Fan News

The Cincinnati Reds have had their fair share of ups and downs this season. Many sportswriters (including me) had them taking the NL Central for the second-straight year.

However, this season has been nothing short of a dramatic uphill climb. The best part is that there are still nine extremely important games left as the Reds now sit only two games back of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox clinched the first berths into the 2013 MLB playoffs on Thursday afternoon, and it should only be another few days before the other four teams listed here join them.

But who are these shoe-ins for the postseason hoping to draw as an opponent in October?

Based on the strengths and weaknesses of each team and its potential counterparts, we've nominated one team in the thick of a playoff race that each projected division winner would possibly sweep right out of the playoffs.

The Colorado Rockies are willing to listen on possible trades involving Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez.

According to John Harper of the New York Daily News, one executive close to the Rockies said the team will seriously consider offers for the pair in an effort to rebuild.

Cincinnati Reds fans are getting a glimpse of one of the team's top prospects, but most of the team's top prospects are still a few years away from making an impact with the team.

A few recent draft picks have shot up the team's prospect rankings. The team has a lot of talented arms in the system, so fans should be excited as the pitchers work their way through the system.

In the bottom of the first inning against Houston, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips pulled a cruel, cruel trick on Astros shortstop Jonathan Villar when he forced him to slide directly into his butt while protecting second base.

As if his head placement wasn't embarrassing enough, Villar was called out on the play.

Hat tip to SB Nation for the GIF. 

What was to be a wild 162-game romp that would take six months to complete is now down to a handful of games that will be played in less than a fortnight.

The Houston Astros dance roughly as well as they play baseball. 

Looming at 99 losses on the season, you can probably guess how these guys did on the dance floor. Of course, we are just giving MLB's answer to the Bad News Bears a hard time. 

Remember the big fight scene midway through Anchorman? You know, the one where Will Ferrell's news crew is poised to brawl with Vince Vaughn's news crew, and then Owen Wilson, Tim Robbins and Ben Stiller show up ready for battle with each of their news crews?

That's basically what the American League wild-card race is like right now.

Boston’s dismal 2012 season at the major league level overshadowed the organization’s enormous progress made on the farm.

This year, many of the prospects that took a step forward last season have played a role in the team’s overwhelming success, as they enter Tuesday’s game with an MLB-best 92-59 record and are on the verge of clinching a postseason berth.

Another September, another collapse for the Texas Rangers. Unlike last year's team, which had built up a big enough lead in the first five months to make the playoffs as a wild card, the 2013 version is on life support after seven consecutive losses. 

Entering play on Tuesday, the Rangers (81-68) have the smallest of edges over the Cleveland Indians (81-69) because the latter has played one more game. Baltimore (79-70), Kansas City (79-71) and New York (79-71) are also hot on their heels.