Final Day Live-Blog

This will start a little before 1pm EST on Sunday. For now, I just wanted to report that it looks like Alexi T. has won the totals contest. Three totals are still up in the air: Toronto, Boston, and San Francisco. The latter two will go over if they win on Sunday (Boston has two shots at it), and push if they don't; the Blue Jays will go over if they win, and finish under their total of 85.5 with a loss.

Alexi has clinched eight correct selections, and will get to nine if the Blue Jays lose. Five people--JT16, Tonyo33, ADG, JP, and Alex L.--can tie him at 8, but all would lose the tiebreaker, as Alexi guessed .531 for the Indians winning percentage, which will end up being either .500 or .506. So, congratulations to Alexi, who has been the leader since the June update. Full standings will be posted Sunday night.

10:52am All lines from Pinnacle:

1:10pm: Marlins (Olsen, +188) @ Mets (Ol. Perez, -206)
2:05pm: Cubs (A. Guzman, +248) @ Brewers (Sabathia, -268)
2:05pm: Indians (B. Bullington, +192) @ White Sox (Buehrle, -210)
2:10pm: Royals (Duckworth, +246) @ Twins (Baker, -266)

According to the lines, the NL scenarios break down like this:
Brewers win WC today: 24.4%
Mets win WC today: 18.7%
Tied after today, playoff tomorrow: 56.9%

And in the AL:
Twins win ALC today: 24.0%
White Sox win ALC today: 0.0%
White Sox play Tigers Monday, needing to win to force playoff: 57.1%
White Sox play Tigers Monday, if they win they win the division: 18.9%

Overall, there's an 89.7% chance of Monday baseball, and a 43.2% chance that we'll have two games tomorrow.

12:56 I have the Falcons game on FOX, and no CBS early game. Great. Love this city.

12:58 Eck and Ripken agree: Justin Morneau and Ryan Howard should win the MVPs. Not sure how one could argue with that, really.

1:00 My favorite part of all this is that Pedroia and Pujols--two guys who are totally deserving, and would be entirely legitimate selections--are both going to finish second.

1:04 It's raining at Shea. I don't know if he said 1:25, or 1:45 for first pitch. One of the two.

1:13 1:25 first pitch. Thanks, Ernie.

1:20 Well, the tarp is still on the field. That whole 1:25 first pitch thing isn't happening.

1:21 Go Jaguars. This weeks' survivor pick is up 7-0 with the Texans about to punt.

1:22 Anyone think Santana would be available for an inning tomorrow?

1:54 If there is a Brewers-Mets playoff tomorrow, it will be at 7:37 EST at Shea. Thanks to KLaw for the tip.

2:01 Perez just threw the first pitch of the Mets game. So we're going to have all four meaningful games starting at essentially the same time.

2:02 Perez strikes out Maybe in on a slider to start things off. Hanley is sitting with a stiff shoulder.

2:05 The Texans have taken at 10-7 lead on Jacksonville. Not good.

2:08 Full count to Reyes, he swings at ball four and pops it up.

2:09 The Cubs are sitting Soto, Edmonds, and Fukudome today in Milwaukee. Soto is just getting a rest; the latter two don't always play against lefties, even if the game means something to Chicago.

2:10 Beltran is hitting second today. I guess this is a big thing for some people. I don't really care.

2:12 Deglado with a two-out bloop single to right. Clutch clutch clutch.

2:14 Wright flies out to Maybin. In Milwaukee, Cameron singled to lead off the bottom of the first after Sabathia needed just eight pitches (seven strikes) to get through the top half.

2:18 Bryan Bullington sets down the White Sox in order in the first. He is awesome.

2:19 Uggla hits a comebacker that deflects off Perez's hand after he reaches out for it; Uggla reaches first. The trainer is out looking at Perez's hand.

2:20 Jhonny Peralta homers to lead off the second to give the Indians a 1-0 lead in Chicago.

2:23 Perez walks Ross on four pitches; two on, two out for Amezaga. Perez now leads the NL in walks, with 103.

2:25 Thanks, TBS. I was really wondering about Amezaga's first and second half splits with RISP.

Amezaga flies out to Beltran, inning over.

2:26 Duckworth can't throw a strike; he's walked two, and the Twins have two on and two outs in the bottom of the first, Kubel up.

2:30 Wow, the Jets are up 34-0 on Arizona at halftime. Favre has 3 TDs (all to Coles) and a pick; Warner has 0 TDs and two picks.

2:31 The Cubs take a 1-0 lead on a Cedeno ground out, and the crowd cheers at Shea. A Prince Fielder error assisted Chicago's rally.

Church strikes out, and we're scoreless after two at Shea.

2:32 The White Sox have tied it up on a Konerko solo HR. Griffey then doubled, and he's on second with one out and a full count on Alexei Ramirez.

2:34 Ramirez walks, and now there's two on for Pierzynski.

2:36 Pierzynski singles, but Griffey can't score from second. Bases loaded, one out for Uribe.

2:38 The White Sox take a 2-1 lead on an error by Carroll. Still bases loaded nobody out, Orlando Cabrera now at the plate.

2:40 Sac fly for Cabrera, 3-1 White Sox. Bryan Bullington's run of dominance seems to be coming to an end.

