With an 8 game lead and about 8 games left, it will take a collapse never seen before to blow this one. While the Padres certainly know late-season failure, we are pretty sure it's time to pop the corks!
OAKLAND - Michael Essary got a standing ovation from 10,122 fans in Oakland, who witnessed his historic 500th career homerun. In the 1st inning he unloaded his 500th blast off Bill Parise. Perhaps his best year so far was 2027 where he hit .276 with 57 homeruns and 132 RBI. Michael has hit 40+ homeruns in a season 9 times. 'I guess I'll celebrate a bit today. But the most important thing is winning, and my whole career I gave everything I could to help my team.' The Hall of Fame already has reserved a place for this great player.
The American League Batter of the Month award goes to Taylor Breen, Orlando's starting designated hitter. In 95 at bats he hit .368 with 11 HR and 36 RBI. His season numbers are: .333 AVG, 170 hits, 38 doubles, 3 triples and 48 bombs, along with 148 RBI and 107 runs scored. He's 10th in the American League in batting, 2nd in homeruns and 1st in RBI!
Moises Ellison couldn't have pitched much better than he did in August, and the American League thought so as well, naming the right-hander Pitcher of the Month. He went 7-0 in August and finished the month with an ERA of 0.91. He struck out 61 in 49.1 innings. Moises has a record of 21-6 this season, with an ERA of 2.77. In 192 Innings he was able to strike out 208 batters. He has one complete game and one shutout. He's 3rd in the American League in ERA and 2nd in wins!
MINNESOTA -- Jon Gust waited years for his chance to be on a major league team, and he's ready to start at the highest level.
The Minnesota Twins introduced their new manager Sunday night at a news conference at Gate 31 of the Kansas City International Airport, and Jon Gust was asked if his lack of managerial experience at any level was a concern.
MINNESOTA - Otis Franko got a standing ovation from 20867 fans in Minnesota, who witnessed his 3000th career hit. In 16 years of big league action so far, Otis has compiled a batting average of .320, along with 467 homeruns and 1617 RBI. 'My firends always told me that I will do it one day. I never believed it. Good that I was wrong!' His hit in the 2nd inning was a single off Ovidio Barrera. It's no secret that he will one day be in the Hall of Fame!
Hall of Famer and current Pittsburgh Pirates Manager Wilson Betemit surprisingly announced his retirement Friday, ending a 29-year big-league career that included stints with the Braves, Mariners, Padres, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Voodoo, and Pirates.
He informed his agent, Jason Hasbard, of his decision to retire at the conclusion of the 2030 season this week, and, after sleeping on it for a few days, called general manager Jeff Knecht with the news Thursday afternoon.
A season for the ages earned Seattle's second baseman
Andy Compton the American League
Jim Thome Award this year. Compton has hit 46 homeruns
this year while batting .332. He adds 52 doubles, along
with 146 runs scored. He's 8th in the American League
in batting, 1st in homeruns and 1st in RBI! Compton
wins the award for the 2nd time in his 7-year career.
It was a day to remember for New York (N)'s Eduardo
Zamora, who won the National League Jim Thome Award
today. It put the finishing touches on what has been
a tremendous season for the slugger. He has hit 47
longballs while batting .374 this season. His 224 hits
and 67 walks add up to a .442 on-base percentage. He's
1st in the National League in batting, 6th in homeruns
and 1st in RBI! Zamora wins the award for the 3rd time
in his 5-year career.
Chicago (A)'s lefty Joey Flores
was untouchable all year long. His work paid off today
as the American League named him the Cy Young Award
winner! His ERA of 2.28 helped him to a 26-4 record
this year. He struck out 223 and walked 31 in 268 innings.
Joey has pitched 2 shutouts and 3 complete games. He's
1st in the American League in ERA and 1st in wins!
Flores wins the award for the 3rd time in his 7-year
career.
All the hard work finally paid off for Chicago
(N)'s Reid Daves as well. The
southpaw was named the Cy Young Award winner in the
National League today. His ERA of 2.68 helped him to
a 19-8 record this year. He struck out 164 and walked
88 in 215 innings. He's 4th in the National League
in ERA and 2nd in wins!
Ali Hepp will never forget his
first full season. The American League was convinced
that Milwaukee's leftfielder, 26 years old, should
be the Rookie of the Year winner of 2031. Hepp has
hit 20 taters this year while batting .299. He adds
35 doubles, along with 97 runs scored.
The National
League Rookie of the Year winner was announced today
as well, with Cincinnati's third baseman Timothy
Ware earning the trophy for putting up the best
numbers among rookies in his league. Timothy is hitting
.292 this year, with 171 hits in 586 at bats. He has
driven in 56 runs, slugging .408.
With an 8 game lead and about 8 games left, it will take a collapse never seen before to blow this one. While the Padres certainly know late-season failure, we are pretty sure it's time to pop the corks!
The American League Batter of the Month award goes to 
MINNESOTA -- Jon Gust waited years for his chance to be on a major league team, and he's ready to start at the highest level.
Hall of Famer and current Pittsburgh Pirates Manager Wilson Betemit surprisingly announced his retirement Friday, ending a 29-year big-league career that included stints with the Braves, Mariners, Padres, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Voodoo, and Pirates.
