Around the majors reports--Sep 11

[nyy26wc]

1) Yesterday's results--

AL
Redsox at Yankees--PPD
Twins 3, Tigers 2
Whitesox 7, Indians 1
A's 7, Rangers 1
Mariners 5, Angels 1

NL
Cubs 8, Reds 2
Cardinals 8, Brewers 0

2) Standings--

AL EAST WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK
Yankees 86 57 .601 - 46-26 40-31 46-17 18-12 12-20 WON 4
Redsox 72 69 .511 13 37-34 35-35 33-28 14-16 15-17 LOST 4
BlueJays 70 73 .490 16 34-38 36-35 31-32 15-11 16-20 WON 1
e-Orioles 55 87 .387 30 1/2 27-43 28-44 23-33 16-16 10-26 LOST 8
d-Devil Rays 50 93 .350 36 29-41 21-52 17-40 13-19 10-26 LOST 4

AL CENTRAL WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK
Indians 82 62 .569 - 39-33 43-29 20-10 40-24 15-17 LOST 1
Twins 76 68 .528 6 42-30 34-38 13-19 38-20 16-20 WON 3
Whitesox 74 70 .514 8 40-32 34-38 15-11 34-30 13-23 WON 1
e-Tigers 57 86 .399 24 1/2 33-39 24-47 13-17 19-44 15-17 LOST 2
e-Royals 57 86 .399 24 1/2 30-41 27-45 13-19 22-35 14-22 LOST 1

AL WEST WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK
y-Mariners 104 40 .722 - 50-21 54-19 33-12 31-10 28-12 WON 5
A's 87 57 .604 17 45-28 42-29 31-14 27-14 17-23 WON 8
d-Angels 73 71 .507 31 38-34 35-37 24-17 24-21 15-25 LOST 3
e-Rangers 66 78 .458 38 37-36 29-42 21-20 17-28 20-20 LOST 1

NL EAST WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK
Braves 78 64 .549 - 34-38 44-26 32-24 22-14 15-17 WON 3
Phillies 75 68 .524 3 1/2 41-30 34-38 34-29 15-15 19-13 WON 2
Mets 71 73 .493 8 40-32 31-41 36-28 11-19 14-18 LOST 1
Marlins 66 77 .462 12 1/2 40-30 26-47 24-33 19-17 11-21 WON 1
Expos 61 82 .427 17 1/2 31-40 30-42 26-38 13-20 14-14 LOST 2

NL CENTRAL WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK
Astros 84 59 .587 - 41-31 43-28 18-12 44-27 13-14 WON 1
Cardinals 79 64 .552 5 47-26 32-38 19-11 35-30 17-16 WON 3
Cubs 78 65 .545 6 42-29 36-36 16-14 38-27 15-18 WON 1
e-Brewers 63 81 .438 21 1/2 32-40 31-41 15-15 35-40 08-16 LOST 2
e-Reds 58 86 .403 26 1/2 24-48 34-38 12-09 28-47 14-19 LOST 1
e-Pirates 55 88 .385 29 35-36 20-52 05-19 31-40 11-22 LOST 1

NL WEST WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK
Diamondbacks 81 62 .566 - 41-31 40-31 18-14 19-14 37-26 WON 2
Giants 80 64 .556 1 1/2 46-26 34-38 18-14 18-15 34-30 WON 2
Dodgers 78 65 .545 3 41-30 37-35 17-15 23-16 32-25 LOST 2
Padres 70 73 .490 11 32-40 38-33 17-15 24-15 23-34 LOST 2
e-Rockies 62 80 .437 18 1/2 34-37 28-43 13-15 21-18 26-37 LOST 2

d--mathematically eliminated from winning the division title
e--mathematically eliminated from the postseason
y--clinched a postseason berth

3) Wild card standings--

AL WON LOST PCT GB
A's 87 57 .604 -
Twins 76 68 .528 11

NL WON LOST PCT GB
Giants 80 64 .556 -
Cardinals 79 64 .552 1/2
Cubs 78 65 .545 1 1/2
Dodgers 78 65 .545 1 1/2
Phillies 75 68 .524 4 1/2
Mets 71 73 .493 9
Padres 70 73 .490 9 1/2

4) The Mariners will clinch the AL West title if they beat the Angels and the A's lose to the Rangers.

5) The Brewers were mathematically eliminated from the postseason.

6) The Expos will be mathematically eliminated from winning the NL East and from the postseason if they lose to the Marlins.

7) The Tigers fell into a tie with the Royals for last place in the AL Central.

8) Magic numbers--

AL East--Yankees, 8
AL Central--Indians, 13
AL West--Mariners, 2
AL wild card--A's, 7

NL East--Braves, 17
NL Central--Astros, 15
NL West--Diamondbacks, 18
NL wild card--Giants, 19

9) Race for postseason seeds--

AL--The Mariners have a 17 1/2 game lead over the Yankees for the top seed. The Yankees have a 4 1/2 game lead over the Indians for the 2nd seed.

