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The Blue Jays last won the American League East in 1993, when there were only two divisions and no wild cards in each league. The Brewers were still in the American League, the Angels represented California and the Marlins and Rockies had just played their first seasons. Toronto can reset that clock on Tuesday night, as, if they defeat the Orioles and the Red Sox down the Yankees once again, the AL East champions will be the Blue Jays.
At this point, their winning it seems inevitable even if it doesn’t go down on Tuesday: Toronto’s magic number is two, so if they win and the Yankees win, it will still shrink to one, as the Jays are currently up five games on New York with just six left to play. It can all end on Tuesday, though, and at that point, the Jays can just focus on securing home field advantage throughout the AL side of the playoffs.
The Jays currently possess the best record in the Junior Circuit, as their victory on Monday night against the O’s put them a game up on the Royals, who sit at 90-66. So, while Kansas City’s September struggles might not have cost them the Central, they just might keep the Royals from home field. Of course, if Johnny Cueto is back to being Johnny Cueto, where the Royals play their postseason games might not matter so much.
- Like we were going to let Jonathan Papelbon attack Bryce Harper without covering the unwritten rules of running out a popup and/or choking your teammate.
- The criticism against Bryce Harper that Papelbon was banking on as support is off base and out of date. Well, unless you're one of those anonymously quoted, pro-choking players whose opinion on Harper is incapable of evolving, anyway.
- The transcript of the dugout argument doesn't make Papelbon seem any more mature than the youths he's attacked in the last week.
- None of that is the Nats' problem for the rest of 2015, though, as Papelbon has been suspended for the rest of the season and his jersey removed from the team store.
- Cardinals outfielder Stephen Piscotty was removed from Monday night's game on a stretcher after an awful outfield collision that involved his head. Thankfully, the results on his scans came back negative.
- Threats, vitriol and hate are the ugly truth about women in sports and social media.
- Jeff Sullivan discusses Jake Arrieta's second half, which might be one of the great half-seasons ever.
- While the Jays and Royals are secure in their postseason bid, and the Yankees at least look like a Wild Card, the Rangers, Astros, Angels and Twins are separated by all of three games with six days to go. This last week could be a lot of fun, y'all.
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