NL East (2017)

[Natsinpwc]

I'm not worried about the Braves at all. You can't win consistently over 162 games without strong starting pitching. Look at the downfalls the Yankees and Os have suffered. Pitching still wins in baseball. Been that way for 150 years.

That's why they need to pick up another starting pitcher.

[nfotiu]

So, it looks like it's going to be the Cubs in the first round.   On paper, we look like the much stronger team, but I am not loving the idea of facing the World Series champs. 

[expos1994]

So, it looks like it's going to be the Cubs in the first round.   On paper, we look like the much stronger team, but I am not loving the idea of facing the World Series champs.

lol... write that in with a sharpie. Only 70 games to go you can pretty much call it at this point.

[DPMOmaha]

Cubs and Brewers have 10 games left against each other. 7 of them are in Milwaukee. Lots of baseball left.

[3bside]

Fingers crossed that we stay healthy, and get back Turner, Taylor and Werth at full strength.  We don't want a repeat of last year, when we lost Strasburg and Ramos in September, and Murphy pulled his glute.

[Ray D]

So, it looks like it's going to be the Cubs in the first round. 

Brewers have a 2.5 game lead and you've written them off?

[rileyn]

Brewers have a 2.5 game lead and you've written them off?

Dodgers, Cubs, Nats.  The cream has risen.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Brewers have a 2.5 game lead and you've written them off?

in Colorado, that's like being 4 games behind.

[DPMOmaha]

So really the goal is to stay ahead of the Cubs and Brewers. If you can catch the Astros, that would be nice, too. Currently 3rd best record in baseball.

[mimontero88]

Brewers have a 2.5 game lead and you've written them off?

In fairness, everyone and their mother knows the Cubs are the more talented team.  It's been quite a mystery how much they've underperformed this season but they look like they're getting on the right track now.  Maybe some early-season complacency that the team has now put behind them.

[DPMOmaha]

In fairness, everyone and their mother knows the Cubs are the more talented team.  It's been quite a mystery how much they've underperformed this season but they look like they're getting on the right track now.  Maybe some early-season complacency that the team has now put behind them.

I think the Quintana trade energized them much like the Doolittle/Madson did for the Nats.

[mimontero88]

Pretty amazing for how great the Dodgers have been this season that the Nats still look like they'll be the first team in the NL to clinch their division.  Really speaks to how strong the West is and how weak the East is behind us.

[GburgNatsFan]

Astros are AL now, right? Or are you just talking about record...

So really the goal is to stay ahead of the Cubs and Brewers. If you can catch the Astros, that would be nice, too. Currently 3rd best record in baseball.

[mimontero88]

Astros are AL now, right? Or are you just talking about record...

Think he means for homefield in the World Series if it comes to that.

[DPMOmaha]

Think he means for homefield in the World Series if it comes to that.

right

[GburgNatsFan]

Think he means for homefield in the World Series if it comes to that.

I hate to admit that I no longer know how home field is determined anymore. Best record overall?

[3bside]

We actually have a better record on the road than at home this year, and we lost both game 5's at home in 2012 and 2016.  So maybe the home field advantage doesn't matter so much.

[DPMOmaha]

I hate to admit that I no longer know how home field is determined anymore. Best record overall?

Yes

[Ray D]

We actually have a better record on the road than at home this year, and we lost both game 5's at home in 2012 and 2016.  So maybe the home field advantage doesn't matter so much.

And we had home field in 2014 (but it never came to game 5). So we've had home field in all three playoff series, and lost them all.  Still, I'd rather have it.

[RiotAct]

I hate to admit that I no longer know how home field is determined anymore. Best record overall?

yes, thank heavens

[bluestreak]

yes, thank heavens

It’s funny, people complained so much about the All-Star game determining home field, but prior to that, it wasn’t determined by record either. It just alternated.

[DPMOmaha]

It’s funny, people complained so much about the All-Star game determining home field, but prior to that, it wasn’t determined by record either. It just alternated.

Oh, people complained about that, too...

[varoadking]

It’s funny, people complained so much about the All-Star game determining home field, but prior to that, it wasn’t determined by record either. It just alternated.

Which was, and would be, fine...

[Ray D]

Oh, people complained about that, too...

I didn't.   NL had home even years and AL odd years.  So if I wanted to recall where game 7 was played in 1962, San Francisco or New York, I knew from the year that it was San Francisco.  Until 1994 anyway, when there was no World Series, and after that it switched, AL even years and NL odd.

[DPMOmaha]

I didn't.   NL had home even years and AL odd years.  So if I wanted to recall where game 7 was played in 1962, San Francisco or New York, I knew from the year that it was San Francisco.  Until 1994 anyway, when there was no World Series, and after that it switched, AL even years and NL odd.

Cool. I never thought it made sense to not give it to the team with the best record.