What's it going to take?

The more I look at the second half standings in the Western Division, the more I think that 35-35 could get into the playoffs.

There are 20 games remaining in the season. To get to 35-35, the Rattlers will have to go 15-5. Here are their remaining games.

1 v. Beloit
7 v. Cedar Rapids
5 @Burlington
4 @Kane County
3 @Beloit

15-5 means that -- if they win tonight, the Rattlers can only afford to lose one game in each of the final five series of the season.

I know some of you, coughTheKidcough, think that things got a lot tougher with the recent promotion of Brett Lawrie. But, what the heck. Might as well think positive.

Here are the Western Division Wild Card standings heading into tonight's action and what everyone has left on the schedule. I am leaving out the division race right now, because...well the Chiefs are up six with 20 to play. Even a Cubs affiliate can't let that get away....JOKE, Nathan...JOKE!

CLUB.........W...L...PCT..GB
Clinton......24..26..480..--
Quad Cities..23..27..460..1.0
Burlington...22..28..440..2.0
Beloit.......21..30..412..3.5
Wisconsin....20..30..400..4.0

REMAINING GAMES:
Clinton: 1 v. CR, 4 @PEO, 4@CR, 4 v. QC, 3 @BUR, 3 v. PEO
Quad Cities: 1 v. PEO, 4 v. BUR, 4 @PEO, 4 @CLN, 3 v. CR, 3 @KC
Burlington: 1 v. KC, 4 @QC, 5 v. WI, 4 @BEL, 3 v. CLN, 3 @CR
Beloit: 1 @WI, 4 v. KC, 4 @KC, 4 v. BUR, 3 @QC, 3 v. WI

Step one for the Rattlers to have any chance is win tonight and get out of the cellar. Then, rest up on the off day and see what happens after that.

I will also note that the Rattlers will need a lot of help...A lot of help.

Taking a look

Okay. I have been asked this question a few times. The playoffs in the Midwest League work like this. The teams with the two best records in each division qualify for the playoffs. The slate is wiped clean for the second half.

You can take a look at the standings for the Midwest League through Sunday's game here

I thought there was a wild card standings link there too, but...I guess not. So, I'll do that below. Kane County leads the West right now by a game so I have taken them out of the equation.


TEAM...........W...L...PCT....GB
Cedar Rapids..30..20...600...--
Peoria........25..23...521...4.0
Clinton.......26..24...520...4.0
Wisconsin.....24..26...480...6.0
Quad Cities...23..26...469...6.5
Burlington....20..29...408.. 9.5
Beloit........18..31...367..11.5

There are 20 games remaining in the first half with the Timber Rattlers. The breakdown is as follows:

4 vs. Cedar Rapids
4 vs. Beloit
4 vs. Kane County
4 @Burlington
4 @Kane County