Frayed Knot

Yeah, Tyler Kepner in the Times on Sunday was all over the argument that if Miggy goes TC then he should win the MVP but if not it should go to Trout. Deciding that something is so cut-and-dried based not only just on the superiority of these statistics but not those, but also on the vagaries of what various non-contenders for the MVP (Hamilton, Mauer) do in those categories is such limited thinking that, even if you want to argue in favor of Cabrera, don't do it with THAT logic.

metsguyinmichigan wrote: No way the Marlins are going to eat two years in a contract! Three - he's signed thru 2015

StL and LAD both win again, but a day off the calendar puts the Dodgers on the brink. Cards are 2 games up with 2 to go, or "Dormie" to put it into golf terms.

Four hits including a HR for Miggy last night Batting Average: 1. Cabrera (DET) .329 2. Trout (LAA) .325 3. Mauer (MIN) .322 4. Beltre (TEX) .319 5. Jeter (NYY) .316 Home Runs 1. Cabrera (DET) 44 2. Hamilton (TEX) 43 3. Encarnacion (TOR) 42 T4. Dunn (CHW) 41 T4. Granderson (NYY) 41 Runs Batted In 1. Cabrera (DET) 137 2. Hamilton (TEX) 127 And, with a division clinched and their playoff slot set, he's under no obligation to play in the next two days. Or maybe he'll just lay down a bunt and then sit out.

Familia - 1.5 ERamirez - 0.4 Murphy - 1.0 Wright - 1.1 Baxter - 1.0 Bay - 1.0 Shoppach - 0.5 Torres - 0.5

Hampson - 0.3 Acosta - 0.3 Murphy - 0.6 Davis - 0.8 Tejada - 0.5 Torres - 0.5

Young - 3.0 ERamirez - 0.5 RRamirez - 0.5 Wright - 0.5

Oakland winning Monday night puts them into the post-season while eliminating both Tampa & LAA even though both of them won Things still left to be decided: - Yanx one game up on Baltimore for East champ vs WC - Texas one game up on Oakland for West champ vs WC. Because these two play each other this one, unlike the East, can't end in a tie. A's need both - Various home-field questions The better division winner gets the WC survivor instead of Detroit: Yanx & Texas currently with identical records and I have no idea how they'll handle it if things stay that way The better WC team hosts the play-in game: O's & A's currently with even records

One of the Detroit papers (are there even more than one?) last week had Leyland NOT being rehired if they failed to win the division - but, even if true, that issue got resolved last night. I suppose that with his age - 68 in December even though he's looked at least 68 for like two decades now - how long a club wants to commit to him (or him to them) is the biggest question.

Not too early to start the manager go-'round tracker for the winter 2012-13 The Astros were already the first into the pool and the Indians may be 2nd with interim Sandy Alomar Jr. and Terry Francona being the favorites and supposedly interviewing this week. TEAMMANAGERSTATUSUPDATESBRAVESFredi GonzalezSigned thru 2013 + 2014 optionMARLINSOzzie GuillenSigned thru 2015 METSTerry CollinsSigned thru 2012 + 2013 optionOption picked up for 2013PHILLIESCharlie ManuelSigned thru 2013NATIONALSDavey JohnsonSigned thru 2013CUBSDale SveumSigned thru 2014REDSDusty BakerSigned thru 2012BREWERSRon RoenickeSigned thru 2014 + 2015 optionPIRATESClint HurdleSigned thru 2013CARDINALSMike MathenySigned thru 2013 + 2014 optionDIAMONDBACKSKirk GibsonSigned thru 2014 + �15 & �16 optionsROCKIESJim TracySigned thru 2013DODGERSDon MattinglySigned thru 2013PADRESBud BlackSigned thru 2013 + options for �14 + �15GIANTSBruce BochySigned thru 2013 + option for �14ORIOLESBuck ShowalterSigned thru 2013RED SOXBobby ValentineSigned thru 2013YANKEESJoe GirardiSigned thru 2013RAYSJoe MaddonSigned thru 2015BLUE JAYSJohn FarrellSigned thru 2013WHITE SOXRobin VenturaSigned thru 2014INDIANSManny ActaFired Sept 2012TIGERSJim LeylandSigned thru 2012ROYALSNed YostClub option for 2013TWINSRon GardernhireSigned thru 2013ANGELSMike SciosciaSigned thru 2018ATHLETICSBob MelvinSigned thru 2014MARINERSEric WedgeSigned thru 2013RANGERSRon WashingtonSigned thru 2014ASTROSBrad MillsFired in August=#BF0000]Bo Porter hired for 2013 - ??

metirish wrote: I am certain Gary said that Baltimore scored two in the 9th to take 5-3 lead......well no, in fact Tampa won 5-3.........damn The O's went into the 9th down 5-1, and immediately scored twice, then put the next two hitters on all with no outs. Then, with the tying runs on and the go-ahead at the plate ... they went K, K, 1-3

Y'know, if we're going to just keep walking lead-off hitters, we could have just left Familia in.