2:47 The Texans, down 17-10 in Jacksonville, are driving. Come on, guys.

2:51 Span doubles with two on and two outs, and it's 1-0 Minnesota. Big spot here for Casilla.

2:52 Schaub to Walter, and the Texans tie it up. Damn it.

2:54 Casilla struck out.

3:00 I would give updates from the Mets game, since I'm actually watching it, but nothing is happening. Scoreless after four.

3:02 The Nationals are down 4-3 to Philadelphia in the 5th; if they lose, they'll clinch the worst record in baseball and the #1 pick in next year's draft.

3:04 Well, Sabathia is doing his part; he's allowed just that unearned run through four.

3:07 Perez has been impressive as well. Six Ks for him, as he strikes out Olsen to end the fifth.

3:10 The Twins now have bases loaded, one out for Brendan Harris. Looks like Minnesota is going to remain a game ahead of Chicago today.

3:15 Harris reaches on a "missed catch" error by Buck, and its 2-0 Minnesota.

3:18 Maybin scorches a high fastball to left for a double to lead off the 6th for Florida.

3:19 The Jets' 34-0 lead has now been cut to 34-21. Uh oh.

3:20 Baker singles, and it's 1-0 Marlins.

3:21 Freaking Jaguars. The Texans have taken 24-20 lead with 7:06 remaining.

3:24 Evans throws to the wrong base after catching a fly ball, and both runners move up. They're intentionally walking Uggla to get to Willingham.

3:30 And Joe Smith walks in a run. Things are falling apart at Shea.

3:31 Perez gets Ross to pop up to third, bringing Amezaga up with two outs.

3:32 Here come the Jaguars. 1st and 10 at the Houston 20.

3:34 Smith gets out of it. 2-0 Marlins, mid 6.

3:35 On 4th and 8, Garrard scrambles for a first down.

3:42 Beltran crushes a ball to left, and we're tied at 2. He had the big GW hit earlier in the week as well, maybe he'll actually start getting some credit now.

3:49 The Brewers haven't gotten a hit since Cameron singled to lead off the first. They should probably get to work on that; nine outs left.

3:59 And the Jaguars win in OT. We've definitely gotten lucky with these survivor picks, but I'll take it.

4:01 Bases loaded, one out for Hart, who has a .442 OPS in September.

4:03 Hart strikes out on three straight sliders. He is awful.

4:06 Wuertz walks Counsell, and Milwaukee ties it at one. Incredible.

4:15 Helms hits a solo HR to left, 3-2 Marlins. Shea is...not loud.

4:17 Sabathia is hitting for himself in the bottom of the 8th, he's thrown 107 pitches. Quite a performance by CC today.

4:20 And now a HR by Uggla, as the Marlins go back-to-back. 4-2. Cameron singles with one out in Milwaukee. This could be over very quickly.

4:23 Braun homers to left! 3-1 Brewers.

4:24 Nationals lose; they'll have the #1 pick in June. Big congratulations to them.

4:33 Brewers win. Sabathia is God.

4:35 So now it's up to the Mets. Two on, two out for Delgado.

4:37 Delgado flies out. Mets down to their final three outs.

White Sox win; they'll definitely play Detroit tomorrow. The Twins, still up 2-0, have the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

4:39 Sabathia's line: 9IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 1BB, 7K. Wow.

4:43 4-0 Twins. That one is pretty much over.

4:44 They've got the Mets game on the big screen in Milwaukee. That is awesome.

Tigers-White Sox at 2pm tomorrow. Chicago will likely need to win to force a playoff.

4:48 The White Sox and Twins having to play on Tuesday would really be fantastic for Tampa Bay. This is what I'm rooting for.

4:54 Lindstrom is in for the Marlins. He throws hard. Wright leads it off.

4:55 Also of note: Lindstrom is an ex-Met.

1-2 to Wright.

4:57 Full count to Wright. Tense.

4:58 Wright pops up to Uggla. Big out. Going to be real tough now.

4:59 First pitch strike to Chavez.

5:00 Two outs. Easley up. 1-1 on him.

5:01 Any pitch now could be the last one at Shea.

5:02 Church on deck. Mets have a chance if Easley can get on here. 2-1.

3-1.

5:03 Easley walks. You knew it wasn't going to be that easy.

Church has K'd in each of his last six PAs.

5:04 Please shut up with this Sunday Church stuff.

5:05 Wow, that looked good off the bat.

Church flies out to center. Marlins win. Milwaukee Brewers: 2008 NL Wild Card champs.

5:14 So the Cubs will host the Dodgers, and the Phillies will host the Brewers.

5:20 Both NL series are Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday. No extra day off nonsense for them.

I'm guessing the Brewers will throw Sabathia on Thursday, on three days rest again. That way they can bring him back in G5 on full rest if they get that far.

They can throw just about anyone on Wednesday. Gallardo? Bush? Suppan? Probably not Suppan.

5:30 Twins win. I guess that might've happened awhile ago. I kind of lost interest in that one.

5:53 Mussina gets his 20th win. Congratulations to him.

10:04 The schedule for everything through Saturday is here.

10:14 Some potentially big news, from both BPro and the Boston Herald: Josh Beckett has a strained oblique, and may be left off the postseason roster.