[ayaghmour2]

September 5th, 2022: Tanner Rainey tore his labrum and will miss 7 months. I transefered him to the 60-Day DL, leaving 3 empty spots, although 1 will be filled by Cole Brannen, who is hopefully 2 days away from rehab.

The first playoff elimination also occured with the Tigers being elimnated.

Danny Blair was named player of the week in the Southern League, hitting .375 with a homer and 3 RBI's.

And we're ranked 10th in the Power Rankings, as we rest to prepare for the Mets. We'd see Jacob deGrom (13-7, 4.46 ERA), Michael Wacha (6-8,, 4.71 ERA), and Rafael Montero (3-3, 2.71 ERA) in the Big Apple. Luis Marrero was lucky to miss us, and he really hasn't been the same since his humiliation. Just 1 quality start since the dreaded day...

September 6th, 2022: The Giants lost Mad Bum for the year with bone chips. He's going to miss anywhere between 5 and 6 months.

1B Seth Beer earned a callup before the start of the series, but would most likely sit for the opener. A.J. Puckett (11-5, 3.27 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) took on Jacob deGrom (13-7, 4.46 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) as we looked to ruin the homefans outing. The bats decided to show up, and we crushed them 10-1.

Puck was brillinat, just a run in 1 innings with 5 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeotus. Tanner Roark finished the game with 2 perfect innings, including a strikeout.

Ryan Mountcastle drove in half our runs in a 3-for-5 effort. He scored twice, hit a double, and a grand slam off deGrom in the 5th. Scott Kingery was 2-for-5 with a double, triple, run scored, and 2 RBI's. Dustin Fowler was 2-for-4 with a steal, run scored, 3 RBI's, and a homer. Brendan Rodgers was 2-for-5 and scored twice.

September 7th, 2022: I made a pair of callups, RHP Max Povse and 2B Jeremy Eierman. Most callups would still wait, since most of my farm clubs are in the postseason. Eierman, a former 1st rounder back in 2018, was acquried for C Jett Bandy back in 2020.

A pair of pitchers saw their season's end. Daniel Lynch of St. Louis has bone chips in his elbow and Bob Cox of the Rays tore his rotator cuff.

Walker Buehler (14-6, 2.56 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) faced Michael Wacha (6-8, 4.71 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) as we looked to take the series a day early. It was a close one, but we edged the first place Mets 7-6.

Buehler had a rough outing, 4 runs and 5 hits in 4.2 innings with a walk and 3 strikeouts. Art Warren tossed 2 scorless innings with 2 hits and strikeouts and earned a hold. Victor Arano and Corbin Clouse allowed runs without getting outs, before Joe Jimenez finsihed the 8th with 2 K's and a hit to earn his 27th hold. He left with a blister, but he'll be fine for his next appearence. Shiotani got the 9th and struck out 2 to earn his 31st save.

Ryan Mountcastle had another good game, going 2-for-4 with a homer, 2 runs scored, and 2 driven in. Dustin Fowler was 1-for-3 with a walk and his 20th steal. Vicor Caratini was 1-for-4 with a three run homer. Breandon Rodgers had a solo shot as well.

Cole Brannen will start rehab in AAA tomorrow. I'm a bit concerned by his now "fragile" injury rating, and I'm hoping it won't hinder him in the future. At just 24, he still has so much potential, but injuries could derail it.

September 8th, 2022: Tampa Bay has had a fall from grace, being eliminated from playoff contention the year after winning the AL.

We looked to finish the sweep and win our 82nd game of the year, as we look for back-to-back over .500 years. Jameson Taillon (10-10, 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) looked to push his own personal record over .500. His opponent, Chris Sale (8-6, 3.73 ERA, 1.06 WHIP), the 33-year-old southpaw. Our offense loves Mets pitching, and we finished the sweep with a 7-3 win.

Taillon had a shaky start, 4.2 innings of 4 hit baseball with 3 runs, a walk, and a strikeout. Max Povse made his season debut, walking 1 run in 1.1 innings to earn the win. Jimenez was back with a perfect 7th to earn a hold. Shiotani got the last two outs of the 9th to earn the save, his 32nd.

Keston Hiura had a monster game, 4-for-5 with a double and 2 runs scored. Lewis Brinson doubled three times in 5 trips with 3 RBI's and 2 runs scored. Ryan Mountcastle stayed hot, going 3-for-5 with a double and 2 RBI's. Scott Kingery was 1-for-3 with a solo homer.

We knocked New York out of first, and trail Atlanta by 1 for first place. New York still held a half game lead on the top wild card, but our cushion is now 3 over LA and San Diego.

Chris Archer struck out 8 in a 5-hit shutout as St. Louis beat Cincy 11-0.

We're off to Philly for four with the 73-69 Phillies. We'd see Mike Clevinger (8-9, 4.18 ERA), Adbert Alzolay (10-8, 3.83 ERA), Aaron Nola (12-11, 3.87 ERA), and Sixto Sanchez (5-9, 4.86 ERA) as we looked to stay hot.

