Opinion

After a few years of stealing every base imaginable in the minor leagues, Billy Hamilton finally stole his first in the big leagues on Tuesday.

September baseball is about chases and races and teams fighting for their playoff lives as the season hurtles toward its end. But in 1998, September wasn't about the postseason hopes and dreams of any teams as much as it was the platform upon which two men staged an epic—yet tainted—drive for one of Major League Baseball's most hallowed marks.

There is something so refreshing about MLB knuckleheadery.

This week in “Things that were amazingly dumb,” we take a look at Brandon Phillips’ tirade and a certain Dodgers trade for an over-the-hill Michael Young.  

Join MLB Lead Writer Zachary Rymer and MLB Contributor Gabe Zaldivar as they point out the moments that were unfortunate and only slightly hilarious.

Sitting 3.5 games back for the second AL Wild Card spot, the Cleveland Indians got a little bad news concerning Justin Masterson.

With the calendar flipping to September, now is the time where we will see the best that baseball has to offer in the pennant and awards races. 

Frequently we see the narrative of the pennant race determine which players win awards. Mike Trout was the American League MVP last season until Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown. Buster Posey led the Giants into the postseason with a brilliant September that carried him to the NL MVP. 

According to Mark Hale of the New York Post, the Yankees have sent representatives to Japan to scout Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.

The Washington Nationals are infamous for protecting Stephen Strasburg during the 2012 season, setting an innings limit on him.

While they were careful with Strasburg, it seems the opposite is true for their young offensive star, Bryce Harper.

Don't go reaching for the TV Guide or unloading your remaining Los Angeles Angels tickets to the closest person willing to take them just yet. The final month of the Angels' season has plenty of opportunity to provide must-see TV, with interesting scenarios, mini drama and difficult decision-making.

You just have to know what is what. Think of it as the final act: the beginning of the end, the end of the end, and the beginning of the new beginning.

It's all there, wrapped up in one, final month.

The 2013 Detroit Tigers are a month away from postseason baseball, an excellent bet to repeat as American League champions and a marquee attraction for Major League Baseball's broadcasting plan down the stretch of the season.

Part of that allure: Star power.

From Justin Verlander to Prince Fielder to Torii Hunter, the current version of the Detroit Tigers are one of the most recognizable groups in recent memory.

Major League Baseball has a scheduling problem that shouldn't be an issue because the league holds all the power when it comes to deciding which teams will play each other and when. 

No one is denying that making a schedule of 162 games for 30 different teams is difficult and will lead to some late-season matchups that, frankly, are lacking in excitement or enthusiasm. That's understandable since we know not every team will be competing for a playoff spot.