This will be my last blog the the regular season. When next we meet it may be in the playoffs.

The roof is open at Chase Field tonight. It's a balmy 98 degrees in downtown Phoenix and having the roof open is great. Ian Kennedy is trying to become the first 20 game winner in the National League. I still think he loses the Cy to Clayton Kershaw. What say you?

Spoke with Pirates general manager Neal Huntington before the game. He sounded very disappointed that his club couldn't sustain their early season momentum. They have some good position players but they lack pitching depth. There is some hope in the organization but it may be another year until they can hang with the top clubs for an entire season.

I can't believe the pressure the Red Sox are putting on themselves. Remember in the spring how great everyone said the Red Sox were? They were. Injuries and an ineffective John Lackey have derailed the pennant express. At best, they are a wild card team. The Rays still have a chance to catch them. The Yankees are the solid division winner. And the Yankees have patched together a pitching staff by using Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia. Hats off to Ivan Nova. What a great season he's had.

I'm still impressed with the strides the Blue Jays have made this season. They have a balance of pitching and hitting that can do some damage. It's unfortunate they play in the AL East. Keep your eye on David Cooper.

Look for the Orioles to make a change at the general manager level.

Writer friends who have watched Colorado claim the team has lost heart and is lifeless. They aren't claiming the team is "mailing it in" but it isn't a pretty picture by any means. Lots of people thought the Rocks could win the west. That was in March. This is September.

Don't forget about St. Louis. They're still hanging around. So is San Francisco, Atlanta, and Arizona. The two sure things are the Brewers and the Phillies. Everything else has to wait in the national league. This is what makes baseball so great. Thank goodness for these end of season races.

With the Dbacks magic number at 5, the place should be packed tonight, right? Wrong. Lots of people dressed as green seats.

How does anyone beat the Phillies? Well, if the Tigers and Phils play each other in the World Series, it could be very interesting. The more I see the Tigers, the more I like them. It's not just Verlander. I have always liked Doug Fister. Talk about a great trade? The trade between Seattle and Detroit that yielded Fister was superb. The Mariners got Charlie Furbush, Casper Wells and more. And don't forget that Dave Dombrowski went out and signed Victor Martinez. And he brought in Delmon Young for a song.

I wonder if the Rays would have been any better off with Matt Moore in the rotation mid-season? I'm just askin.

I know you're tired of me saying it but Mike Stanton could end up the all time home run champ. Much depends upon how his new park will play going forward.

I have a hard time believing anyone other than Ryan Braun or Prince Fielder should win the NL MVP. Probably Braun. I like Matt Kemp, but Braun and Fielder helped their team win a division. Justin Upton should get some votes. But he isn't Braun. Or Fielder.

Starlin Castro has shown his value as a hitter for the Cubs. I still think he has to mature in the field, slow down his tendency to throw too quickly without setting himself and keep his mind in the game. The Cubs are last in the National League in fielding percentage.

Jose Bautista has walked 123 times before tonight's game.

It's no coincidence that 4 of the American League MVP contenders lead the league in extra base hits. They would be Ellsbury, Cano, Granderson and Adrian Gonzalez.

Who's the American League comeback player of the year? One Alex Gordon in Kansas City certainly has to be on the list.

Sources tell me that if Ozzie leaves Chicago he will have to quit rather than be fired. It has something to do with money left on his contract. He still may get traded to Florida. That would save everyone. His contract goes with him in the deal. The White So would bet a new manager and a prospect.

I hope you'll follow my columns from the Arizona Fall League. I'll begin writing at the end of the first week of October. I'll look at some of the higher profiled prospects as well as a couple sleeper prospects.

Follow me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff and on MLB.com in the opinions section.