The odd thing is, who would have suspected Liam Neeson making a string of movies where he's the action-adventure star? And now they're doing 'Taken 2' What, does that same daughter get kidnapped again?

Nothing like a meaningless 2-1 game in October that's on pace to run about 3-1/2 hours.

Nice of Florida to give up most of their base-runners like they're doing.

No Pedroia or Ellsbury even. And, gee, only 3 HRs served up by Buchholz so far!!

Really Timmy? Ike, and with no outs?!?!

Interesting 1st inning for Familia's 1st ever ML start - four-pitch walk - caught stealing - infield hit - caught stealing - four-pitch walk (Reyes - and he decides NOT to try to steal) - Ks Stanton

Four Cyclones make BA's NY-Penn Lg year-end Top-20 -- http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/league-top-20-prospects/2012/2614118.html (just a list - no write-ups unless you're a subscriber) 5 - RHP Luis Mateo 11 - OF Brandon Nimmo 12 - RHP Hansel Robles 18 - SS Phillip Evans also, they do point out that the earlier deadline for signing this year (and the more restrictive $$ rules) gave the league more college-age players than in the past and Nimmo & Robles are just 19 y/o. Mateo is 22; Evans 21

Of course the union has no legal means to prevent it, but what they'd strongly try to discourage is the idea that Bay would say; 'OK, I've fucked up this contract beyond all recognition. Let's cancel the final year to avoid any more embarrassment and I'll see if I can latch on somewhere else with a whole new deal' Retirement (as Sanberg did - at least for a while) is not even close to the same situation and Nishioka's walk-away to facilitate a probable return to Japan is at least somewhat different. But the union certainly would prefer that their charges not willingly give back locked-in money for fear of it looking like this is what players "should" do and planting the idea in owners heads to start pressuring those with big deals to consider doing the same.

Edgy DC wrote: Terry Collins says the whole coaching staff will return. Seems a little premature. Has Sandy Alderson yet said that Terry Collins will return? Has Jeff Wilpon yet said that Alderson will return? Collins had his 2013 option picked up months ago. And this was all, I'm sure, the outcome of the meeting they were all having either today or maybe over the weekend sometime.

Counting up uses of 'us' we' 'them' is about the last criteria I'd use for determining home-team bias. I don't even really mind so much when announcers come across as fans of their team (to a point anyway, Hawk Harrelson is way over the top) as long as they don't try to tell me that black is white while I'm watching a game. So, no Michael Kay, it's NOT an established fact that when Derek Jeter makes outs in a tight spot it's just one of those things while it's because of the tight spot when other do it. And, no, Bob Carpenter, the entire Nationals infield does NOT deserve Gold Gloves this year. and yadda yadda.

The Marlins in general, and Reyes in particular, seemed largely disinterested last time we faced them. One wouldn't think they'd suddenly be more into things this time around.

West: Angels drop the night-cap to Texas Rangers clinch at least a spot in the playoffs but need one more win for the division Angels can not win the division and can do no better than tie for WC #2 - at 3 games behind Oakland their 'tragic number' is one. Oakland will at least play past Wednesday as they can only be caught by LAA and/or Tampa but not passed for WC #2 slot Texas finishes at Oakland; Angels in Seattle Central: Detroit won 2-1 via a Prince 2R HR in the 8th ChiSox lost (again!) and can no longer be a WC but can at best tie for the Central lead. The magic/tragic number here is also 1. Tigers finish at KC; Sox at Cleveland East: Both Birds & Yanx clinch a playoff spot. Each can be caught and/or passed by each other and Oakland but not by anyone else. Tampa needs to run the table and get help just to tie Oakland for WC #2 Orioles go to Tampa; Yanx host Minnesota

Yeah, kind of an in-game rush job there Doubles in a Season 1) Bernard Gilkey - 44 in 1996 T2) David Wright - 42 in 2008 T2) David Wright - 42 in 2007 T2) David Wright - 42 in 2005 T5) Edgardo Alfonzo - 41 in 1999 T5) Howard Johnson - 41 in 1989 T5) David Wright - 41 in 2012 T8) Edgardo Alfonso - 40 in 2000 T8) David Wright - 40 in 2006 T8) Carlos Beltran - 40 in 2008 T8) Gregg Jefferies - 40 in 1990 T8) Daniel Murphy - 40 in 2012