Phillies Affiliates' Post-Season Aspirations

Philsmania 2019-08-27 16:26:41 UTC #1

In recent years, I've handled a daily update on where the Phillies' affiliates stand in terms of playoff aspirations. To be honest, I guess that was partly because the big club had no postseason aspirations. Now, the Phillies are in the running for the wildcard and that thread was something of a pain in the neck. And, there's not much to follow this season down on the farm but there are some playoff possibilities. They are...

Reading (AA, Eastern League): Fightin' Phils lead first half champion Trenton in the East Division by 3.5 games and their magic number to clinch Eastern League Eastern Division second half title is 1. Would face Trenton--their usual postseason nemesis--in the divisional playoff. Fightin' Phils have the best overall record in the league so should Trenton manage to catch them, they are still in good shape.

Clearwater (High A, Florida State League): If Dunedin repeats as North Division champion (Blue Jays won the first half flag), the next postseason berth goes to the team with the next best overall record. Dunedin is tied with Lakeland for the second half lead but in the overall, Threshers trail Lakeland by .5 game, so a Flying Tiger swoon coupled with a few wins by the Threshers just might put them in.

GCL Phillies West (Rookie, Gulf Coast League): Phillies lead second place GCL Tigers West in the North Division by 5 games and their magic number to clinch postseason berth is one.

Patchmk88 2019-08-27 16:49:14 UTC #2

Good stuff. Thanks Philsmania

Philsmania 2019-08-28 02:10:31 UTC #3

Despite the rainout, GCLPW is in.

Squire 2019-08-28 20:57:38 UTC #4

GCL has cancelled the rest of the regular season and the playoffs because of Hurricane Dorian.

zambonir 2019-08-28 21:43:19 UTC #5

lol (I mean, I know hurricanes aren't at all funny, but goes to my earlier point. these are exhibition games. if a hurricane hit the East Coast the AA or AAA leagues would still have their playoffs eventually).

you almost have to wonder if the Arizona teams have a small developmental advantage, though it can't be fun to play baseball there in the summer either.

julio 2019-08-29 17:52:00 UTC #6

Update on the Florida State League race, and Clearwater's chances at the post-season: Dunedin now leads the second-half North Division by 2 games, over Lakeland. Both teams with four games to play. Dunedin won the first half, so they're in the post-season. If Dunedin holds on and wins the second half, then the team in the division with the best overall record will go to the post-season. As of this afternoon, Clearwater and Daytona are essentially tied (Daytona has played two fewer games), with Lakeland trailing by 1.5 games. Clearwater and Daytona each also have four games remaining. As of now, no FSL games have been cancelled, but some games scheduled for Monday have been re-scheduled as part of Saturday double-headers.

Update on the Eastern League (Reading): the Figjhtin' Phils have qualified for the playoffs, one way or another. As of now, they hold a three-game second-half lead over Trenton, with five games to play. The last four of those games are in Trenton, so the second-half title is very much up in the air. However, if Trenton should win the second half, the Fightins' will still qualify, as they will have a better overall record than any team (other than Trenton) in their Division. One way or another, it's Reading v. Trenton, beginning next Wednesday, in Reading.

Squire 2019-08-29 19:04:17 UTC #7

Further update on the Florida State League:

zambonir 2019-08-29 19:13:55 UTC #8

Well, so much for that. In my experience the playoffs, while important to the diehard fans and the players, are also money-losers at every minor league level (because there's no time to market, drum up group sales or do promotion/gimmicks, and some business STHs don't even get playoff tix), so trying to have them on some unknown future date would be even worse.

julio 2019-08-29 19:28:07 UTC #9

... and now also on the individual teams' schedule/ticket reservation pages. Looks like the FSL is done after tonight.

EDIT: Announcement now up on the FSL page:

Philsmania 2019-08-29 19:59:23 UTC #10

And then there is one (Reading).

I guess they are really expecting the State of Florida to get flattened. Over in the NFL, the Jaguars, Dolphins and Buccaneers all open at home next weekend. I wonder if some of any of those games will get relocated. Rays might also have issues.