IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY... September 29, 2010

All games count equally in the baseball schedule. A game won in April is the same as a game won in September... mathematically. But with less than a week to go, we have entered "You can't afford to lose a single game" territory for some teams.

The Red Sox and Rockies are officially done.

And look out Padres... 1 game back in the loss column is nothing in April, but quite a big margin with 5 games left.

Let's look at the current match ups.

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

TAMPA BAY RAYS (AL East Champion)
has home field advantage over
TEXAS RANGERS (AL West Champion)


MINNESOTA TWINS (AL Central Champion)
has home field advantage over
NEW YORK YANKEES (AL Wild Card)



NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (NL East Champion)
has home field advantage over
CINCINNATI REDS (NL Central Champion)

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (NL West Champion)

has home field advantage over

ATLANTA BRAVES (NL Wild Card)

The Twins had better hope this little losing streak is just a hiccup... this is the best Twins team to play in a while and it would be a shame if they were another Division Series and out team because they coasted after clinching.

And if the Giants can clinch, they won't be done yet... they need to stay ahead of Cincinnati to avoid the dreaded "Phillies in the Division Series scenario."

Let's play ball already.