I publish the item below every September 11 ...
I didn't know Steven Hagis very well, but he walked and sat next to me during our graduation from Monsignor Farrell High School in 1987 (we were arranged in alphabetical order). Steve was 6'9" and I'm 5'6", and watching for the tallest kid in our class of 300 made it easy for my parents to keep track of where I was during the ceremony.
After graduation, Steve went on to play basketball at Fairfield University, and later became a bond broker at Cantor Fitzgerald. Steve died on September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center, leaving behind a wife and two young children. Read his obituary when you get a chance, as we remember all those we lost on that terrible day.
Wednesday's studs & duds
Stud: Yankees C Brian McCann had a homer, two runs scored and three RBI in a win over the Rays.
Stud: Braves SP Aaron Harang allowed just one unearned run against the Nationals, striking out nine on his way to a win.
Dud: I know that Yankees SP Chris Capuano is owned in just 1.4 percent of FOXSports.com leagues, but giving up four runs in a third of an inning qualifies anyone for dud status.
News & notes
The Yankees might be without two of their better hitters for the final two-and-a-half weeks of the season. Carlos Beltran was a late scratch Wednesday due to his nagging elbow injury, and the New York Post reports that Beltran will probably be shut down if there's no improvement over the next two or three days. Beltran's teammate, Brett Gardner, missed his fourth straight game on Wednesday due to an abdominal strain, and there's no timetable for his return. Wednesday's New York Daily News noted that the Yanks may have lost Gardner "for a significant amount of time."
In other Yankee news, SP Masahiro Tanaka is still trying to get back before the end of the season, and Martin Prado (hamstring) hopes to play today.
As suspected, Dustin Pedroia's season is over due to a hand/wrist issue.
Pirates 1B/3B Pedro Alvarez is probably done for the season with a stress fracture in his foot.
Wade Davis got another save for the Royals last night in place of the injured Greg Holland (triceps). One Royals' beat writer thinks Holland could be headed for an MRI soon. Davis is owned in 22.2 percent of FOXSports.com leagues, so check his availability if you need saves.
This A's notebook tells us that closer Sean Doolittle is a "good bet" to come off the DL on Friday, and that the returns of C John Jaso and OF Craig Gentry are uncertain due to concussions.
Lefty Tony Sipp saved Wednesday's win for the Astros due to the continuing unavailability of closer Chad Qualls (hip). The Houston Chronicle says Qualls is "hopeful to be back soon," and though the team's website says that trainers have prescribed rest for Qualls, it doesn't say for how long. Josh Fields will usually close in Qualls' absence; Sipp's Wednesday appearance was almost certainly due to facing two lefties (Michael Saunders, Robinson Cano), then a switch hitter who's better from the left side (Kendrys Morales), followed by another lefty (Kyle Seager).
Due to Wednesday's rainout, the Twins and Indians play a doubleheader today beginning at 12:05 p.m. ET. Set your lineups early.
Streaming starters
Vance Worley wasn't great on Wednesday, but he got a win and was good enough otherwise to raise our record to 94-54. Today's pick is Bartolo Colon (owned in 26.5 percent of FOXSports.com leagues) against the Nationals, while Friday's selection is under-the-radar Diamondback Vidal Nuno (1.4 percent owned) versus the Padres. Nuno has a 2.31 ERA over his last five starts, with 29 strikeouts against six walks in 35 innings.
See you back here tomorrow morning.
