The Sugar Land Skeeters assured the third play-off berth in franchise history with a win over Southern Maryland Friday night at Constellation Field. With the win, the Skeeters clinched at least a share of the Freedom Division's second half title with two games left in the regular season. They lead second-place York, the division's first half winner, by two games.
Sugar Land will host York in the first two games of the Freedom Division play-offs next Tuesday and Wednesday (September 20 and 21). Games three, four and five of the series are scheduled for York on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
An active chronicle of stuff by Mike Tauser You can reach Mike by email: farmstros@yahoo.com
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Friday, September 16, 2016
Skeeters Could Clinch Play-off Berth Tonight
Sugar Land can clinch its third play-off berth in five years of existence with a victory over Southern Maryland tonight. The game at Constellation Field is currently tied at 3 in the sixth inning.
With a win tonight(or Saturday or Sunday over the Blue Crabs), the Skeeters would clinch no worse than a tie with York in the Freedom Divsion's second half race. Since York was the division's first half winner, a second half tie between Sugar Land and the Revolution would result in Sugar Land representing the division in the play-offs as its second half co-champion.
If Sugar Land makes the play-offs in any form or fashion, they will face York. Sugar Land won their season series with York 12 games to eight.
The Skeeters CAN miss the play-offs; however, it would require a substantial number of things to go wrong for them:
Skeeters lose their last three games vs. Southern Maryland
York wins their last two games vs. Long Island
And
New Britain wins at least one of their last two games vs. Somerset
With a win tonight(or Saturday or Sunday over the Blue Crabs), the Skeeters would clinch no worse than a tie with York in the Freedom Divsion's second half race. Since York was the division's first half winner, a second half tie between Sugar Land and the Revolution would result in Sugar Land representing the division in the play-offs as its second half co-champion.
If Sugar Land makes the play-offs in any form or fashion, they will face York. Sugar Land won their season series with York 12 games to eight.
The Skeeters CAN miss the play-offs; however, it would require a substantial number of things to go wrong for them:
Skeeters lose their last three games vs. Southern Maryland
York wins their last two games vs. Long Island
And
New Britain wins at least one of their last two games vs. Somerset
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Skeeters Final Week Play-off Update
Heading into Wednesday night's games the Skeeters are still battling for their play-off lives. With five games in the regular season, Sugar Land is now tied with York for the second-half Freedom Division title.
If you the Skeeters don't win that title, they will likely need to hold off New Britain (in over-all record) for a Wild Card position. They currently lead New Britain by one game in that race.
What is the worst-case scenario for the Skeeters?
Bridgeport currently trails Somerset by two games in the race for the Liberty Division's second half title. If Bridgeport overcomes Somerset, and York defeats the Skeeters in the Freedom Division race, Somerset and Sugar Land would be vying against each other for a Wild Card spot. Somerset currently holds a 4 game lead over Sugar Land in over-all record.
If you the Skeeters don't win that title, they will likely need to hold off New Britain (in over-all record) for a Wild Card position. They currently lead New Britain by one game in that race.
What is the worst-case scenario for the Skeeters?
Bridgeport currently trails Somerset by two games in the race for the Liberty Division's second half title. If Bridgeport overcomes Somerset, and York defeats the Skeeters in the Freedom Division race, Somerset and Sugar Land would be vying against each other for a Wild Card spot. Somerset currently holds a 4 game lead over Sugar Land in over-all record.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Skeeters Play-off Status to be Determined in Season's Final Week
The Skeeters close out their 2016 regular season with a seven-game homestand that will determine whether or not the team makes the post-sesason. Beginning Monday in Sugar Land, the club will host Long Island for three games and Southern Maryland for four.
Entering the season's final week, the Skeeters trail York by 1/2 game in the race for the Freedom Division's second half title. If Sugar Land can't beat out York for the second half crown, they will need to hold off New Britain for a wild card spot in order to qualify for the post-season. New Britain currently trails the Skeeters by one game in the wild card race.
York finishes their season with three games at Lancaster and four games vs. Long Island.
New Britain wraps the regular season with three games at Southern Maryland and four games vs. Somerset.
NOTE: There is the slightest chance that the Skeeters would have to beat out Somerset for the wild card. If that becomes a stronger possibility, I will post more.
