Dear Basil: Shut it. Love, Sally

Actually, I got quite a nice, polite letter from the South Atlantic League today.

League president Eric Krupa wrote me back, politely telling me why I was both right and wrong, when I said that Augusta hadn't clinched the division.

Basil--

Thank you for taking the time to write. I agree with you that the Augusta GreenJackets should not have been listed as winning the second-half Southern Division Championship before yesterday's game, and I alerted Major League Baseball Advanced Media (the statistician for the South Atlantic League) that I thought they were premature to place a pound sign next to Augusta.

I also appreciate the thorough analysis that you included in your e-mail. I want you to know that the effort did not go unnoticed.

Per the league by-laws, the game from August 1 will not be made up because the two teams were not scheduled to meet (in either city) before the end of the half-season.

Having said all of this, after last's night's win by Augusta, Augusta has clinched the Division title.

Thank you again for writing.

Eric Krupa

South Atlantic League

111 Second Avenue NE, Suite #335

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

He didn't have to write me back. But he did. And I really appreciate that.

And, yeah, he got me regarding the league by-laws about not making up games. Of course, I do wonder why there are all those open days between the end of the season (September 1) and the beginning of the playoffs (September 5).

To rest up, I guess. Or make up any last-day rain-outs that could affect the standings.

Regardless, the Columbus Catfish aren't going to the playoffs this year. Or ever again.

The Bowling Green Bluegills? Maybe. Tampa Bay seems to have a pretty good farm system.

Update: SAL president Eric Krupa wrote me back, correcting the dates. I mis-reported the playoffs start September 5. Actually, game two is that day. Game one is September 3.