Bill Chuck's Nine to Know: August

August was pretty ugly for Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, and Red Sox Nation but overall it was a pretty cool month considering how hot it was.

Here are nine questions that demand your attention.

1. Will the Orioles be demanding that today be declared August 32?
2. Was August an indicator for the Pirates?
3. Have the 2013 turn-arounds for Kansas City and San Diego already begun?
4. I know Yovani Gallardo was 5-0 with a 2.02 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in August, but wouldn't you agree that Felix Hernandez, with a 4-0 record and a 1.08 ERA and a 0.58 WHIP was the pitcher of the month? In 41.2 innings, he allowed 19 hits and just five earned runs; the Red Sox allowed 19 hits and 20 runs in eight innings to the A's last night.
5. What does Derek Jeter have in common with catchers Kelly Shoppach, Brayan Pena, and Jose Molina? Jeter had 43 hits in August, the same number of hits that each of the catchers have had this entire season.
6. Is Terry Francona headed for the Indians dugout as their next manager?
7. The Rays pitchers allowed 2.46 runs per game in August, how can they not be the most feared team if they make the postseason?
8. How thrilled is Atlanta's Brian McCann to turn the page to September? His .181 average was good compared to his zero homers and two RBI in 72 AB.
9. July 23 was the last day the Tgers were in first place by themselves in the AL Central, when are we going to start raving about the work about Kenny Williams and Robin Ventura this season?

AL August

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA
TEX	19	10	.655	--	168	128
BAL	18	9	.667	--	118	106
OAK	18	10	.643	0.5	146	102
TBR	17	11	.607	1.5	121	69
KCR	17	11	.607	1.5	115	105
DET	16	11	.593	2.0	133	108
CHW	16	12	.571	2.5	128	118
SEA	15	12	.556	3.0	95	106
NYY	15	13	.536	3.5	133	119
LAA	13	15	.464	5.5	156	172
MIN	9	19	.321	9.5	117	138
TOR	9	19	.321	9.5	89	132
BOS	9	20	.310	10.0	139	172
CLE	5	24	.172	14.0	96	179

  NL August

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA
WSN	19	10	.655	--	137	98
SDP	18	10	.643	0.5	119	109
CIN	19	11	.633	0.5	142	122
SFG	18	11	.621	1.0	157	126
PHI	17	12	.586	2.0	112	108
MIL	16	12	.571	2.5	148	122
COL	16	13	.552	3.0	142	143
STL	16	13	.552	3.0	124	127
ATL	15	14	.517	4.0	119	91
LAD	14	14	.500	4.5	125	111
ARI	13	16	.448	6.0	109	123
NYM	12	16	.429	6.5	83	104
MIA	12	17	.414	7.0	120	123
PIT	11	17	.393	7.5	121	135
CHC	8	21	.276	11.0	111	153
HOU	5	22	.185	13.0	75	149