Bring on October Baseball!

It is official! After joining the Pittsburgh Pirates as the only two teams eliminated from winning their respective divisions, the Kansas City Royals are also the first time to be officially eliminated from the American League Wild Card race. For those fans that route for teams who are willing to spend a buck, we bit you a fond adieu!

A peek at the current Wild Card Standings:
American League

Team	W			L		PCT			GB			E#			L10			STRK
Los Angeles	76			58		.567			-			-			5-5			W3
Oakland	76			58		.567			-			-			8-2			W1
Cleveland	75			59		.560			1.0			28			7-3			W1
New York	75			59		.560			1.0			28			6-4			L2

...Meanwhile in the National League, the Wild Card standing read more like a East-West map of the US. Somehow, there was some kind of realignment that put Houston in the NL East. (Which is kinda like Dallas in the NFL - ooh, that Cowboy/Redskins annual suckfest is quite at rivalry boys! Come on, Pauly T, look at a map and figure it out.)

National League

Team	W			L			PCT				GB					E#				L10				STRK
Philadelphia	73			62			.541				-					-				6-4				W3
Houston	72			62			.537				0.5					28				6-4				W4
Florida	71			63			.530				1.5					27				5-5				W1
New York	69			65			.515				3.5					25				5-5				L3
Washington	69			66			.511				4.0					24				4-6				L2

Footnote on Standings:

These charts were originally created by MLB.com, who employ the "elimination number" method rather than the magic number. I prefer this because it has more of a negative feel to it. Rather than saying, "so my Sox have to win 21 more games" I can say, "the Yankees only have to suck 21 more times!" Much better. Takes the pressure of us. Here are the expanded standings.

Here is MLB's note on the Elimination Number:
NOTE: E# indicates the Elimination Number, which is the combined number of wins (by the first place team) and losses (by the trailing team) that will eliminate the trailing team from winning the Wild Card. The Elimination Number for a particular team is determined by adding their number of losses to the number of wins for the team leading the Wild Card, and subtracting that total from 163. The Elimination Number for the second place team is the "Magic Number" for the first place team. "E" indicates that the team has been eliminated from winning the Wild Card.