NL--The Astros have a 3 game lead over the Diamondbacks for the top seed. The Diamondbacks have a 2 1/2 game lead over the Braves for the 2nd seed.

10) Today's schedule--

AL
Whitesox (Jon Garland 6-6) at Yankees (Roger Clemens 19-1), 7:05 PM
Twins (Brad Radke 12-9) at Tigers (Jeff Weaver 11-14), 7:05 PM
BlueJays (Kelvim Escobar 6-6) at Orioles (Jason Johnson 10-11), 7:05 PM
Redsox (Casey Fossum 1-1) at Devil Rays (Tanyon Sturtze 8-11), 7:15 PM
Indians (Chuck Finley 6-6) at Royals (Chad Durbin 7-14), 8:05 PM
Mariners (Aaron Sele 13-5) at Angels (Scott Schoeneweis 10-9), 10:05 PM
Rangers (Rick Helling 11-9) at A's (Cory Lidle 10-6), 10:05 PM

NL
Mets (Al Leiter 11-10) at Pirates (Todd Ritchie 11-12), 7:05 PM
Expos (Mike Thurman 8-10) at Marlins (Josh Beckett 1-0), 7:05 PM
Phillies (Robert Person 14-6) at Braves (John Burkett 11-10), 7:35 PM
Reds (Jose Acevedo 4-6) at Cubs (Juan Cruz 2-1), 8:05 PM
Cardinals (Woody Williams 12-9) at Brewers (Rocky Coppinger, 8:05 PM
Giants (Russ Ortiz 14-9) at Astros (Dave Mlicki 5-1), 8:05 PM
Rockies (Denny Neagle 9-7) at Diamondbacks (Curt Schilling 20-6), 9:35 PM
Dodgers (Terry Adams 12-6) at Padres (Jason Middlebrook 0-0), 10:05 PM

11) Yesterday's HRs--

Jim Thome--#47
Mark McGwire--#24
Jeff Liefer--#17
Jeremy Giambi--#12
Michael Young--#11
Juan Castro--#3
Robin Jennings--#2
Roosevelt Brown--#2

12) HR leaders--

AL
1) Jim Thome--47*
2) Alex Rodriguez--44
3) Rafael Palmeiro--41
4) Manny Ramirez--39
T5) Carlos Delgado--38
T5) Troy Glaus--38
T7) Bret Boone--35
T7) Juan Gonzalez--35
9) Jason Giambi--33
10) Tino Martinez--32

NL
1) Barry Bonds--63
2) Sammy Sosa--54
3) Luis Gonzalez--51
4) Shawn Green--46
5) Todd Helton--41
T6) Richie Sexson--36
T6) Jeff Bagwell--36
T6) Phil Nevin--36
9) Chipper Jones--35
T10) Albert Pujols--34
T10) Gary Sheffield--34

*--hit 1 yesterday

13) Mark McGwire watch--hit #578, is 8 behind Frank Robinson for 4th place

[nyy26wc]

1) Yankees RF Paul O'Neill will have to miss at least the next couple of weeks, due to a stress fracture in his left foot, and might not be available for the postseason.

2) Astros P Pedro Astacio's sore shoulder may sideline him for the rest of the season. Astacio threw for 15 minutes on Sunday, a session which confirmed he's not ready to come off the DL. The team says they're not sure when, or even if, he can return.

Astacio has 16 RSAA in 26 starts this season and this will be his 3rd consecutive year in double digits, although his 2 year streak of 20+ appears to be coming to an end.

3) Whitesox RF Magglio Ordonez had to leave yesterday's game, after injuring his left wrist on a check swing. X-rays were negative and he's day to day.

Ordonez is having a very good year, hitting .534 SLG, .379 OBA, .913 OPS, 40 RCAA, .683 OWP, 8.42 RC/G, 117 RC in 142 games. He's working on his 3rd consecutive year with a .500+ SLG and 2nd consecutive season with a .900+ OPS.

4) SABR's Bill Gilbert reports that Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling can become the first set of teammates to both have 20+ W, 200+ SO and an ERA under 3.00 since Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry, with the 1966 Giants.

5) The Reds called up P Joey Hamilton and he'll move into their rotation, starting tomorrow, with Dennys Reyes moving to the bullpen.

6) The Indians called up OF Milton Bradley and Ps Roy Smith and Tim Drew.

Bradley, who was acquired from the Expos before the July 31 trading deadline, may be the Indians starting CF next year, replacing Kenny Lofton, who will become a free agent after the season.

7) The Redsox placed INF Mike Lansing on the 60 day DL and recalled P Todd Erdos.

Lansing has a sprained medial collateral ligament and will miss the rest of the season.

Lansing had another lousy year, hitting .384 SLG, .294 OBA, .677 OPS, -17 RCAA, .343 OWP, 4.04 RC/G, 41 RC in 106 games. Lansing came into the season with -137 career RCAA and this is his 6th year with a double digit negative RCAA in his 9 year career and 8th negative figure.

