Testing & Way to early playoff outlook

Catherine Trammell - contributing reporter

In news around the league?

• Fans throughout Cobbfather have been clamoring for more testing in the National League, specifically in Hartford! How does one team already have three players with 30+ home runs at the break. I'll tell you how, Dr James Keggi, MD; the team's physician. His former 'office' is known for their steroid injections to treating inflammation. A quote from the Commissioner's office stated that he "would NEVER approve of drug testing"....or was he talking about the owners? Ah well, you know our commish is too busy drinking coffee and eating timbits at Tim Hortons while watching grown men dance around on ice. Speaking of which, I heard their rinks have curved corners because if they were 90 degrees the ice would melt. I'm no scientist so I don't completely know how that works.  
• Rumors are swirling that Houston Spaceballs Cowboys owner will no longer allow players of the age 30 yrs or older on their team, stating that's already three years past their prime and likes his players young and fresh. Or was he talking about his mistresses? Moving on...
• Down in Atlanta, ekoontz is working a deal to trade himself to Hartford for prospects, but can't seem to get the value he thinks he's worth.  
• After all the bad PR, Vancouver is trying to push the commissioner out and force him to move the team to another city. Word has it, he's considering the Mormon community in Salt Lake City. 
• Some fans have noticed the Santa Fe Surf Rider are at their lowest payroll since S37 as they continue to move money around in an attempt to climb back to the top of the NL South. The potential of a top 5 pick next season would definitely speed up that process. 
• NOOFs fans had hoped for the organization to at last make an attempt to sign first round pick, #33 overall, Irving Benitez but the owner deemed his demands too high for the return of even a Type D pick. 
• Gregor Lopez is rumored to be interested in signing on for one more season if the Bisons do not win the final game of the year. 

With a little less than 70 games remaining, no single team has officially been eliminated from contention but we have a good picture of whose in, whose out, and whose on the cusp. 

• American League
• (1) Atlanta (AL-E) v -bye-
• (4) Helena (AL-W) v (5) New York (WC1)
• (3) Philadelphia (AL-N) v (6) Monterrey (WC2)
• (2) Houston (AL-S) v -bye-
• Just missing out- Minnesota & Colorado Springs.
• National League
• (1) New Orleans (NL-S)
• (4) Oklahoma City v (5) Hartford (WC1)
• (3) Chicago (NL-N) v (6) Buffalo (WC2)
• (2) Pittsburgh (NL-E) v - bye-

Barring injuries, here are our predictions, with winners in bold:

• American League - We don't see much changing in the American League from where they are today. But you guys play hard!
• Play-In
• (1) Atlanta (AL-E) v -bye-
• (4) Helena (AL-W) v (5) New York (WC1)
• (3) Philadelphia (AL-N) v (6) Monterrey (WC2)
• (2) Houston (AL-S) v -bye-
• ALDS
• (1) Atlanta v (5) New York
• (2) Houston v (6) Monterrey
• ALCS
• (1) Atlanta Expos v (2) Houston
• National League - a lot of mix up in the National League. 
• Play-In
• (1) Hartford (NL-S) v - bye-
• (4) Oklahoma City (NL-W) v (5) Chicago (WC1)
• (3) Buffalo (NL-E) v (6) Pittsburg (WC2)
• (2) New Orleans (NL-N) v - bye-
• NLDS
• (1) Hartford v (5) Chicago
• (2) New Orleans v (3) Buffalo
• NLDS
• (1) Hartford v (2) New Orleans
• World Series - A Cobbfather first - Swamp Series
• (2) New Orleans v (2) Houston