The Playoff Picture

The top three teams will be seeded directly into the semifinal round. The fourth and fifth teams will have a one game playoff for the right to play the first team. A sensible knockout procedure will be created if there is a tie for fifth. Players must have participated in six regular season games to be eligible for the playoffs.

Jockeying for Pole Position

1. 100% Real Juice (13-1)

2. Cannonball Coming (10-2)

3. RBI Steaks (9-3)

4. West Coast Washout (9-5)

Games remaining

100: RBI

CC: WCW, 68R

RBI: CNW, 100

WCW: CC

While 100% Real Juice was cruising to a perfect season, their derailment by Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles leaves a slight opening for Cannonball Coming or even RBI Steaks to snag the first seed in the final two weeks.

The Juice have a bye next week, but play their final doubleheader against the Steaks. The Juice can clinch the first seed with a split, putting the Steaks out of reach while holding a tiebreaking sweep over Cannonball. But if the Steaks can pull off the sweep then the top seed is up for grabs, based on the prior results from Cannonball and the Steaks.

Meanwhile, West Coast Washout has sewn up the first Wild Card spot, but is looking to get out of the Wild Card game altogether by jumping Cannonball or the Steaks. They need a big performance this Sunday against Cannonball before their bye in the final week, and then some help against the Steaks from the Chickens and the Juice.

Wild Wild Race for the Wild Wild Card

5. Walks with Four Balls (6-8)

6. Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles (5-7)

7. Sons of Pitches (4-8)

Games remaining

WWFB: SP

CNW: RBI, SP

SP: WWFB, CNW

Three teams find themselves in contention for the second Wild Card: Walks With Four Balls, Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles, and Sons of Pitches. While the Pitches find themselves at the back of the pack, they play both the Walks and the Chickens in the final two weeks. A split or a sweep with WWFB would keep them alive and set up an epic doubleheader against the Chickens.

From WWFB’s perspective, a sweep of the Pitches next week would put them in a great position, sitting at home in the final week with an 8-8 record. That would eliminate the Pitches, pushing them to 4-10, and make tough sledding for the Chickens, who would need to win three of their last four to match.

For the Chickens, a split or sweep with RBI would provide a cushion for whatever result comes out of the Pitches and Walks matchup. They would naturally prefer that the Pitches split or sweep, pushing the Walks out of the way and setting up a high stakes tilt with the Pitches, as mentioned earlier.

Eliminated from Postseason Contention 

8. Purple Haze (2-12)

9. 68ers (0-12)

Games remaining

PH: 68R

68R: PH, CC

It was a tough season for these rookie teams, and unfortunately their play will not extend beyond the next two weeks. Both squads were truly better than their records indicate, with Purple Haze playing a lot of close games and the 68ers having athleticism in spades.

Rather fortunately, these teams will play against each other next week for the love of the game, trading lessons and preparing themselves for next season.