A Guide the Final Day of Baseball Season: October 2, 2005

The Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox & Cleveland Indians

For the most part, the 2005 MLB baseball season has come down to a single day - and two games for the American League. Saturday October 1st's results gave the New York Yankees their 8th straight AL East title (and the Red Sox their 8th straight 2nd place finish), the Chicago White Sox the best AL record and home-field advantage, and placed the Cleveland Indians a game behind the Red Sox in the wild-card standings:

According the AP: "Through a quirk in baseball's rules, the Yankees (95-66) won the division because of Cleveland's loss to Chicago in the AL Central. The loss by the Indians (93-68) eliminated the possibility of a three-way tie -- and an unprecedented two-game, three-team tiebreaker -- and gave New York the East by virtue of their 10-8 record against Boston (94-67)."

Saturday's results have soldified the division champions:

AL East: New York Yankees
AL Central: Chicago White Sox
AL West: LA / Anahiem Angels
Wildcard: Boston Red Sox or Cleveland Indians

Sunday's games will decide who enters the American League playoffs as a wild-card team. The Red Sox are a game in front of the Indians and both teams play their conference rivals at home:

Oct 2, 2005   NYY (Wright) @ BOS (Schilling)  2:05 PM ET

Oct 2, 2005   CWS (McCarthy) @ CLE (Elarton)  1:05 PM ET

Curt Schilling (7-8) is scheduled to go against Jaret Wright (5-4) on Sunday at Fenway Park. If the Red Sox have a one-game playoff against Cleveland, Matt Clement (13-6) would pitch on three days' rest. The Red Sox game starts an hour after the Cleveland game - so they will most likely learn of the Indians results during their game against the Yankees. If the Indians lose... the Red Sox are automatically in. If the Indians Win and the Red Sox lose, there will be a one-game playoff Monday evening in Fenway Park.



Prediction: After a season of struggles and injuries for Curt Schilling - this is exactly the kind of situation he thrives on. Don't expect the Yankees to take the day off (after all, they Yankees can still taste that 4-game sweep of 2004). But expect Schilling to be sharp, the fans to be rabid, Ortiz and Manny to be hot, and Francona to use his entire bullpen as needed. Expect a Red Sox win and a postseason birth.

Read my other Baseball Guides:

• The Final Week of 2005 Season
• The 2004 Red Sox World Series

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