September 9th, 2022: I guess I can bring up all my callups, since my AA team, despite being in 1st, didn't win either the 1st or 2nd half, and actually isn't in the postseason.

I called up RP Drew Steckenrider, C Nick Feight, 2B Garrett Hampson, SS Jeremy Arocho, LF Adam Hasely, and CF D.J. Wilson. The only guys on my 40 not in the majors are Nick Neidert (injured), Jairo Solis (injured), and Cole Brannen (rehab). Solis will possibly be transfered to the 60, and I had two open spots at my disposal that I plan on waiting on a decision until the Baby Cakes finish postseason play. Chances are I'd use just 1 to grab a pitcher, as Edward Cabrera can come back in just 2 weeks.

Jordan Montgomery (10-8, 3.04 ERA, 1.07 WHIP) took on Mike Clevinger (8-9, 4.18 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) to start the four game set. In a slugfest, the Phillies took the opener 13-10.

Montgomery was hit hard, 5 runs despite just 3 hits, with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Max Povse allowed 4 (3 earned) in 0.2 innings with 6 hits, but 2 strikeouts. Koda Glover allowed 3 in the 6th off 3 hits and Brett Conine allowed 1 in the 7th off a hit, while recording a strikeout.

Ryan Mountcastle was 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI's, a walk, and 2 homers. Carlos Soler was 2-for-4 with a three run homer. Scott Kingery also went deep, and was 3-for-5 with 2 total runs scored. Victor Caratini was 2-for-5 with a triple, run scored, and RBI.

September 10th, 2022: The Phillies lost Aaron Nola for 11-12 months with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. It's a huge loss to such an amazing player.

The Orioles lost 2B Tyler Krieger for 9 months with a broken bone in his elbow.

Lastly, Texas lost Adrian Sampson with a bone spur in his elbow.

The White Sox were also eliminated from the playoffs.

Joe LaBrie (2-4, 3.72 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) took on Adbert Alzolay (10-8, 3.83 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) as we looked to bounce back after yesterday's slugfest. The red hot Mountcastle is just 1-for-11 career against Alzolay. The bats cooled down on both sides, but the Phillies won 3-2.

LaBrie was brilliant, just a single run off 4 hits and a walk with 3 strikeouts. Shiotani actually blew the save, allowing 2 runs, 1 in the 9th, and 1 in the 10th. He was out of the game when Mickey Moniack hit a walk off single off Koda Glover.

Scott Kingery was 2-for-4 with a double and what looked like a game winning 2-run homer in the top of the 9th. Keston Hiura was 4-for-5 with a steal.

September 11th, 2022: The Cleveland Indians are the first team headed to the postseason. At 91-53, they have a 9 game lead over KC in the AL Central.

We can still earn a split, but would need consecutive wins, starting with A.J. Puckett (12-5, 3.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) facing JoJo Romero (5-6, 4.56 ERA, 1.41 WHIP). This time we had three in the 3-2 win.

Puckett went 7, allowing just 5 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks, with 4 strikeouts. Joe Jimenez tossed a perfect 8th for his 29th hold and Shiotani earned save 33, despite a hit and 2 walks.

Ryan Mountcastle was 1-for-3 with a solo homer off Tony Cingrani in the 7th and a sacrafice fly. Keston Hiura was 2-for-4 with a run scored, and an RBI double on his 53rd of the season.

September 12th, 2022: Mountcastle won Player of the Week, going 12-for-25 with 5 homers, 14 RBI's, and 8 runs scored. And we're now up to 5th in the Power Rankings, a spot above the Mets and 3 above the Braves.

With a win and a Mets and Braves loss, we'd be in a three way tie for 1st. Walker Buehler (14-6, 2.72 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) faced Sixto Sanchez (5-9, 4.86 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) in the finale at Citizens Bank Park. We scored 4 in the 8th to take a 8-4 win.

Buehler went just 5.2, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Drew Steckenrider allowed 2 hits and a run in the bottom of the 8th. Jeremy Eierman hit his first career homer and was 3-for-4 with a run scored and 2 driven in. Jeremy Arocho also had his first career homer and hit, a pinch hit grand slam off Corey Walter in the 8th. Scott Kingery was 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored. He's been playing a bit of right field recently. Lewis Brinson was 3-for-5 with an RBI.

After the game, I recalled Cole Brannen from rehab assignment, but would have him fill a smaller role. He hasn't played too much, and I didn't want to risk further injury. I also may purchase the contract of a pitcher from AAA tomorrow...

We're back home to face teh Padres, but both New York and Atlanta won. San Diego is 3.5 behind us, while LA is just 1, as they've won 5 straight and 8 of 10. We'd see Tyler Beede (7-8, 4.97 ERA), Dinelson Lamet (7-12, 3.98 ERA), and Sam Keating (12-6, 3.99 ERA) as the season winds down and the playoff hunt intensifies. Our playoff percentage is at 81.3, but I'm definitely worried...