2010 MLB Playoffs

With the Atlanta Braves coming into Philadelphia this week for a three-game series, the Phillies couldn’t have it set up any better.

On Monday evening the Phillies had a three-game lead over the Braves in the National League East and still had three games at Atlanta remaining on the schedule.

If Philadelphia wanted to lock up the N.L. East crown, this series would go a long way towards popping the champagne.

And that’s precisely why manager Charlie Manuel had his best three guys ready to take the mound.

It is almost a daily topic now. Which Giants offense will show up?

The pitching has held up its end of the bargain and is pitching like a playoff team should. Not so much for the offense.

San Francisco has not allowed more than three runs in 16 straight games. This is tied for the fifth longest streak since 1900. They have thrown four shutouts during the streak.

There is a saying that bad news doesn't get better with time. However, announcing plans to cut payroll while your team is in the middle of a division race can't be a good idea.

That's exactly what Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg did when he announced that even if the Rays win the World Series payroll will be cut in 2011. The current estimate is that the Rays will cut this year's $72 million payroll by $15-20 million.

Joey Votto, nor any of the Cincinnati Reds, needed a hit to cut their magic number to seven on Monday afternoon as the St. Louis Cardinals were shut out by the Florida Marlins in a make-up game played due to an early August rain-out.

Lucky seven.

With just a few weeks left in the 2010 baseball season, teams will begin to rest players down the stretch, unless their division won't be decided until the last few days.

For those that have their division well in hand, days off will help their most productive players get ready for another month of baseball.

It won't be a easy stretch and not having those players could be detrimental to any World Series chances.

Here are 10 players that need to be healthy for their teams to make a legitimate October run.

Yankee fans were unhappy—to say the least—on Monday night, when the Yankees surrendered first place to the Rays for the first time since August 3. Tuesday night, the Yankees got first place back, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Amidst all that anger came an interesting thought: what if, by some chance, the Yankees didn’t win the division?

It was another nail-biting, extra innings game for the New York Yankees who needed to win and did.

Now, the Bombers are back in first place after losing it for 24 hours to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Only a half-game separates the two ball-clubs making Wednesday night’s outcome a declaration for who ever wins. That is until next week when the Rays come to the Bronx for four games.

2010 presents us with some of the most compelling playoff races in recent history. With the Padres slipping in the NL West, the Phillies taking over in the NL East, and possibly the two best teams in baseball -- the Rays and Yankees -- battling it out in the AL East, the last 20 games could bring about many surprises.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is not ready to reveal the Yankees' playoff pitching scene just yet. 

Cashman said that everyone besides CC Sabathia and Mariano Rivera is going to have to earn a role on the postseason roster.

Theoretically, rookie Ivan Nova could earn a spot over A.J. Burnett or Javier Vazquez.

As the season is coming to an end, there are many debates about who will win division races, who will win the awards, and how it will all end. 

We all know what is statistically true, but there are other things that matter too. Fans pay much attention to baseball, so they know and understand a lot about which players and teams are good and which are not. 

So I would like to hear what you think, as fellow fans. I will put out the facts and after that, it's all up to you.