Atlanta Braves & the Postseason

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeOn the last day of the 2010 regular season, everything worked out great for the Atlanta Braves.  The two remaining National League races were decided without any of those pesky one-game playoffs.

Three teams -- the Braves, Giants and Padres -- were battling for the two remaining playoff spots -- the NL West title and the wild card.  It could have gotten really messy if the Braves and the Padres had both won Sunday.  That would have left all three teams with identical 91-71 records, and would have taken two one-game playoffs to resolve.  The Giants and Padres would have had to play to resolve the NL West, then the loser would have had to travel to Atlanta for another game to determine the wild card.  Luckily, it didn't come to all that.

The Braves led 8-2 after six innings Sunday, but had to hang on to get the 8-7 win over the Phillies.  Tim Hudson (17-9) allowed four runs on just two hits in seven innings, and singled to center in the fourth, driving home a run to break a 2-2 tie.  Hudson later said, "This being Bobby's last year, losing today was not an option."

Yes, it was Braves' manager Bobby Cox's last regular season game.  He finishes his career with a regular season record of 2504-2001.  He ranks fourth in wins behind Connie Mack, John McGraw and Tony La Russa.

After the game, Braves' players watched the conclusion of the Giants/Padres game on the clubhouse television.  The Giants blanked the Padres, winning the NL East title and giving the wild card to the Braves.  The Braves travel to San Francisco to face the Giants in the first round of the playoffs Thursday.  The Phillies play the Reds in the other division series.  They begin Wednesday in Philadelphia.

We've known for several days that the Yankees and Rays were both in the playoffs, one as the AL East winner and the other as the wild card, we just didn't know which was which.  That too was resolved Sunday as the Rays beat the Royals 3-2 in 12 innings and the Red Sox beat the Yankees 8-4.  The Rays won the AL East and will host the Rangers.  The Yankees will travel to Minnesota.  Both series start Wednesday.