For two straight years now, on the final weekend of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers have played a series against that years division winners.  The title was decided a bit before each of those series this year and last, and as a result, the opponent, 2008 Chicago Cubs, and the 2009 St Louis Cardinals, rested starters, played it easy, etc. and wound up losing games that were meaningless for their playoff chances, that they probably should have won if they were giving it their all.

Along with that final series nap, each team went on to then get swept in the first round of the playoffs, not being able to switch their performances back "on".  If you believe in the need for momentum, these two straight years "taking it easy" against the Brewers in the season finales could be a big reason for those quick, first round playoff exits.  It should also be noted that the 2008 Cubs finale in Milwaukee is also a contributing factor to the Brewers making the playoffs(that and David Wright missing about 4 different rbi chances that would have won games for the Mets against the Marlins).  In the latter case, not only might they have been too asleep to perform well in the first playoff round, the Milwaukee Brewers could very well have missed the playoffs altogether, making their playoff-less streak 27 years instead of the current 1.

The 2010 season schedules have been released, and the Cincinnati Reds finish the year at home against the Milwaukee Brewers. 

I predicted that the Reds were going to finish 2nd this year and win 85 games.  Of course some injuries and a down year from Aaron Harang prevented that.  Without being able to forecast what the Reds will do this year in the offseason, finishing 2nd might be a stretch if Edinson Volquez is out for a very long time, but I believe they have the talent to make a big push next year.  Add to that they could wind up with Tony LaRussa as manager and Dave Duncan as pitching coach, and they might make the run Reds fans have been waiting for since 1990.  Big seasons from Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips, as well as continued "decent" years from Johnny Cueto, Bronson Arroyo, and bounce back from Harang coupled with a breakout from Homer Bailey are things that could lead to a Reds playoff appearance reality.

Just one word of advice, if you have the season locked up by that final weekend, dont rest your starters and play all of the prospects against the Brewers if you want to get past the first round of the playoffs.