Around the league, 1/18

[Guest AG/DC]

• The FBI has opened an investigation into whether Miguel Tejada lied to the Feds. Miggy's in trouble. Use that fifth amendment, folks.
  
  
• Bud Selig has been given a three-year extension, through 2012, as a reward perhaps for his babbling performance before Congress. Absolutely postively the end of my tenure, he says.
  
  
• The average MLB salary: $2.82 million, up 4.6 percent.
  
  
• Torre had no suspicions about Pettitte and Clemens. He's close to his players, he says. He'll listen when they need him, but his eyes are apparently wide shut. I found it interesting that the admitter and the denyer are being spoken about in the same terms.
  
  
• A buncha teams avoided arbitration by coming to terms with a buncha guys.
  
  
• John McHale, who practically built the Expos as president and general manager, has died at 86. Thanks for Gary Carter, John. Rest in peace.

[metirish]

Clemens has hired powerful Washington D.C. lawyer Lanny Breuer, he defended Bill Clinton during his impeachment hearings. Breuer is an expert in representing clients who are the focus of congressional investigations, Rusty stays on the team.

[stevejrogers]

AG/DC wrote: Torre had no suspicions about Pettitte and Clemens. He's close to his players, he says. He'll listen when they need him, but his eyes are apparently wide shut. I found it interesting that the admitter and the denyer are being spoken about in the same terms.

Plausible denialbility in order to protect his legacy. Hence the "no suspicions" as well even though everyone had suspicions about Clemens since 97-98.

Which also makes sense because if he said "Yeah I had my suspicions about Roger, the very next question would be "Well why didn't you tell anyone higher up on the food chain?"

[Guest AG/DC]

1/22:

Kevin Towers, now the longest-serving GM in the majors, gets a three-year extension.

Don Mattingly, citing private family concerns, leaves his job as Dodger hitting instructor before ever donning the uniform. Mike Easler replaces him, clearly a karmic payback for Don stealing his nickname 20 years ago. Don will stay on payroll as spring training and special assignment instructor.

[nymr83]

]Bud Selig has been given a three-year extension, through 2012, as a reward perhaps for his babbling performance before Congress. Absolutely postively the end of my tenure, he says.

did he say "asterick" after that last sentence? he did some good things (wild card, longest period of labor peace since 70's) and some questionable ones (interleague) but he also presided over the steroid era, i wish the owners had decided to look elsewhere by now

[DocTee]

Phils sign Pedro Feliz, late of the SF Giants, to a two-year deal.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I had a heart attack, I thought that said "Mets."

[smg58]

His OBP will suck, but Feliz is arguably the best defender at his position and he's likely to hit upwards of 25 HR playing half his games in Citizens' Bank Park. I think he's a good fit for them, unfortunately.