Phillies/Brewers: This Years Cardinals?

[PlanetZoltan]

The Phillies and the Brewers, mostly bad teams all season long, have seemingly come out of nowhere to become potential threats in the Wild Card race. Each being at the .500 mark and only 4 games out, could one of them sneak in and swipe a Wild Card spot from the Cardinals/Pirates/Dodgers?

[Evangelion]

It would be interesting to see the Brewers or Phillies take the final Wild Card spot and face off against the Braves.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Moved post.

[SamtheBravesFan]

It would be interesting to see the Brewers or Phillies take the final Wild Card spot and face off against the Braves.

That would suck after the scores I've seen. The Brewers may even overtake the Braves at the rate both teams are playing; I'm getting flashbacks from last year.

[DonnieBaseball]

Braun for MVP if the Brewers make it?

Uh oh.

[Rich the Giants fan]

Gotta love that second wild card, where everyone with a .500 record can now have October dreams!

Sarcasm aside, pretty "wild" to see the Phillies get back "into" it.

[Ben Grimm]

Gotta love that second wild card, where everyone with a .500 record can now have October dreams!

Sarcasm aside, pretty "wild" to see the Phillies get back "into" it.

Not to mention the next 8 games for the Phillies are against sub-.500 teams. It's not a long stretch to think they could easily be within 2 games this time next week.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Not to mention the next 8 games for the Phillies are against sub-.500 teams. It's not a long stretch to think they could easily be within 2 games this time next week.

Cards have 9 in a row vs. the Stros coming up...which might not mean anything if they remain incapable of winning close games.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I'm becoming as fatalistic as I was at the end of last year; it almost makes me want to give up.

[Ben Grimm]

One month ago today (before games of 9/13):

Phillies: 53-62 (11 out of WC chance)
Brewers: 52-62 (11.5 out of WC chance)

Since, the Phillies have gone 19-9 and the Brewers 20-9 making both only 3 games back. This will get very interesting.

[PlanetZoltan]

One month ago today (before games of 9/13):

Phillies: 53-62 (11 out of WC chance)
Brewers: 52-62 (11.5 out of WC chance)

Since, the Phillies have gone 19-9 and the Brewers 20-9 making both only 3 games back. This will get very interesting.

And thats the last thing the Pirates were wanting to see.

[Ben Grimm]

And thats the last thing the Pirates were wanting to see.

The Buccos simply aren't deep enough. Hopefully, they change that this offseason.

[Ben Grimm]

Phils get a run to take the lead early 1-0. IF the Phillies do make it to the postseason, does any team really want to face them on a roll with Hamals, Halladay and Lee in the mix?

They're not used to being the underdog, and they could end up being that much more dangerous because of it.

[Rich the Giants fan]

Wow, the Pirates have lost seven in a row, and 11-of-13 and are just one game over .500, and yet they are only 3 games out of the second Wild Card spot. In fact there are four teams within a game of .500 either way that are within 4.5 games of the WC.

You just gotta love how this second WC adds so many more mediocre teams into the playoff mix, don't you?

[Evangelion]

Wow, the Pirates have lost seven in a row, and 11-of-13 and are just one game over .500, and yet they are only 3 games out of the second Wild Card spot. In fact there are four teams within a game of .500 either way that are within 4.5 games of the WC.

You just gotta love how this second WC adds so many more mediocre teams into the playoff mix, don't you?

You forget to mention how the Dodgers and Cardinals have also struggled to allow teams a game over .500 back into a race or remain in the race. It happens whether there's a second WC or not. Don't you remember 2005 S.D. Padres winning the division with a record of 82-80. The Phillies and Mets had a better record that year and didn't get into playoffs that year.

Only thing I'll say is second WC actually gives a reason to winning the division. Win the division and play a best of 5 series. Don't win and win WC, good luck in a one game playoff where you can be knocked out easily.