Mets met with further challenges

With the Mets pulling out a wild one over the Nats, and the Phillies getting beat by the Marlins, New York builds a 3 1/2 game lead with only 17 to play. That sounds good, but New York led by seven with 17 to play last year, and the Phillies caught them.

Odd

This is odd.

Penny pushed to the 'pen

In what's become a trend this season with pitchers like Chris Carpenter and Joba Chamberlain, among others, returning from injury to throw in the pen, Brad Penny is next in line to do so.

It's a creative move by the Dodgers, who've gotten good pitching from a number of different sources. Using Penny in the 'pen makes Los Angeles that much tougher late in games.

Angels in the playoffs

Did you see the Angels celebration after they clinched the first playoff spot today? It will be hard to out-do that party if they win it all!

Red Sox socked

Tampa delivered another blow to the Red Sox, winning for the second straight night, this time 4-2 in 14 innings. The Rays pitching staff outperformed Boston, allowing just eight hits.

Boston now stands 2 1/2 back in the AL East.

Percival goes down again

Troy Percival exited tonight's marathon between Boston and Tampa in the 14th inning due to injury. He's already spent time on the DL this season, and this latest setback could mean opportunities for others to close down the stretch. Keep your eyes on Dan Wheeler and Grant Balfour. Manager Joe Maddon seems more likely to use Wheeler, but Balfour numbers jump out.

Too closer for comfort

Both the first-place Cubs and the first-place White Sox got scares late in their wins over wild card challengers. The Cubs, up 4-1 in the ninth, saw Kerry Wood serve up a two-run homer to Ryan Ludwick, cutting the lead to 4-3. Wood still got out of the jam.

The White Sox entered the nith with a 6-2 lead, but only prevailed by one thanks to a three-run frame from Bobby Jenks.

Both were close shaves, but Wood gets a save and Jenks preserves the win. Both teams remain in first place. It's nice to still come away with a win, even when your closer throws a clunker.

A dozen doesn't work

Scott Lewis becomes the Indians 12th different starter in 2008 when he makes his MLB debut tonight. Cleveland's used 26 pitchers this season. That's not a recipe for success, and the Indians are not going to the postseason.

Still swinging

Baseball's maple bat advisory committee continues to investigate the many shattered bats this season. I love this beauty of a quote from Bud Selig:

"They're analyzing all the bats," Selig said last month. "There's a lot of work going on right now. My concerns are the same. Every game I watch there's bats splintering. I'm sensitive about it."

I never thought of Bud as sensitive.

Konerko concerns

Paul Konerko's knee injury, originally diagnosed as a mildly sprained MCL, gets further attention today with an MRI. While Konerko hasn't hit well until recently, the Sox can't afford to lose their emotional leader along with a right-handed bat after Carlos Quentin is already lost for an extended period of time with his broken wrist.

Chicago can slide Nick Swisher to first, move Ken Griffey into Swisher's outfield spot and platoon several contributors in center until Konerko is back. Brian Anderson would appear most likely to make a fantasy impact in center if this is the case, although Jerry Owens is finally up and healthy. The Sox originally pegged Owens as their starting center fielder. He can make an impact with steals.

Back at it

After a short hiatus due to a busy August/early September, Spitting Seeds is back on the baseball beat.