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In order to provide themselves with more bullpen depth, the Yankees have recalled LHP Royce Ring from the minor leagues.

Via MLB.com:

"Having previous big league managing experience will be a plus for those under consideration to manage the Marlins in 2011.

"Meeting the criteria is Tony Pena.

"Currently the Yankees bench coach, Pena spent parts of four seasons (2002-05) managing the Royals. In 2003, he was named the American League Manager of the Year.

In what is likely the final September call-up, the Arizona Diamondbacks purchased the contract of Konrad Schmidt from the Double-A Mobile BayBears. Schmidt, who was with the Diamondbacks in spring training, left a very favorable impression with the coaching staff.

Everyone was impressed with Schmidt’s poise behind the plate and how he handled the pitching staff. Add to this the fact that he posted good offensive numbers while with the BayBears and Schmidt earned a late season call.

I really hate to do this. The story has died, and thankfully so. By now, everyone involved is moving forward, which makes us all better off.

The Florida Marlins started the season with two potential aces on their pitching staff—Ricky Nolasco and Josh Johnson.

Unfortunately, they will end the season with no aces on their roster.

Prince Fielder’s streak of 327 consecutive games played ended tonight due to reported flu-like symptoms. Given Fielder’s famed dimensions (espn.com and si.com list him as 5’11″ and 268 lbs), he’s not the first guy who’d pop into mind when hearing that a player had just ended a 327 consecutive games played streak.

While the rest of the sports' world was watching a sloppy Monday Night Football game between the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens or perhaps watching the U.S. Open Final, MLB diehards watched as New York Yankees' C.C. Sabathia and Tampa Bay Rays' David Price dueled it out at Tropicana Field.

If you missed it, you missed one gem which produced post-season like excitement but no answer to who the AL-Cy Young front runner.

The National League may have just lost a Cy Young candidate, but may also have gained an ERA title winner.

The Florida Marlins announced this afternoon that staff ace Josh Johnson would be shut down for the season after complaining of problems with his back and shoulder for much of the second half of the season.

It doesn't get any better than this. 

A 19 game winner. 

A 17 game winner. 

The best two teams in baseball. 

Did I forget to mention they play in the same division? 

What about the part that they are only 1/2 of a game apart for the division lead? 

What about the historical significance that no two teams have had this many wins and been this neck-and-neck for a division race in MLB's 100 plus year history?

The Boston Red Sox continue to use the rest of this season as a tryout for future bullpen roles as they have purchased the contract of former Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles starter, Rich Hill, from the Pawtucket Red Sox, who did not make the International League playoffs.

Hill, a left-handed starter/long-reliever, was a fourth round pick for the Cubs in 2002 out of the University of Michigan, where he quickly propelled up the Cubs minor league system and debuted with the team in 2005.