…Chicago White Sox Designated Hitter Jim Thome now sits alone at #14 on the All-Time home run list with 537, passing none other than Mickey Mantle. The home run came in the 14th inning off the Angels’ Justin Speier, which also gave the ChiSox the victory 7-6.

…In case you missed in, on Saturday the Tampa Bay Rays activated rookie third baseman Evan Longoria from the 15 day disabled list. He’d been out since August 7th after getting hit by Seattle Mariner closer JJ Putz (which fractured his right wrist). This is good timing for the Rays as they head into Boston for a series with the Red Sox who are only a game and a half behind the division leading Rays.

…According to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe, David Ortiz wrist is “not OK”. In May he partially tore the tendon sheath in his right wrist.  This caused a ‘clicking’ in the wrist, and by all accounts it’s started clicking again.

“Yup, been a while,” Ortiz said, of hitting a home run. “I’ve just had zero luck. Swinging like [expletive]. My hand is not OK. It’s still bothering me once in a while, but we’re winning so I don’t pay attention to it. I keep on trying.”

…According to Henry Schulman of the San Fransisco Chronicle the Giants wont promote #1 Draft pick Buster Posey this season. Giants GM Brian Sabean went and saw Posey play in person and loved what he say. But said it would be counter productive to have Posey debut in the Majors in September. He said it would also be unfair to the four catchers they’re already carrying because of roster expansion.

…Speaking of the Giants, while they didn’t promote Buster Posey they did promote Connor Gillaspie. Gillaspie was a stand out third baseman from Wichita State and has a grand total of 24 professional baseball games under his belt. Bobby Evans the Giants Director of Player Development citing his offensive potential and the big clubs void at third base as the reason for the September call up.

“We know it’s a big adjustment,” Evans said. “Just getting his feet wet is a big help for us, especially as we see him as a guy who needs to be on the fast track.”

He’s played 24 professional games between the Rookie Ariznona League and Short Season A ball in Salem-Keizer Oregon of the Northwest League.

…Imagine my surprise when I attended the Seattle Mariners/New York Yankees game on Sunday when I noticed the Carlos Silva would not be taking the mound for the home town Mariners. According to the team Silva was scratched due to back stiffness, so they went with southpaw Ryan Feierabend (who was supposed to start on Wednesday). After a work out on Saturday Silva said he felt a sharp pain in his lower back - and arrived to the ball park on Sunday and informed Manager Jim Riggleman he wouldn’t be able to make his start.

…I may not be a Dodgers fan, but I’m happy to hear this news. Vin Scully the long time voice of the Dodgers will return in 2009 for his 60th year behind the mic for the Dodgers.

Quoth the man himself.

  “When you’re on the road as much as we are, it’s the loneliness of your wife that you consider,” Scully told MLB.com. “But she said, ‘It’s been such a part of my life for so long, you might as well do it if you want to do it.’ And I still enjoy it. I still feel like I’m happy to be here, I still get goosebumps with an exciting play. So, I told [Dodgers owner Frank McCourt] that I’ll try it for another year.”

…Houston Astros minor leaguer Runelvys Hernandez tested positive for amphetamines on Saturday getting him a 50 game suspension from Major League Baseball. His suspension will start at the beginning of next season. He had been playing for Triple A Round Rock in the Pacific Coast League.