On this day 100 years ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Superbas (today the Dodgers) played what the Baseball Reference Bullpen describes as "the most evenly matched game ever." Both teams used two pitchers, scored eight runs, and recorded 13 hits, two errors, 38 at-bats, five strikeouts, three walks, 13 assists, 27 putouts, one hit batter and one passed ball. The game was perhaps fittingly called on account of darkness, thus preserving the total deadlock.
If two teams end up with matching scorecards tonight, we'll know there's some Friday the 13th spookiness at play. Until then, however, here are some news items…
- With Jose Mijares out for at least the next four weeks, the Twins may be in need of left-handed relief help, reports MLB.com's Kelly Thesier. The Twins were one of several teams interested in Scott Downs before the trade deadline, so it's possible Minnesota could revisit that pursuit.
- A Mets official tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com that talks between the team and first-round pick Matt Harvey will "likely" last right up to Monday's deadline. Harvey, picked seventh overall by the Mets, is represented by Scott Boras. MLBTR's Mike Axisa profiled Harvey back in June.
- Michael Ynoa will undergo Tommy John surgery on August 24, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). Oakland signed the 18-year-old in 2008 to a contract that featured a $4.25MM bonus, a record high for a non-Cuban international player. Ynoa made his professional debut this seaon for the Athletics' Arizona League rookie-ball team, posting a 5.00 ERA and 11.0 K/9 ratio in three starts.
- Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland is making " 'remarkable' progress" in his comeback from brain surgery, reports Alex Speier of WEEI.com.
- Writing for ESPNBoston.com, Mike Andrews looks at the "age advancement" of certain prospects in Boston's minor league system.
- Nationals president Stan Kasten criticized the draft pick signing process in a chat with MASN's Ben Goessling. "The charade, the Kabuki dance nature of all of this is just kind of silly," Kasten said. "We can do better as an industry, and I think both sides [players and owners] recognize that." Kasten didn't give any updates on Washington's negotiations with first overall pick Bryce Harper.
- Could Luis Rodriguez be "the next Andres Torres"? Fangraphs' Dave Cameron looks at the infielder's breakout season for the White Sox Triple-A affiliate.
