1.   In past seasons, when the days have dwindled to a precious few, baseball has had some memorable pennant races and batting-title races.

2.   Now the days are dwindling.

3.   The days dwindle to a precious few.

4.   The summer days dwindle down to a precious few.

5.   When the days have dwindled to a precious few in past Septembers, baseball has had some memorable pennant races and batting-title races.

6.   The numbers also underline the volatility of surplus projections, which some day might dwindle just as dramatically as they have swelled in recent years.