Against all odds, McGowan makes it back to pitch for Jays  —  The Jays' bullpen gate swung open and even before the familiar figure of Dustin McGowan could step through, the applause had started.  —  The knowledgeable Rogers Centre clearly appreciated what the 29-year-old right-hander …

Martinez hits grand slam, Verlander wins as Tigers top Indians  —  CLEVELAND — Justin Verlander won his 10th straight start and earned his 22nd victory overall, helped when Victor Martinez hit a late grand slam that sent the Detroit Tigers over the Cleveland Indians 8-6.

Albert Pujols contract drama heats up again with Cardinals  —  St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols stares intently at the pennant race discussion on TV, tilts his head back, and slowly exhales.  —  It wasn't supposed to be this way.  Not now.  Certainly, not in early September.

Yankee Stadium all wet on proper replay angle for Cervelli homer  —  Orioles at Yankee Stadium, disputed home run, Baltimore comes out on the short end.  This rings a 15-year-old bell.  —  Does anyone know the whereabouts of Jeffrey Maier and Tony Tarasco in the wee hours Wednesday morning?

Selig has a cure for baseball's long September  —  Not even Bud Selig, baseball's biggest booster, can spin this September into something compelling.  The division races have dissolved.  The jockeying for home field in the playoffs is dull.  All of the leftover buzz surrounds individual awards, not team races.

Q&A: Ken Singleton  —  Ken Singleton is among the most underrated players of his era.  The former Expo and Oriole finished in the top 10 in OBP nine times from 1973 to 1983 — topping the .400 mark four times, and seven seasons receiving MVP votes.  In the words of Bill James …

Phillies' protest denied by MLB  —  A formal protest filed by the Phillies on Sunday regarding fan interference and the use of video replay was denied.  —  Major League Baseball executive vice president for baseball operations Joe Torre announced the decision in a statement on Wednesday.

2011 Minor League Player Of The Year Mike Trout  —  If you're a scout, you log your miles and rack up your Marriott points.  You sit through the rain delays and sweat in your khakis.  You miss your family and worry about your kid's cough from afar.  You spend night after night watching baseball …

Phillies star seeks mermaid  —  Philadelphia Phillies star John Mayberry Jr. may be on a streak on the field, but he still needs his agent to get him a date.  His CAA reps have been trying to hook him up with stunning actress Antoinette Nikprelaj, who played a sexy mermaid in “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Home Plate Umpire Positioning  —  We have known for several years that right-handed and left-handed batters do not see the same strike zone in the major leagues.  The strike zone for left-handed batters shifts about two inches toward the outside.  This observation goes back at least …

Arbitration Eligibles: Minnesota Twins  —  The Twins are next in our arbitration eligibles series.  — First time: Jose Mijares, Matt Tolbert, Phil Dumatrait  — Second time: Kevin Slowey, Alexi Casilla, Glen Perkins  — Third time: Francisco Liriano, Jason Repko

Coming soon to a theatre near you: the Steve Delabar story  —  Joe Newton has been around baseball long enough to know a good story when he sees it.  Newton runs The Players' Dugout, a private baseball instructional facility in Elizabethtown, Ky. One of his regular instructors was buddy Steve Delabar …

For The Record: Single-Season Home Run Leaders For Every Minor League  —  Minor league baseball has changed dramatically through the years, so it's important to acknowledge that fact when considering the single-season home run champions for the 16 extant minor leagues.