8) The Tigers called up 1B Eric Munson and C Mike Rivera and moved 3B-1B Dean Palmer from the 15 to the 60 day DL.

Munson, 23, was ranked as the Tigers's #3 prospect by Baseball America and was given a B- grade by the Minor League Scouting Notebook. He was taken as the 3rd pick in the 1st round of the 1999 draft and the Tigers moved him from C to 1B. Munson came into the year with a .835 career OPS (.361 OBA, .474 SLG) in 2 minor league seasons and had a .853 OPS (.371 OBA, .482 SLG) in AA in 2001. Munson could be Tony Clark's successor at 1B, starting next year.

Rivera, 25, wasn't ranked in the Tigers's top 30 prospect list by Baseball America and was give a C- grade by the Minor League Scouting Notebook. He came into the season with a .771 career OPS (.309 OBA, .462 SLG) in 5 minor league seasons, with most of his experience below AA. In AA this season, he led the Eastern League with 33 HR and had a .746 OPS (.368 OBA, .578 SLG).

9) The A's called up Ps Mike Fyhrie and Chad Harville, C Tom Wilson, INF Mark Bellhorn and OFs Eric Byrnes, Andy Abad and Rob Ryan and moved OF Billy McMillon from the 15 to the 60 day DL.

10) Rangers OF Chad Curtis was scratched from yesterday's lineup, due to a bruised left calf.

[nyy26wc]

1) The United States has been under terrorist attack this morning.

I don't know too many of the details, but according to CNN, both towers at the World Trade Center collapsed after being hit by a commercial airliner, there was a fire at the Pentagon and all government buildings in Washington are being evacuated. According to a scrolling message at the bottom of the screen, all landmarks in Philadelphia are being evacuated.

According to a radio report, a couple of airline flights are confirmed to be lost.

Mayor Guiliani says the death toll at the World Trade Center will be in the thousands.

The Yankees and Orioles are both scheduled to play at home tonight. On the one hand, I will not be surprised to see those games cancelled as a precautionary measure. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised to see the games being played, in order to not cause additional alarm to the nation.

More news is continuing to come over both the radio and CNN, but I'll let others deliver that news. I'm going to return to the comparatively trivial world of baseball--

2) Sammy Sosa set the major league record, for right handed hitters, with his 32nd intentional walk of the season.

3) Angels P Ben Weber had to leave yesterday's game, due to an ankle injury.

4) Mets 2B Edgardo Alfonzo has missed the past couple of games, due to a strained left index finger, and says he expects to return to the lineup today.

5) The Mariners are expected to call up Ps John Halama and Brett Tomko this week.

[nyy26wc]

MOST INTENTIONAL WALKS, SEASON, RIGHT HANDED HITTER

1 Sammy Sosa 2001 33
2 Kevin Mitchell 1989 32
T3 Adolfo Phillips 1967 29
T3 Frank Howard 1970 29
T3 Dale Murphy 1987 29
T3 Frank Thomas 1995 29
T7 Ernie Banks 1960 28
T7 Mark McGwire 1998 28
T9 Roberto Clemente 1968 27
T9 Jeff Bagwell 1997 27

Note--IBB has only been a stat since 1955.

[nyy26wc]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
The Yankees and Orioles are both scheduled to play at home tonight. On the one hand, I will not be surprised to see those games cancelled as a precautionary measure. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised to see the games being played, in order to not cause additional alarm to the nation.

When I wrote this, the full magnitude of what happened wasn't clear yet.

All of today's games around the majors have been canceled.

[Duque]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
The Yankees and Orioles are both scheduled to play at home tonight. On the one hand, I will not be surprised to see those games cancelled as a precautionary measure. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised to see the games being played, in order to not cause additional alarm to the nation.

More news is continuing to come over both the radio and CNN, but I'll let others deliver that news. I'm going to return to the comparatively trivial world of baseball--

It's times like this that remind you that baseball, is, after all, just a game.

MLB has postponed all games scheduled for today, which is probably the correct move given the gravity of this national tragedy. I just don't see how anyone, players or fans, could have their minds on the game this evening.

I lived in DC all of last year. It's almost surreal to imagine what's going on there right now.

[NetShrine]

Bud will get the credit for this - but, I would not be shocked if it turns out he was instructed to cancel the games (by some national security org).

It's the logical thing to do.

For how long, I do not know. One hand says be safe, the other says we need to send the message that our lives cannot be derailed by terrorists. It's a hard decision.

[Dave B.]

In 1963, Pete Rozelle allowed NFL games to continue on the weekend following JFK's assassination. In later years, he would say that he considered the biggest mistake of his career.

I believe the decision to cancel tonight's games is absolutely appropriate, security concerns notwithstanding. There is a wide gap between letting terrorists change our way of life and putting aside our entertainments to acknowledge the tragic gravity of today's events.

Peace to you and your families on this terrible day.