Astros P Runelvys Hernandez, who spent most of the 2008 season at Triple A Round Rock under the watchful eye of yours truly, has been suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for amphetamine.  Hernandez was 8-8 for the Express this season, with a 4.91 ERA and 124 hits allowed in 120 innings. Without the benefit of speed, who knows how slowly he might’ve left the mound each time Dave Clark took the ball away from him?

The Cleveland Plain Dealer‘s Paul Hoynes reports the Indians can select “the player to be named later” in the event CC Sabathia successful leads the Brewers to the postseason.  Great, Robin Yount it is, then.

A Durham Bulls starter other than David Price took a no-hitter into the 8th inning of last night’s playoff encounter with Louisville.  In previous seasons, Jeff Niemann surely would’ve spent early September with Tampa Bay, and it’s not a bad commentary on the current Rays’ depth that the big league club can consider him surplus to requirements.

Apparently, Yankee P Carl Pavano is such an awesome person to hang around (he plays fantasy football! Is kind to reporters and kittens!), he’s now being hailed as the Ultimate Team Dude.  Which is tremendous, because I’m sure the Long Island Ducks can use a quality guy in their clubhouse next season.