In 1995, the Rockies clinched the Wild Card Berth (I hate to use the term "Won the Wild Card") on the final day of the Season, October 1st. In 2007 the Rockies clinched the Wild Card Berth on the day after the last day of the season, which was October 1st when the tiebreaker game was held. (On the east coast it was already, October 2nd, but here in Colorado it was still October 1st.)
This year October 1st is on a Thursday 3 days and games before the end of the season. It's very possible for the Rockies to clinch again on that date if all goes well.
The magic number vs. the Giants is 13, and the Rockies will play 12 games between now and that date while the Giants will play 13. If the Rockies gain one in each of the games the Giants play (either by a Rockies win or a Giants loss), they will clinch on that date.
The magic number vs. the Braves who are now in 3rd behind the Giants is 12. They also play 13 games by the end of October 1st including 3 this weekend against the Phillies and 3 at the end of September vs. the Marlins.
The magic number vs. the Marlins is now 11, and have 12 games before October 1st. They probably have the toughest schedule of the four teams as they play the Phillies 6 times, and Atlanta for 3 in their final 15 games.
Rockies have 6 games remaining against winning teams, St. Louis and the Dodgers. Giants have 3 games this weekend with the Dodgers, and 4 with the Cubs.
To see the magic number progress through the season for the Wild Card:
June 3--Actual vs. St. Louis 120 vs. San Francisco 118
June 30--vs. San Francisco 88
July 31--vs. San Francicso 60
August 31--vs. San Francisco 32
September 17--vs. San Francisco 13
Colorado still has the best record in September at 11-5. Florida is 10-6, Atlanta 9-6 and the Giants are 7-8. The Rockies finished 14-1.
Oh, and one last thing, the Rockies magic number heading into the last 15 games of the season was 20. The Padres was 14.
In 1995 the Rockies led the west by 2 games, and their magic number was 13 heading into the last 15 games. They finished 7-8.
TIEBREAKERS: I kept waiting for word on the coin flips for the potential tiebreaker games this season, when I found out Tuesday that they changed the way they determine the host for the Tiebreaker games. The Rockies will be visitors if they tie San Francisco, because the Giants won the season series. They would also be visitors with the Dodgers in the unlikely event that they tie, and the Marlins or Braves pass both of them for the wild card. Otherwise a tie results in the Dodgers winning the division and the Rockies getting the Wild Card.
The Marlins would also host the Rockies in a Tiebreaker with the Rockies. Since Atlanta and the Rockies tied the season series, it's unclear what the next tiebreaker is, however I believe the Rockies would hit the Road for that one also. The Rockies would get to host the Cubs if those two teams were tied for the wild card.
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