it’s that time
There aren’t many races left to watch these last couple weeks of the season … but so what? The Philadelphia-Atlanta series that starts Friday shouldn’t be ignored, especially the Sunday game slated to match former Meridian Community College star Cliff Lee against former Mississippi Braves ace Tommy Hanson. The Braves need to win that series, if not sweep it, to stay in the NL wild card chase. That third game could be pivotal. Lee is 7-2 with Philly, but one of those losses was to the Braves. … Florida is still chasing wild card leader Colorado, as well, and it’ll be interesting to see how Marlins rookie Chris Coghlan holds up down the stretch. Tonight, he faced a fellow former Ole Miss player, Matt Maloney of Cincinnati, and got three of the seven hits Maloney allowed in five pretty solid innings. (He left with a 3-2 lead.) … San Francisco, which heads to Los Angeles for a key NL West series this weekend, took two of three from Colorado in their showdown that ended Wednesday. No less than five Mississippians hooked up in that series: Seth Smith (Ole Miss) and Paul Phillips (Meridian CC) for the Rockies and Fred Lewis (Gulf Coast CC), Brandon Medders (Mississippi State) and Eli Whiteside (Delta State) for the Giants. Smith just seems destined to play a big role in the Rockies’ finishing kick. … Detroit is at Minnesota this weekend with the Tigers looking at a chance to bury the Twins in the AL Central. Marcus Thames (East Central CC) has seen his role reduced in Detroit, but the slugging outfielder might yet produce a dramatic home run. He’s certainly capable. The Twins have Matt Tolbert, yet another former Ole Miss player, filling a utility role. … September is fading, leaves are falling and October is just around the corner. These are the times that baseball fans live for.
P.S. Sad to see that Roy Oswalt’s tough year came to a tough end. Houston shut down the Weir resident and former Holmes CC standout on Wednesday. He won only eight games, lowest total of his career, and had a 4.12 ERA in an injury-dampened season.