Short Hops: Different kind of storm threatening Windy City World Series

•  Closer Troy Percival was activated by Tampa Bay on Tuesday and immediately proclaimed himself as the "oldest September call-up ever." Percival, 39, will help steady the Rays both on the field and in the clubhouse if he can keep that body together just a few more weeks.

•  It was Percival, in case you missed it, who served up Alex Rodriguez's historic home run Tuesday night -- the one on which instant replay was used for the very first time.

•  Detroit manager Jim Leyland already is preparing for next season, working on the mental side of what some of the Tigers need to do. And it was very interesting this week when, after erstwhile ace Justin Verlander complained about a tight strike zone following Monday's loss to the Yankees and said "There's been a lot of misfortune that's gone my way this year", Leyland very publicly said Verlander needs to step up and take responsibility.

•  Straight talk from Leyland to the Detroit Free Press on Verlander: "You need to have the ability every once in awhile to say, 'I stunk' -- not that the strike zone was tight. You have to say, 'You know what? I was horses---.' It's OK, because we're all horses--- from time to time. It's good to admit that you're horses--- sometimes. You turn the page and try to move on. Diversionary tactics are not good."

•  A scout's eye view on Verlander, who is 10-15 with a 4.74 ERA this season: "His fastball is not as good, and his location is not as good. He's up more than last year. He still throws 94 or 95 but he's up too much and he's hittable. Much more hittable than last year. Don't get me wrong, people would still love to have him." But, check back in 2009.

•  I know the Yankees are desperate for pitching and clinging to the hope that they won't miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993, but in many ways it's reprehensible that they (or anyone, for that matter) are allowing Carl Pavano to showcase himself for his impending free agency, as much money as he has stolen from them over the past four years.

•  Here we are in the stretch run, and Angels right-hander Jered Weaver will have his Friday start slated for Chicago pushed back to next week at home against the Yankees because he sliced two fingers on staples holding together some padding in the visitors' dugout in Detroit's Comerica Park. And Yankees designated hitter Jason Giambi is sporting a shiner above his right eye as a result, he says, of walking into the bathroom door in his hotel room.

•  Bad enough that the Cardinals' chances took a severe hit when they lost five of six on their trip to Houston and Arizona, but in losing Wednesday's game to the Diamomdbacks, it was the 20th time they were beaten in their opponents' final at-bat this year. And their bullpen has blown 29 save chances.

•  Florida's two highest-scoring games this year? They scored 17 runs in Colorado on July 4 and 14 against Atlanta on Tuesday ... and the Marlins lost both games.

•  Slow night in Florida on Wednesday as the Marlins were beating Atlanta 5-3. Slow enough, in fact, that several people were practicing their math. The crowd was announced at 11,211 -- season-ticket sales, you know -- but press box reporters counted 589 fans in the seats and Marlins relievers counted 584 fans. The discrepancy? Well, neither the reporters nor the relievers counted event staff. But, quipped reliever Joe Nelson, "maybe you guys had a better view."

•  After handling Joba Chamberlain so admirably and so carefully last year, the Yankees weren't either this year. And though we'll never know for sure whether their quick trigger in moving him from the bullpen into the rotation this year helped exacerbate the rotator cuff tendinitis that sidelined him, we do know the injury will have ramifications into 2009. That's because Chamberlain has only pitched 90 1/3 innings this season, far short of the 150 for which the Yanks had him targeted. Consequently, he'll likely throw no more than 150 innings in '09. Had he reached that mark this year, his threshold probably would have been extended to 200 innings next year.