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Texas Rangers infielder Guilder Rodriguez shows that if you stick to something long enough, you will eventually get rewarded.

Rodriguez has played in 1,095 minor league games over 13 seasons. The 31-year-old made his MLB debut back on Sept. 9, but entering Monday night's game against the Houston Astros, he had been 0-for-6 at the plate.

As the MLB postseason draws near, let's remember one of the most memorable quotes to come from the mouth of Pedro Martinez, former three-time Cy Young Award winner, member of the 2004 World Series-winning Boston Red Sox and now a studio analyst for TBS.

After a loss to the New York Yankees in September 2004, Martinez famously called his rivals "my daddies."

We've reached the final week of the 2014 MLB season, and there are still five postseason spots up for grabs heading into Tuesday's slate of games.

The National League field is essentially set, with the Milwaukee Brewers all but eliminated at five games back in the wild-card standings. The big question is who will host the Wild Card Round game, as the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates are currently tied atop the standings.

1. Farewell to The Captain…The Other Captain

And now, the end is near, Frank Sinatra is cued up and the Captain will face his final curtain.   

No, not Derek Jeter.   

Well, him, too, which is why when that final curtain falls this Sunday in Chicago, Paul Konerko will be over there in the shadows while all eyes are on Jeter's finale in Boston.

The big-money stars just might be coming on at the right time.

For nearly the entire season, the Los Angeles Dodgers could not get health or consistent, steady production from the bulk of their highly priced core, especially the men whose primary job is hitting.

With playoff positioning and the top spot in the NL West still up for grabs, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Yasiel Puig kept the San Francisco Giants from scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th inning during Monday night's game.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, 24, is having a fantastic season and leads Major League Baseball in batting average by a wide margin at .345 (Detroit's Victor Martinez is second at .336). He's also first in the majors in hits (221) and third in steals (54).

On Tuesday night, the Baltimore Orioles are going to be partying like it's 1997.

With an 8-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, Buck Showalter's squad captured its ninth victory in 10 games and moved 13.5 games in front of Toronto in the AL East, effectively locking up the division.

For the second time in three seasons, the Washington Nationals are champions of the National League East. 

Tanner Roark pitched seven innings of shutout ball, Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen closed up shop, and Ian Desmond sent a home run deep into the Turner Field seats Tuesday night as Washington became the first team in baseball to clinch a division with a 3-0 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Slugger Chris Davis can't help the Baltimore Orioles on the field right now, but he is doing things that are more important than hitting home runs.

Last week, Davis was suspended 25 games after testing positive for amphetamines. That means that his 2014 regular season is over, and the Orioles will have to advance past the American League Division Series for him to have a chance to play again this season.