Yeah, yeah, yeah, Carpenter did it again. And LaRussa turned up the contrast with Clemens +100 by letting Carpenter go the distance. And Carpenter showed his mean streak by yelling at Ausmus, the ondeck hitter, in the 9th when Everett tried to get hit by a rogue curveball. At this point the only thing between Carpenter and the Cy Young is the lack of A Story -- maybe he should pretend he spent 2003 stocking shelves at an Iowa Costco -- and honestly I can't care about the writers' decision when it comes down to that.

The story for the BBWAA is here. Bill Pulsipher struck out 15 and walked none at AAA last night and, yes, he beat Donovan Osborne. Maybe I spoke too soon when I stated King was a lock for the post-season roster. Pulsipher is a lefty and a veteran and, er, OK, there's no way he gets the spot over King, but it was a neat capper to Pulsipher's season. That is not a perfect stat line for AAA and I'm sure Pulshipher had a higher aim in mind back in February. Realistically his comeback was, in PECOTA terms, a 90th percentile season though.