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A 5-Way NL Tie? It Could Happen

The Associated Press

Published: September 28, 2007

NEW YORK - Here's a National League scenario that could mess up baseball's postseason schedule: Imagine if Arizona, Colorado, New York, Philadelphia and San Diego finish with the same record.

That would create ties in the NL East, NL West and wild-card race, necessitating four days of tiebreaker games to determine postseason berths.

The NL East is the easiest: The Mets would play Monday at Philadelphia.

In the West, the team with the best head-to-head record against the others (because Arizona plays Colorado this weekend, that's yet to be determined), gets to choose whether it prefers one tiebreaker road game or two home games. Presumably, the team with the choice would take one road game. Monday's winner would then host the club with the bye Tuesday for the NL West title.

Starting Wednesday, the three teams that failed to win division titles would be involved in a two-day, two-game tiebreakers to determine the wild-card winner.

BREWERS: Ace Ben Sheets will not start today against the Padres, and Chris Capuano will take his place.

The right-hander had discomfort in his left hamstring Tuesday and will be available to pitch an inning from the bullpen, he said.

MARINERS: GM Bill Bavasi and Manager John McLaren are keeping their jobs for next year, according to chief executive Howard Lincoln.

PADRES: Outfielder Milton Bradley had surgery in Cincinnati to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. During surgery, doctors also found Bradley had torn his meniscus and fixed it, the team said.

UMPIRES: John Hirschbeck replaced Mike Winters on the umpiring crew calling the Padres' final series beginning Thursday night in Milwaukee. Winters was suspended for the rest of the season Wednesday for using a profanity aimed at San Diego's Milton Bradley last weekend.
World Umpires Association spokesman Lamell McMorris said the WUA would not challenge the penalty handed down by Major League Baseball.

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