Entering the season's final week, the Skeeters trail York by 1/2 game in the race for the Freedom Division's second half title. If Sugar Land can't beat out York for the second half crown, they will need to hold off New Britain for a wild card spot in order to qualify for the post-season. New Britain currently trails the Skeeters by one game in the wild card race.
York finishes their season with three games at Lancaster and four games vs. Long Island.
New Britain wraps the regular season with three games at Southern Maryland and four games vs. Somerset.
NOTE: There is the slightest chance that the Skeeters would have to beat out Somerset for the wild card. If that becomes a stronger possibility, I will post more.
Friday, September 9, 2016
Skeeters Quickly Losing Ground in Play-off Race
As I prepare to post this, the Sugar Land Skeeters are taking the field at Southern Maryland with the aim of avoiding a further decline in their post-season positioning. The Skeeters have lost 11 of their last 12 games, and heading into tonight's games, they are tied with New Britain for the Atlantic League's Wild Card spot.
The Skeeters have a three-game set at Southern Maryland. They complete the regular season with a seven-game homestand next week.
The Skeeters have a three-game set at Southern Maryland. They complete the regular season with a seven-game homestand next week.
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Skeeters Struggling, Still have Strong Status for Post-Season
The Skeeters have struggled since I last posted about their pursuit of the play-offs in this space. However, Sugar Land's hometown team is still in a strong position to bring the Atlantic League post-season back to town after a one year hiatus.
The Skeeters have lost seven of their last eight games and now hold only a one game lead over York in the Freedom Division's second half race. The Skeeters have 14 games remaining on a schedule that concludes two weeks from today on September 18.
If Sugar Land holds off York, they will qualify for the third post-season berth in the franchise's five-year history. It will also be the club's first such appearance since 2014.
If Sugar Land falls behind York, and the Revolution win the second half title, the Skeeters' play-off chances become a bit more complicated.
If York wins the second half, they would be the first and second half champion of the division. This occurrence would lead to the creation of a wild card position to determine the fourth play-off team. Per Atlantic League rules, the wild card is the team with the best full season record among the teams that have not already qualified for the post-season as a half-season champion.
In the event that a York second half title necessitates the creation of a wild card position, the question of who wins the second half in the Liberty Division becomes a pertinent one to Sugar Land's post-season aspirations. At the moment, Somerset, Bridgeport and New Britain are all in a position to claim the Liberty Division. If their hopes rest on a wild card berth, the Skeeters would need to be better than the two of these three teams that don't win the second half Liberty Division title.
The full season standings heading into Sunday's games read as follows:
Somerset- 68-58 - ---------
Sugar Land- 67-59 - 1
New Britain- 64-63- 4 1/2
Bridgeport- 58- 68- 10
Based on these standings, the Skeeters' best chance at landing a wild card berth lie with Somerset winning the second half Liberty Division. In this case, the Skeeters record compared with New Britain and Bridgeport would be to their advantage.
The Skeeters have lost seven of their last eight games and now hold only a one game lead over York in the Freedom Division's second half race. The Skeeters have 14 games remaining on a schedule that concludes two weeks from today on September 18.
If Sugar Land holds off York, they will qualify for the third post-season berth in the franchise's five-year history. It will also be the club's first such appearance since 2014.
If Sugar Land falls behind York, and the Revolution win the second half title, the Skeeters' play-off chances become a bit more complicated.
If York wins the second half, they would be the first and second half champion of the division. This occurrence would lead to the creation of a wild card position to determine the fourth play-off team. Per Atlantic League rules, the wild card is the team with the best full season record among the teams that have not already qualified for the post-season as a half-season champion.
In the event that a York second half title necessitates the creation of a wild card position, the question of who wins the second half in the Liberty Division becomes a pertinent one to Sugar Land's post-season aspirations. At the moment, Somerset, Bridgeport and New Britain are all in a position to claim the Liberty Division. If their hopes rest on a wild card berth, the Skeeters would need to be better than the two of these three teams that don't win the second half Liberty Division title.
The full season standings heading into Sunday's games read as follows:
Somerset- 68-58 - ---------
Sugar Land- 67-59 - 1
New Britain- 64-63- 4 1/2
Bridgeport- 58- 68- 10
Based on these standings, the Skeeters' best chance at landing a wild card berth lie with Somerset winning the second half Liberty Division. In this case, the Skeeters record compared with New Britain and Bridgeport would be to their advantage.