MEXICAN LEAGUE, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION PLAYERS COMING TO ATLANTIC FOR POSTSEASON PUSH

It must be getting close to playoff time.

It does not take much genius to notice this because of the pace of player acquisitions by playoff-bound teams or those still trying to nail down postseason slots.

Both the Mexican League and the independent American Association are favorite targets. Bridgeport, which has moved to within one-half game of Long Island in the second half of the Liberty Division race and has a three-game lead for the top wild-card slot, added 41-year-old reliever Hector Carrasco, who had 10 saves in Mexico.

Playoff hopeful Southern Maryland and Freedom Division leader York both added right-handed pitching out of the American Association. Details at AtlanticLeague.com/transactions.

Lancaster, which won the Freedom's first half, gained an unexpected bonus when the New York Yankees released third baseman Terry Tiffee despite a .345 batting average. The former major leaguer immediately returned to the Barnstormers, for whom he was hitting .297 with 10 homers and 41 RBI when the Yankees purchased his contract June 22.

Tiffee returned for last night's 7-5 victory at Camden, the other remaining playoff hopeful, although his 11-game Atlantic League hitting streak was snapped with an 0-for-4 night (one run). Manager Butch Hobson slid Travis Metcalf, the hot-hitting veteran (.307), over to second base. Metcalf had come out of the American Association earlier this season, as we will discuss in this week's subscription-only Independent Baseball Insider column which comes out later today.

RIVERA BACK IN BIGS

Minnesota wasted no time getting former Camden catcher Rene Rivera in the lineup when the Twins recalled the 2010 Atlantic Leaguer from Triple-A this week. Rivera caught three games in a row against postseason hopefuls Detroit and the White Sox although the best he could contribute offensively was a sacrifice fly. He was 0-for-9 in official at-bats, dropping his season average to .160 (13-for-81) with a homer and five runs batted in.

Hopefully, other recent Atlantic Leaguers will get a major league call now that rosters have expanded beyond the normal 25-man limit.

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