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| The Yankees can't be excited about three more games against Mark Reynolds. (Getty Images) |
We were short on games, but not excitement on Thursday, so let's get to it…
Full Thursday scoreboard with box scores and recaps for all games
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Mark Reynolds, Orioles: Reynolds may just join a group including George Brett, Manny Ramirez, Ted Williams, Hank Greenberg and Edgar Martinez -- they're Yankee killers. And in one week, Reynolds has put himself in that company. Reynolds recorded his third multi-homer game against New York in the last week on Thursday. Before Reynolds' red-hot week, Greenberg was the last player with three multi-homer games against the Yankees in one season.
Adam LaRoche, Nationals: LaRoche hit another home run on Thursday, his sixth in the last six games. In those six games, he's 11 for 21 and the Nationals have won five straight. Before his current hot streak, he was hitting just .194/.267/.237 with no homers in the previous 24 games.
Josh Johnson, Marlins: Johnson ended a personal four-game losing streak, allowing two runs on four hits over seven innings. He struck out seven and walked three. Johnson's ERA over the five-start winless stretch was 3.94, but the Marlins scored just eight runs in those games. The Marlins staked him to an early 4-0 lead, allowing him to cruise to his eighth victory of the season.
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Jhoulys Chacin, Rockies: We covered it earlier, but when the player himself calls it "embarassing" and "inexcusable," who are we to argue?
David Robertson, Yankees: In his five previous appearances against the Orioles this season, the Yankees right-hander had allowed just two hits and a walk, while striking out seven in 4 2/3 scoreless innings. After the Yankees scored five runs in the eighth inning to tie the game, Robertson took over and gave up a homer to the first batter he faced, Adam Jones, a single to Matt Wieters and then a homer to Reynolds.
Justin Germano, Cubs: The right-hander lost his fourth consecutive start, allowing seven runs (six earned) in four innings. In those four starts, he has an 11.09 ERA.
AL East encore: If the rest of the four games in the AL East showdown between the Yankees and Orioles are anything like Thursday's tilt, it'll be must-see TV. Both of Friday's starters, New York's Phil Hughes and Baltimore's Wei-Yin Chen, lost in their last outing. The Yankees beat Chen last Saturday and the Orioles beat Hughes on Sunday. 7:05 p.m. ET
Chipper's swan song: Chipper Jones has received a cowboy hat, a surfboard, a banner from Wrigley Field and several bases, but this weekend he may receive something even more rare -- cheers from the home fans at Shea Stadium. Long a Mets tormenter, Jones has a love-hate relationship with Mets fans -- he loves playing there and the Mets fans hate him for it. Jones went so far as to name his son Shea, after the Mets' former home. He'll certainly get another "Lar-ry" chant or two in the three-game series at Citi Field, but Mets fans will certainly give him a rousing ovation during his last three games in New York. 7:10 p.m. ET
Rivals meet again: The Dodgers enter Friday's game against the Giants 4 1/2 games behind the NL West leaders and need a series win for a chance at the division title. The last three series between the two teams have resulted in sweeps. Josh Bekcett faces Tim Lincecum in Friday's series opener. 10:15 p.m. ET
• Orioles' Pythagorean problem: Dave Fleming of Bill James Online looks at Baltimore's Pythagorean record -- that is, their expected record based on their runs allowed and runs scored. Before Thursday's win/loss, the Orioles had a Pythagorean record of 66-70 and an actual record of 76-60. He notes their record in one-run games, which has been outstanding. What he doesn't mention is that if you take out the Orioles' games against just two opponents -- the Rangers and Angels -- accounting for 16 games, their run margin goes from -21 to +42. You can remove just three games (May 7 against Texas, June 27 against the Angels and Aug. 22 against Rangers) and Baltimore would have a +11 run differential.
• A day in the life: What does a manager's daily routine look like? The San Diego Union-Tribune details a typical day for Padres manager Bud Black.
• September's best: Which players in baseball history can lay claim to the Mr. September title? [The Hardball Times]
• Anything for a buck: Did you know there's actually licensed MLB diapers? And to the folks at Woot -- it's Cin-cin-nati. [Woot.com]
• The Altuve: A former Astros second baseman reveals the origin of baseball's newest unit of measure, the "Altuve." [Morgan Ensberg's Baseball IQ]
• Back to school: Lance Berkman says if he retires from MLB, he'll be back at Rice University to finish up his degree and help out the Owls baseball team. [MyFoxHouston.com]
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