The JML Labor Force

Kevin Youkilis was 1-3 with 1 BB and 1 RBI against the White Sox. He has 8 RBIs in his last 8 games.

Ryan Braun got the day off because he was experiencing some pain in his shoulder. According to his coach, Ken Macha, it's nothing to worry about and he should be back in the lineup tomorrow.

Ian Kinsler didn't play because his game was rained out.

Gabe Kapler was 0-3 against the Yankees.

John Grabow picked up his 22nd hold of the season against the Pirates. He pitched 1 inning of scoreless relief. He had 1 K. His WHIP is 1.44. His ERA is 3.03.

Braun's 14th SB, Youk's 14th HBP

Ryan Braun was 2-5 with with 1 BB, 1 double (his 31st), and 1 SB (his 14th) against the Giants. This marks the 3rd consecutive season that Braun has stolen at least 14 bases.

Batting 3rd, Ian Kinsler was 2-3 against the Orioles.

Kevin Youkilis was 0-4 with 1 HBP against the White Sox. Youkilis has been hit 14 times this year (2nd in AL), which is 1 shy of the 15 times he got hit in 2007.

Sam Fuld was 1-4 against the Mets.

Fuld Makes Most Of Playing Time

Ryan Braun was 1-4 with 1 run scored against the Giants.

Kevin Youkilis was 0-4 against the White Sox.

Batting leadoff, Ian Kinsler was 0-4 against the Orioles.

Sam Fuld was 1-2 with 1 double (his 4th) against the Mets.

John Grabow picked up his 21st hold of the season against the Mets. He pitched 1 inning of scoreless relief on 1 hit and 1 BB. His WHIP is 1.47. His ERA is 3.08.

The Road Warrior

Scott Feldman picked up his 15th win of the year against the Orioles. And, of course, it was on the road. Feldman pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up 1 run on 4 hits, 2 BBs, and 2 Ks against the Orioles. His WHIP is 1.24. His ERA is 3.62. His record is a sterling 15-4.

According to a graphic on the MLB Network, Feldman is in an elite group of pitchers with reference to his winning percentage on the road this season. Feldman is 11-1 (.917 winning percentage) on the road. Since 1964, only 4 pitchers have better winning percentages on the road: Jimmy Key was 10-0 in 1994 for the Yankees; Scott McGregor was 14-1 in 1983 for the Orioles; Roger Clemens was 13-1 in 1986 for the Red Sox; and Pedro Martinez was 12-1 in 2000 for the Red Sox. Pretty neat.

Ryan Braun was 1-3 with 2 BBs and 1 run scored against the Giants. Also swiped his 13th bag of the season.

Kevin Youkilis was 1-2 with 1 RBI against the White Sox.

Batting 3rd, Ian Kinsler was 0-3 with 1 BB against the Orioles.

Sam Fuld was 1-2 with 2 BBs and 1 run scored against the Mets.

Brad Ausmus was 0-2 against the Padres. However, he did throw out the speedy Everth Cabrera on a stealing attempt.

John Grabow had his 1st rough outing as a Cub, and it was ugly. Grabow didn't record an out and gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and 1 BB. His WHIP is 1.46. His ERA is 3.13.

Marquis Getting Knocked Around

Jason Marquis picked up his 10th loss of the year against the Mets. He went 5 innings and gave up 5 runs on 9 hits, 2 BBs, and 2 Ks. Marquis has given up 18 hits and 10 runs in his last 2 starts (11 innings). Time to right the ship. His WHIP is 1.31. His ERA is 3.75.

Kevin Youkilis was 3-5 with 1 double (his 34th), 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored against the Rays. He now has 80 RBIs on the year.

Ryan Braun was 2-4 with 1 run scored against the Cardinals.

Gabe Kapler was 0-0 with 1 BB against the Red Sox.

Craig Breslow pitched 1 inning of scoreless relief against the Mariners. He had 1 K. His WHIP is 1.16. His ERA is 3.97.

A Self-Indulgent Post

Kevin Youkilis was 2-4 with 1 BB, 2 doubles (his 32nd and 33rd), and 2 runs scored against the Rays.

Ryan Braun was 1-5 with 1 double (his 30th) against the Cardinals.

Batting 3rd, Ian Kinsler was 0-4 against the Blue Jays.

Fantasy Baseball Update:
I finished in 1st place by a wide margin. My record was 138-64-8. Out of the 14 teams in the league, I led all of them in every offensive category (runs scored, RBIs, stolen bases, total bases), except OBP (I was 3rd best). As far as the pitching categories are concerned, I was 3rd in quality starts and WHIP, 4th in strikeouts, 5th in ERA, and 7th in net saves.

The playoffs have started, and things aren't going too well at the moment. Hanley Ramirez is banged up and appears day to day. I lost Nyjer Morgan for the year with a broken hand. And now Huston Street has biceps tendinitis. Luckily, this week is a bye week.

Should Be A September To Remember

Last September, we witnessed an ailing Ryan Braun lift the Brewers on his sore back with a couple of huge home runs down the stretch. The Brew Crew are all but out of the playoff picture in 2009, but there are a bunch of other teams with JMLs on their rosters who are in the thick of the playoff hunt.

In fact, the 3 teams vying for the AL Wild Card are the Red Sox (Kevin Youkilis), the Rangers (Ian Kinsler and Scott Feldman), and the Rays (Gabe Kapler).

The Rockies (Jason Marquis) are currently on top of the NL Wild Card standings. The Giants (Ryan Sadowski was on their roster for awhile) are right on their heels. The Cubs (Sam Fuld and John Grabow) have faded fast, but mathematically they're not out of it yet. And then, of course, you have the Dodgers (Brad Ausmus), who will likely finish 1st in the NL West.

Interesting to note that Marquis has made it to the postseason each and every year of his career up to this point.

In the 1st game of a doubleheader against the Blue Jays, Kinsler was 2-4 with 1 HR (his 29th), 1 RBI, and 1 run scored. In the 2nd game of the doubleheader, Kinsler was 2-3 with 1 BB.

Youkilis was 2-4 with 1 HR (his 23rd), 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored against the Rays.

Braun was 1-3 with 1 BB against the Cardinals.

Fuld was 0-1 against the Astros.

Grabow picked up his 20th hold of the season. He pitched 2/3 of an inning against the Astros. That's 13 scoreless innings with the Cubs, if you're keeping track. What an upgrade over Neal Cotts! Grabow's WHIP is 1.38. His ERA is 2.69.