Bus Leagues Express: September 1

This is the last weekend of the regular season. Many leagues begin playoffs on Tuesday or Wednesday. The top player charts are for the month of August.

Top stories

Hamilton honored again: While Hak-Ju Lee is the Southern League Postseason All-Star shortstop, Billy Hamilton still found a way onto the roster as the league’s best hustler. Not only does he hustle every game to torment teams with his speed, he had a lot of ground to make up to take the league lead in steals in 1/3 of the games everyone else had. Mobile contributed three big bats to the lineup with Alfredo Marte, Matt Davidson and Marc Krauss before being traded to the Houston organization. Jackson’s impressive pitching staff was represented with two players, starter Brandon Maurer and reliever Carter Capps, now in the majors.

Lancaster clinches playoff berth: For the first time since 2008, the Lancaster JetHawks will be headed for the postseason. They clinched a wild card spot for the Cal League’s South division with Lake Elsinore’s loss, but minutes later their big win over division leading High Desert put a stamp on it. 2008 was the second year of their two year affiliation with the Red Sox, and that roster featured future big leaguers like Josh Reddick and Felix Doubrount. This year’s edition was powered by George Springer and Domingo Santana, and a couple trade acquisitions, Blair Walters and Colton Cain, added depth to the pitching staff. With High Desert and Lancaster entering postseason play, hitting season in the Cal League will continue for at least another week.

A-Rod rehab assignment begins: For the last month, the Yankees have been without Alex Rodriguez, and while Eric Chavez has filled in admirably, the Tampa Bay Rays have gained on New York in his absence, cutting the lead to just 3.5 games. He broke his hand on July 24th, and Friday night he got back into a game for the first time. Leading off for the Tampa Yankees as their DH, Rodriguez went 0/3 with a run scored, walk, two strikeouts and a groundout. They want him back in the lineup as fast as possible, but hand injuries can be tough to come back from, so they’ll be cautious. He’s expected to rehab through at least this weekend as the Yankees take on the Orioles at home.

Defending champs knocked off in Appy League playoffs: Burlington assured that the Appalachian League would have a new champion this year as they knocked off the two time defending champ Johnson City 3-2 Friday. Mark Threlkeld‘s 2nd inning two run homer provided the majority of the Royals’ offense, and they rode Daniel Hernandez‘s six inning, one run start to the championship. Burlington hasn’t won the championship since 1993, while their opponent, the Elizabethton Twins, won as recently as 2008. D.J. Hicks‘ 1st inning homer got the Twins off to a fast start, and their bullpen secured the game with 10 strikeouts in 4.2 scoreless innings.

Nunez homer not enough as Rangers win Arizona League: While Thursday’s semi-finals showed off the league’s offensive tendencies, the championship between the Arizona Rangers and Arizona A’s proved to be a pitcher’s duel. Rangers starter Aliangel Lopez struck out nine in five impressive scoreless innings as the Rangers took a 3-1 decision to be crowned champions. A’s starter Gregory Paulino was just as good until the 6th inning when the Rangers got to him for all three of their runs, the first two scoring on a balk and error. Ronald Guzman‘s ground rule double brought home their final run. In the 9th, Renato Nunez‘s solo home run got the A’s on the board, but they couldn’t come through later in the inning with the tying run on base. It’s the first championship in the team’s 10 year history.

2012 picks lead Arizona League All-Stars: Thanks to the earlier signing deadline, draft picks were able to get their bonus and get into games much sooner. That couldn’t have been clearer on the Arizona League’s postseason All-Star team with four prominent 2012 draftees: Arizona’s Stryker Trahan, Oakland’s Addison Russell and Texas’ Joey Gallo and Lewis Brinson. Russell and Gallo played enough that they were able to earn promotions out of the complex league. Two top international signings were also named All-Stars, Oakland’s Renato Nunez and Cleveland’s Dorssys Paulino.

On tap today

MiLB.TV schedule

Northwest League wraps up regular season

Jarred Cosart pitches for second win in a row

Barret Loux looks for 15th win

Matt Barnes makes last start of the season

Austin Maddox debuts for Lowell