Sept. 5: Homecoming in Minnesota!
Load up on the laundry detergent, and look out, walleye ... the Twins finally are back from a 14-game, 15-day road trip caused partly by the Republican National Convention's week in the Twin Cities. Maybe it's a good thing Gov. Tim Pawlenty wasn't named as John McCain's vice-presidential candidate -- the Twins might need him to call in the state's National Guard to help battle the White Sox in the AL Central.
Sept. 7: Greg Maddux and No. 355
As Los Angeles finishes a key series with Arizona in Dodger Stadium -- the final time these two NL West rivals play in 2008 -- Maddux can pass Roger Clemens and move into seventh place on the all-time wins list. Once -- if -- he reaches No. 355, Maddux will have won more games than any right-hander since Grover Cleveland Alexander hung 'em up in 1930. How cool is that? Added bonus: There isn't even a hint of steroid suspicion with Maddux. The greatest right-hander of our generation? Yes!
Sept. 8-10: Tampa Bay at Boston
The Rays' training wheels will be permanently removed in Fenway Park this week -- no matter what happens -- as manager Joe Maddon's team continues pushing for its first division title. The team with baseball's best record has passed every test this year, but the Rays still have never been through anything like a tense September series in Fenway. One possible added boost: Phenom David Price, who still could become this year's Joba Chamberlain, might join the Rays this series after he's finished pitching for Triple-A Durham in this week's Governor's Cup playoffs.
Sept. 11: Angels clinch?
After spending the summer running the rest of the AL West through the shredder, the runaway Angels will become the first division winner to pop the champagne corks. Current projected date is when the Mariners come to town. Then perhaps the Angels, who have played so heavenly, can find some healing powers for the hamstrings of second baseman Howie Kendrick and shortstop Erick Aybar. Memories of last season's painful early October exit -- Gary Matthews Jr., Bartolo Colon, Garret Anderson and Casey Kotchman all were ailing -- still serve as a cautionary tale that, this time of year, danger lurks around every corner.
Sept. 11-14: Milwaukee at Philadelphia
Look, if Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and the rest of the Phillies are going to do a reverse of last year and allow the Mets to pass them for the NL East title -- that's Question No. 1 -- then the least they can do is get cracking on Question No. 2: Can they overtake the Brewers in the NL wild-card chase? Answer: Not unless they ambush Ned Yost's team in Philly this weekend.
Sept. 14: Atlanta at Mets
In Shea Stadium, follow the bouncing Mets' utilityman, Damion Easley. No current major leaguer has played in more regular-season games than Easley without ever sniffing the playoffs (current count: 1,695 through, appropriately, Labor Day). He signed with the Mets last year specifically to get to the playoffs. Then he wrecked his ankle last Aug. 18 and was lost for the season ... and it wouldn't have mattered anyway, the way the Mets gagged their final 17 days. Easley and the Mets have a chance at redemption in these final two weeks.
Sept. 15-17: Boston at Tampa Bay
One week after a crucial AL East series, the Red Sox and Rays do it again in Tampa and the ramifications will only be larger for the AL East title and likely relating to the AL wild-card chase. And if you can score a ticket to one of the games, remember: The Rays are the only team in baseball guaranteeing that, if you catch a home run ball from a Tampa player, you can get it autographed before you leave the park. Not so sure the traveling Red Sox Nation would be interested in, say, a Rocco Baldelli-signed ball -- especially if it clinches the AL East for Tampa.
Sept. 16-18: Milwaukee at Cubs
Best bet is that the Cubs win the NL Central and the Brewers snag the NL wild card. But we all remember how Milwaukee faded in final two weeks last year. Biggest difference now: starting pitcher CC Sabathia, who has taken center stage as the Round Mound of Milwaukee's Rebound. Brewers starting pitchers were 17-5 with a 2.49 ERA during Milwaukee's 20-7 August, and if Sabathia, Ben Sheets and the underrated David Bush keep that up, these six Milwaukee-Chicago games in the season's final 13 days will be great fun.
Sept. 18-21: Minnesota at Tampa Bay
Biggest homestand in Tampa Bay history continues as the Twins follow Boston into Tropicana Field. This is where the additions of veterans Cliff Floyd, Troy Percival and Eric Hinske should begin to pay huge dividends as talented, young -- but inexperienced -- Rays such as B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria hang on for the ride of their life.
Sept. 21: Baltimore at Yankees
Final game in Yankee Stadium before they blow it up! Cue Frank Sinatra and New York, New York one more time while historians sob their eyes out. At their present pace, the Yanks will have been eliminated from both the division title and wild-card picture by now. Oh well, at least Alex Rodriguez will be free to join Madonna on her world tour in October! (By the way, if the Mets don't win the NL East, they'll close down Shea Stadium one week from today, on Sept. 28 against the Marlins. But they can't gag again. Can they?)
Sept. 22: Brandon Webb vs. St. Louis
And unlike his first two attempts at his 20th win, Arizona's ace and the NL Cy Young leader had better bring his 'A' game. The Diamondbacks can't win if Webb, Danny Haren and Randy Johnson don't pitch well, and by now, time will be running out.
Sept. 23-25: Chicago White Sox at Minnesota
If the Twins having played 24 of their past 30 games on the road doesn't mortally wound them -- and so far, so good, for Ron Gardenhire's club as it moved into a tie for first with the White Sox on Labor Day -- this showdown series will decide the AL Central title. Added bonus: White Sox outfielders Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye and Minnesota's Justin Morneau will be making final statements in the AL MVP running (as will Boston's Dustin Pedroia against Cleveland and Texas' Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley against Oakland).
Sept. 26-28: Cubs at Milwaukee
By now, Lou Piniella's Cubs should be resting peacefully to enter playoffs fresh. Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Rich Harden should be on plush beds feather pillows, protein shakes and soothing, new-age music while awaiting October. Milwaukee? You don't think the Brewers will blow playoff chance this weekend, do you?
Sept. 26-28: Yankees at Red Sox
OK, so the Yankees will be eliminated by now. But how much do you think Joe Girardi's club would enjoy it if it could knock Big Papi David Ortiz and Boston right out of the wild-card slot on the season's final weekend? It's against the rules, but don't be surprised if the Steinbrenner boys offer bonuses to all if the Yankees could achieve that!
Sept. 28: Cliff Lee goes for 25?
At his current pace, Cleveland ace Lee, a lock for the AL Cy Young Award, will finish 25-2. Will it happen? Probably not, because "current pace" has a way of changing. But while the Indians make offseason plans, Lee might have a lot to say about who plays in October: Right now, his final three starts are scheduled against contenders Minnesota, Boston and the White Sox -- on this, the final day of the season.
