[Some think of Labor Day as summer’s end, but in my household, summer lasts as long as Roger Federer is in the U.S. Open. That used to buy us extra time…. But never mind such sadness — the stretch run is here!]

@Athletics 4, Rangers 2 — The AL West is a dead heat. The A’s, who last shared the top spot on August 9, have won 4 straight low-scoring games, yielding 7 total runs. Monday, after Texas tied on David Murphy’s 2-run HR in the 5th, a throwing error by reigning Gold Glover Adrian Beltre was followed by Coco Crisp’s home run off Derek Holland. The Oakland bullpen held that lead despite 8 baserunners in the last 4 innings.

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Orioles 7, @Yankees 3 — The rainstorm had moved off by game time, but Baltimore breathed lightning and thunder in a 7-run 7th, matching the biggest inning for both teams this year (scored and allowed).

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How is your favorite veteran ballplayer doing? He may have passed a notable career milestone and you missed it. To find out, or if you just have a fascination for round numbers, here’s a review of this year’s milestone moments and a look ahead to those still to come.

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@Pirates 7, Cardinals 1 — Raise the Jolly Roger, all alone in first place. A.J. Burnett went 7 innings on 4 hits, and drove in the game’s first run with a rare knock, as the Bucs clinched this season series (10-4, with 5 left).

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@Pirates 5, Cardinals 0 — A showdown for 1st place, but the Cards were a no-show, and the hosts grabbed a share. For the third time this year, Francisco Liriano made St. Louis invisible, zipping through 8 innings on two harmless 2-out singles.

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This post is for voting and discussion in the twenty-eighth round of balloting for the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats (COG).  This round completes the addition to the ballot of those players born in 1946.  Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading →

This round provided a close battle between two born-in-1947 guys who were out-voted in the previous round by Johnny Bench.  In the end, it was another catcher, Carlton (Pudge) Fisk, who prevailed by just four votes over Nolan Ryan to become the 27th inductee into the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats.  This election also saw more voting participation (66 ballots cast) than in any round we’ve had since the opening week of the MLB season.  More on Pudge and the voting after the hop skip jump.  Continue reading →

@Tigers 7, Athletics 6 — If you must lose 3 out of 4 at home, this was the one to win — and this was the way to win it. In other news … as my dad used to say while theatrically throwing his hands up, “Oh, those bases on balls!”

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Here is an oddball assortment of pitchers, including a HOFer and an All-Star caliber pitcher, but mainly journeymen and the truly obscure. Yet, all of them share a common career accomplishment. What is the peculiar career feat that only these live-ball era (since 1920) pitchers can boast of?