Drinking with Scouts
                Tonight Elijah Craig is joined by Jim Beam, Johnny Walker and Jose Cuervo


  Elijah: Tonight we will try to wrap up our thoughts on the American League Playoffs.
  Jose: Yea, you pissed off NormanW5 pretty good. You know he called me told me get over here and make sure I was in on this conversation. He wants in done in the next hour.
  Elijah: Sure, he not a big fan of mine and I heard he doesn't like my bourbon. Well I can't please all the people all the time.
  Jose: Can we please start, Norm is counting on me.
  Elijah: Well we can start with The North where thebigdogs is the BIG DOG. Pretty amazing season.
  Jim: 2nd in batting average, 1st in OPS, 1st in runs scored, 3rd in hits, 2nd in base on balls, 1st in stolen bases and 1st in home runs.
  Johnny: Just as good in the mound too. 1st in ERA, Whip, BB and runs allowed.
  Elijah: Another team that has clinched their division is the Duoz. That covers the North and the South; so we better cover the East next.
  Jose:  The Beaneaters have a two game lead with ten to play. The 3 teams they have left on their schedule have won 198 games. They do have to play Charlotte on the road; so nothing is settled yet. Their four game winning streak has opened things up a little.
  Johnny: Augusta is the team that is two games out. They have 7 home games left finishing the season in Charlotte. The three teams that they have on the schedule have won 220 games.
  Jim: That puts Charlotte in an interesting spot. All three teams they have left are in playoff contention, having won 238 games. Four on the road against the Duos and then 3 at home against their division rivals for the league lead.
  Johnny: If they can get on a streak and fly into the playoffs with great momentum they would be in a great place to face Fargo.
  Elijah: We can cover this some more when we talk wild card. Anybody have any ideas about how the West will end up.
  Johnny: I will never count the Stickballers out until the season is over. They always find a way. Even if they don't catch the Islanders, they have the first wild card spot.
  Jim: The Stickballers have 10 at home. The three teams have won 228 games. They finish with three against the Islanders. The question is can they knock the Islanders lead down to 2 or even 3 by that last homestand.
  Jose: The Islanders have 7 at home before finishing in Portland. The teams they play have won 216 games.  I think it looks pretty good for them.
  Johnny: Even if you're right, the old genius, Stickman, will take them out in the second round.
  Elijah: What about the wildcard race? Is it that close?
  Jim: Closer. 4 teams are vying for the last spot. Santa Cruz, Charlotte, Augusta and Cincinnati. Of course if either Augusta or Cincinnati wins the East that would put Boston on the list.
  Jose: renrog has that great farm system, What does his competition look like in the last 10.
  Johnny: Ironically he plays 4 at home against Cincinnati. If either team gets a sweep it would be huge. Likewise a split might eliminate both teams. After Cinci, the Scream go to Portland, and then finish the season at home against Scottsdale. Those three teams have won 228 games.
  Jim: Cincinnati has the hardest schedule. They still have Fargo to go along with Santa Cruz. The three teams total 277 games won.
  Elijah: That leaves Augusta and Charlotte. Who has the easier schedule?
  Jim: The easier schedule seldom wins.
  Johnny: Once again both teams finish the season in Charlotte. The other two teams left for Augusta have won142 games. Charlotte is looking at teams that have won 159 games.
  Jose: Still the ten games have to be played. A hero will emerge from the bench or the bullpen. It always happens.
  Elijah: Sadder yet, a star player will make an error or strikeout with bases loaded; or a star pitcher will chose the wrong time to feed his gopher. That is why we love this game they call baseball.