Skeeters Play-off Picture Could Get Interesting

With just 22 games left in their season, the Sugar Land Skeeters have a variety of paths to make the Atlantic League play-offs for the second straight season.

Option #1- Win the second half title in the Freedom Division

The Skeeters currently lead the division.  However, all four teams in the division are within one game of each other heading into Friday's games.  Winning the division would put the Skeeters into a first round play-off match with first-half winner, York.

Option #2- Have at least the league's third best over-all record if Somerset wins the Liberty Division's second half or York wins the Freedom Division's second half.

A second half title by Somerset combined with their first half title would open up a wild-card spot for the play-offs.  This wild-card spot would go to the team in the league with the best over-all record that has not qualified for the play-offs.  At the moment, Lancaster and Sugar Land are tied for the league's third-best over-all record behind York and Somerset who have already qualified for the post-season.

Option #3- Have at least the league's fourth best over-all record if Somerset wins the Liberty Division in the second half and York does the same in the Freedom Division.

If Somerset AND York win both halves of their respective division, two wild-card spots would be available. In this case, the teams with the two best over-all records without already qualifying for the play-offs would earn the wild-card spots.  The current standings would find Sugar Land and Lancaster in those positions.

Three weeks to go.

Whose Minor League Affiliates are Doing What?

Here's a look at how each Major League team's full season affiliates are doing so far this season.  The numbers listed below are the cumulative number of games above or below .500 for each organization's four full season affiliates.

I noted those cases in which a specific affiliate is 25 games OR MORE above or below .500.

These records are through games of August 13.

Mets +87- Savannah(Low A)- +35
Texas- +63- Myrtle Beach(High A)- +26
Arizona- +57- Mobile(AA)- +26
Milwaukee- +45
Washington- +41- Hagerstown(Low A)- +35
Minnesota- +29
Cubs- +27- Kane County(Low A)- +31
Oakland- +23- Beloit(Low A)- -26
St. Louis- +21
Boston- +19- Portland(AA)- +27
Detroit- +18- W. Michigan(Low A)- +25
Toronto- +13
Houston- +10
San Francisco- +8
Miami- +5- Greensboro(Low A)- +31; Jupiter(High A)- -33
Cincinnati- -5
Cleveland- -6
San Diego- -11
Yankees- -14
Tampa Bay- -16
Atlanta- -21- Rome(Low A)- -29
Seattle- -24
Baltimore- -29
Pittsburgh- -32- West Virginia(Low A)- -29
Angels- -33
Dodgers- -40
Colorado- -41- Colorado Springs(AAA)- -25; Modesto(High A)- -50; Asheville(Low A)- +32
Kansas City- -45- Lexington(Low A)- -27
White Sox- -53
Philadelphia- -96- Clearwater(High A)- -42; Lakewood(Low A)- -30

Skeeters Will Come Home in First Place

The Skeeters will return to Constellation Field Friday night in first place no matter what happens tonight in Long Island.  Sugar Land wraps up a nine game road trip Thursday night with a game at the Ducks.  The Skeeters are currently 5-3 on the trip, and they hold a 1 1/2 game lead over York in the Atlantic League's Freedom Division.  

Sugar Land begins a 10-game homestand on Friday night.  The division leaders are scheduled to face Camden for six games(8/15-20) and Southern Maryland four times(8/21-24).

Skeeters Still in First with Four Days Left on the Road

After six days on the road, the Skeeters are still holding on to first place in the Atlantic League's Freedom Division.  Sugar Land is 3 and 2 on the current road trip, which makes them 18-13 so far in the second half of the season.

The Skeeters play one more game in Somerset and three at Long Island on this road trip.  They return to Sugar Land to begin a 10-game homestand on Friday.

Skeeters Begin Week in First Place

Entering Monday's night home game against Camden, Sugar Land is in first place of a the Atlantic League's tight Freedom Division second half race.  The Skeeters(14-11) lead Lancaster, Southern Maryland, and York by 1/2 game, 1 game and 1 1/2 games respectively.  The second half consists of 70 games.

After tonight's contest, the Skeeters begin a nine game road trip on Wednesday.  They will travel to York, Somerset and Long Island for three three-game series before returning to Texas on August 15.

What's in a Compost Pile?

A worm took a trip through my compost pile. This is what he saw.