The Rockies trudged slowly around the field Sunday after a difficult loss, thanking fans with shirts, baseballs and, in some cases, the gloves off their hands. The gifts were gladly received, though clearly a playoff berth would have been preferred.
Sometimes a team has to wait longingly for madness to culminate at precisely the right moment, captivating the audience.
Then there are the Yankees and Red Sox. Their schedules are playing out in a way that challenges plausibility.
As the centerpiece of baseball’s hunt for October, the sport’s biggest rivals collide this weekend at Fenway Park with everything on the line: the division, the wild card, countless jobs.
“For as critical as I’ve been of the scheduling (in the past),” Yankees manager Joe Torre said, “those three games are going to be special.”
The teams wake up this morning knotted atop the American League East. Die-hards back East are already calling this the most compelling final weekend series between the bullies since 1949. That featured Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. Version 2005 includes Alex Rodriguez and David “Big Papi” Ortiz.
Former Arizona teammates Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling are set to face each other Saturday, with Mike Mussina and Tim Wakefield starting in the finale. Erstwhile Rockie Shawn Chacon is in line to start the one-game playoff next Monday at Yankee Stadium, if necessary.
“There’s so much excitement in those series. Every game will be a sellout. Boston has so many clutch hitters,” said Rockies outfielder Larry Bigbie, who became familiar with both teams as a member of the Baltimore Orioles the past few years. “But you’ve got to like your chances in any series that has Randy Johnson starting.”
Because of their following and their profile, if not their payrolls, the Yankees and Red Sox demand attention. But arguably the best story is being written in Cleveland, where the Indians have acted out the reality-show version of “Major League.”
They trailed the White Sox by 15 games Aug. 2 and still needed a telescope Sept. 7, down by 9 1/2. They remain within arm’s reach of destiny – 2 1/2 games – even after wasting a 3-0 lead in Sunday’s loss at Kansas City.
The Indians host the White Sox for the season’s final three games, with Kevin Millwood, Jake Westbrook and former Rockie Scott Elarton waiting. The threesome went 1-0 with a 2.29 ERA against the White Sox last week.
“Our pitching staff has been strong all year, keeping us in games,” Elarton said. “This is a team that doesn’t get caught up in a lot of highs and lows.”
That’s the good news. The bad news is the White Sox are 6-1 at Jacobs Field this season.
The American League West, for all intents and purposes, will be decided in the next four days. The first-place Angels travel to Oakland for a four-game set. It has been dubbed in some circles Morenoball vs. Moneyball, a reference to Los Angeles owner Arte Moreno and Oakland GM Billy Beane.
Houston is providing the lone drama in the National League. The Astros stumbled against the Cubs on Sunday, reducing their wild-card advantage to a single game after Philadelphia’s win. Houston is considered the favorite because of its three-headed monster of Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt.
The Phillies, struggling to attract fans and divert focus from the Eagles, have lingered as manager Charlie Manuel predicted because of blossoming second baseman Chase Utley and terrific relief work.
“I am biased,” Manuel said on a lazy day at Coors Field a few weeks ago, “but I like our chances.”
Gentlemen, start your rotations. Rev up the bullpens. The race is on.
BASEBALL SCORECARD | One week to go
SUNDAY’S GAMES
American League
Cleveland retains wild-card lead; Boston and New York are tied atop AL East.
* ROYALS 5, INDIANS 4: Tribe scored the tying run in the ninth but gave up the winning run in the bottom half to stay 2 1/2 games behind the White Sox.
* RED SOX 9, ORIOLES 3: Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon each powered two-run homers to keep the Sox on pace.
* YANKEES 8, BLUE JAYS 4: Jorge Posada sparked a rally in the seventh.
National League
Philadelphia gained a game on Houston in what’s becoming a tense wild-card race.
* PHILLIES 6, REDS 3: Chase Utley hit an inside-the-park homer to move the Phillies within one game of the Astros.
* CUBS 3, ASTROS 2: Derrek Lee hit his 45th homer to help the Cubs and hurt the Astros.
ON TAP TODAY
* AL: The Angels are still trying to fend off the A’s in the AL West – the two teams meet in Oakland, Calif., to begin a four-game stand.
* NL: Philadelphia goes with Brett Myers (12-8, 3.75 ERA) against New York and Jae Seo (7-2, 2.38) as the Phillies try to move into a wild-card tie with Houston, which visits St. Louis on Tuesday.
In October hunt
With one week remaining, five races are simmering – every one of the American League pennants and two National League wild cards. A look at the schedule of the intertwined teams, with AL teams listed all in wild-card contention:
AL East
Boston Red Sox – Four vs. Toronto, three vs. Yankees
New York Yankees – Four at Baltimore, three at Boston
AL Central
Chicago White Sox – Four at Detroit, 4 at Cleveland
Cleveland Indians – Three vs. T.B., three vs. White Sox
AL West
Los Angeles Angels – Four at Oakland, three at Texas
Oakland Athletics – Four vs. Angels, three at Seattle
NL wild card
Houston Astros – Two at St. Louis, four vs. Cubs
Philadelphia – Three vs. Mets, three at Washington
