It's still baseball season. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
- Rich Hill (yes, that same Rich Hill) had a perfect game through seven innings on Saturday when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts took him out of the game. Reliever Joe Blanton gave up a single in the eighth, although the Dodgers did still win the game easily. Andy McCullough has the story of what went into Roberts' decision. Roberts says he'll lose sleep over the decision.
- Bill Baer thinks that Roberts made the right move in pulling Hill.
- Mark Townsend writes that a healthy Hill in October is worth a lot more than a perfect game in September.
- Normally on a controversial issue like this, I try to find someone who has a different opinion. But in this case, most or all of the people upset by Roberts' decision seem to be Dodgers-Bros on Twitter or in the comments sections. So add Ted Keith to the list of names who think Roberts made the right call: not just for the Dodgers, but for Hill.
- The Athletics released DH Billy Butler. They say it has nothing to do with the fight he was involved with Danny Valencia earlier this season.
- The Giants were sinking fast in the playoff hunt until they won three straight over the Diamondbacks this weekend. Barry Bloom credits Hunter Pence for the team's resurgence.
- But Manny Randhawa writes that if the Giants are to continue their even-year dominance, they're going to have to count on Madison Bumgarner to lead them there again.
- In an interesting hypothesis, and one he admits he can't prove, Buster Olney states that Bumgarner and Jake Arrieta were partially responsible for the Pirates disappointing season. (ESPN Insider Only) Essentially, Olney posits that the Bucs got disheartened when they realized early in the season that they had no chance to win the NL Central, thus dooming them to yet another one-game wild card against one of the best pitchers in baseball.
- But they're in better shape than the Twins, who have the worst record in baseball. But Ben Reiter thinks that the Twins young players can give their fans optimism for the future.
- However, R.J. Anderson thinks the Twins have done a very poor job developing young talent over the past couple seasons, which should give their fans pause.
- Ken Rosenthal reports that Astros rookie Alex Bregman is already turning heads in the clubhouse.
- The Astros released outfielder Carlos Gomez last month, but he's been a valuable addition to the Rangers so far, which should help salvage some of his free agent value this winter.
- Mike Axisa looks at all the contract options that teams have to make a decision on this winter and notes that there are many tough calls in there.
- The Marlins are reportedly interested in re-signing Martin Prado.
- Marlins pitcher Andrew Cashner is a free agent this season and he admits that the team's "no-facial-hair" policy is a big problem for him. One suspects that Cashner's 1-4 record with a 4.78 ERA would be a big problem for the Fish.
- Mets pitcher Seth Lugo has done a terrific job since moving into the rotation, but Mark Simon notes that Lugo's success is not likely to last.
- Joon Lee looks at Red Sox catcher Sandy León and notes that while the 27-year-old career backup isn't this good, he should be a solid starting catcher over the next few years.
- Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann may lose his spot in the rotation after lasting just one inning in his first start off of the disabled list.
- Diamondbacks catcher Chris Herrmann will miss the rest of the season with a broken hand.
- A.J. Pierzynski celebrated a walkoff single, except "Whoops." the runner on second had stopped at third.
- And whoops, that may be the last thing that Pierzynski ever does in the majors because after the game he was put on the disabled list. The 39-year-old hasn't said one way or the other whether or not he's retiring. In another note, former Cub Blake Lalli took Pierzynski's spot on the roster.
- Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker was re-admitted to the hospital a week after his emergency brain surgery after being struck by a line drive. The team said it was precautionary.
- Pitcher Bronson Arroyo is attempting to make one last comeback after being out since June of 2014 with Tommy John surgery and related complications.
- Corinne Landrey looks at the "Cinderella" teams with long odds of making the postseason and which ones might have the best chances of defying the odds.
- Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez hit an intentional ball for a sacrifice fly.
- Tracy Ringolsby talks to Nolan Ryan about his career and strikeouts in the game today.
- Eddie Gaedel's "1/8" jersey is leaving Cooperstown to be displayed in the new Cardinals team museum.
- Sometime this week, maybe tonight, the last ever ballgame will be played in Bakersfield's Sam Lynn Ballpark and Jen Mac Ramos has a look at its final regular season game. It's a relic from baseball's past (it faces west!) that will finally be put to rest as the Bakersfield team is being contracted after 75 years of baseball at Sam Lynn. I've been to Sam Lynn -- it's an interesting experience. If you sit in the front rows, the field is at eye level. And then there is that giant wall in center field that kind of, sort of, shields the batters from the setting sun.
- And finally, the Dodgers rookies all had to wear cheerleading outfits as part of their rookie hazing. But even though he's not a rookie, Yasiel Puig put on a costume and cheered for the Dodgers and the Rams anyway. #puigyourcheerleader
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.