Columbus Clinches* Playoff Spot

*I think...

Posted By: Smitty


In MLS this weekend, the Crew were able to sit and watch a lot of their fellow MLS brethren take the field, knowing full well that if just enough of them won, lost, or tied in the right combination, the Crew would be guaranteed a spot in the postseason. After seeing RSL lose to Chivas, Colorado tie New England, and Kansas City beat Toronto, I think we've got an answer. Now, while I haven't seen anything officially, by my math, there is no way the Crew can miss the playoffs. Of course, if the Crew win next weekend, none of this will matter. Here's what we've got:

First, going into last night's action, there were 3 teams that cannot catch our point total:

FC Dallas - 27 points; 45 possible
L.A. Galaxy - 29 points; 44 possible
Toronto F.C. - 27 points; 42 possible

The top 8 get into the playoffs, meaning we need to be mathematically better on points than 6 other teams can achieve. After last night's results, we have two more that can't catch us:

Real Salt Lake - 31 points; 46 possible
Colorado - 31 points; 46 possible

Still, it looks like we're not mathematically clear of that 6th team, because the next two could theoretically match or exceed us on points:

Chivas USA - 33 points; 48 possible
Kansas City - 32 points; 47 possible

(For a minute, let's forget that we SHOULD be clear of Kansas City, because if there were a tie, we would own the season series (2-0-1). After all, I did a hell of a lot of math to figure this out...)

We can say the Crew clinched a spot because next weekend, KC plays Chivas. Remember, both have to win out to achieve their possible points. One of them will not be able to win out. If there is a tie, neither of them can catch us. Since that match WILL happen, and since either a tie or win-loss scenario WILL happen, we can say without a doubt that the Crew WILL be in the playoffs this year.

I think...

But if they have made the playoffs, and it looks like they have, The Crew have achieved the goal that Sigi Schmid set before them at the start of the season. It's hard not to get greedy with a team that is this good, but for those who are newer to Crew Nation, who might not have endured 2007, 2006, and 2005, please realize that for some of us, this is what we were asking for. A team with a shot come postseason time. And for the first time in a long time, we're the only team in MLS who knows we'll be there for sure.

Damn, it feels good to be a gangsta...