Things You May Have Missed While You Were Living Your Life

While you were in a black, windowless room, missing the Orioles clinch a playoff spot, the baseball world spun on. The season ends in two days and here is what you may have missed:

As stated above, the Orioles are going to the playoffs for the first time since 1997. They even hung around the field waiting for the Rangers to defeat the Angels to make things became all official like. If this feels like a team of destiny, I’m pretty sure they are. Following the game their team charter started to smoke and they had to make an emergency landing. If that’s not proof that something weird is happening, nothing is. The O’s are tied in the AL East, too.

The White Sox have now lost eight of ten and are a game away from being eliminated from postseason contention. They really fell apart at the end here.

Texas wrapped up a postseason berth, but they’re only two games up on Oakland in the West. One more win and the A’s will be clinching that second wild card spot.

The NL scene is a little more figured out with the Giants, Reds, Nationals, and Braves all locked in and the Cardinals two games up on the Dodgers for the second wild card.

Conversely, the Pirates wrapped up loss number 82, just two days after being no-hit by Homer Bailey.

Bobby Abreu hit what will probably be his final Major League home run. He savored the moment, too, coming in with the slowest home run in Tater Trot Tracker history.

Miguel Cabrera currently holds the triple crown, leading in average and RBI, while he is tied for the lead with Josh Hamilton. Does a tie for a category really count, though? Really?

Mike Morse has the best swing. Just…watch this video:

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Mike Adams diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Which, out of all the possible things a person can be afflicted with, is on the more okay spectrum. However, it does affect a pitcher’s ability to grip a baseball, so it’s a problem.

The Orioles re-claim Steve Pearce off waivers. His endless movements will continue.

Darwin Barney’s errorless streak is over. And it comes just three outs before setting a new record. That’s gotta hurt.

The Dodgers made a secret deal to pay less in revenue sharing. Baseball, like life, is filled with funky accounting deals for the very rich. Whoops, that was strangely political.

A new graphic from Flip Flop Fly Ball which is always a good thing: is Playoff success affected by when a team clinches?

What has Grant Desme been up to since leaving baseball for the priesthood? Slinging meth is the incorrect answer.

Doug Fister struck out nine guys in a row. Doug Fister. Did you hear that? I said Doug Fister. Yeah, that’s weird.

The Indians fired Manny Acta. Probably because there were too many fedora guys in their crew.

The overlap between baseball and literature. I’m guessing Matt Christopher’s name is not going to appear.

Hal Woodeschick carried a heavy burden.

Rumor has it, Teddy Roosevelt is finally going to win a race. I’m guessing that on the day he’s supposed to pull ahead, he’ll trip in the final furlough and helplessly watch as Abraham Lincoln storms ahead for the victory.

Baseball has a luckiest player. It’s Derek Jeter. Sorry I spoiled it.