at full strength. Twenty-five years ago this could have been a fantastic division race but with the added Wild Card it just doesn't have that sense of urgency, that "we-need-to-win-now" mentality. It seems the when Dodgers pushed back Kershaw from Sunday's game they were "admitting" that they are going after the Wild Card spot.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

yes. and even if they collapse the dodgers would have to actually win some games to win the division. since the beginning of june they are sub .500

If the Giants go 11-10 the rest of the way the Dodgers need to go 16-5 to tie for first place.