Obviously with the colossal choke job that has taken place (led by our heroes, AJ and Cutch, who truly have failed when it matters most), this may not matter unless we win the next 2, but how do you think the Bucs would manage the first round play-off roster?

My first thought is, would they de-activate say the last 3 starting pitchers who pitched before the wild card, and add a couple bullpen arms and/or extra bats to the bench for the one-game-play-in? I would say definitely, right? What good are Karstens, Wandy and say JMAC if they all pitched the 3 games prior? Wouldn't it better serve the team to add additional arms or bats?

But who would those arms/bats be? I get a little confused as to the rules on who would be eligible. I know you have to be on the roster by August 31, but I believe DL guys are also eligible? So that means Qualls would be eligible (yeah I hate him, too, but he would have more value than say Karstens if the game went to extras and you ran out of pitchers, for example)? Who else? Marte I guess? So I know NH loves the take advantage of the liberal DL-rules, but doesn't the current structure of the play-off format almost require you to stash a few guys on the DL in August so you have some play-off roster flexibility?

So I guess they have to get Locke and/or Wilson on the roster before August 31 to get that extra lefty eligible. And it looks like Jeff Clement is failing in hiis latest spoon-fed opportunity, so do you send him down and bring up Alex Presley just in case you need him for the play-offs? And given the desparate times, isnt it time to at least give Chase d'Arnaud a shot? The spark alone on the bases couldnt hurt.

I'm so bummed that this probably wont matter, and that god forbid the Sept. 1 roster expansion, at this rate, isnt going to matter either. Ridiculously depressing.

But we still have a "play-off game" to enjoy tonight, so LetsGoBucs!