Saturday, November 29, 2008

AROUND AND AROUND WE GO

***OMAR BEING CAREFUL***
If you want to be a General Manager, you have to manage every area of your team. You have to consider length of contracts, defensive positions, lineup positions and even clubhouse chemistry. Omar Minaya even pays attention to room on the disabled list, which is why he asks for all the medical records on free agents BEFORE negotiations start. I can't wait to find out what kind of spin Scott Borus puts on those: "Why, this is the same kind of elbow problem Catfish Hunter had. See what company he's in?" Trouble is, that kind of manipulation will work on some GM's.

***FIELDING GRADES BECOMING MORE PRECISE***
Picasner has always felt that numbers do not come close to determining the value of a player on defense. But, the scouts are always trying. They have come up with a new rating for defense, but it's only been applied to one player so far: Jason Giambi, 1st base: Horrible. (True story)

***WHAT ARE THE ODDS?***
According to Dwight Perry, Seattle Times, If the Detroit Lions played in the days of Julius Caesar, they would be 10-point underdogs to the Christians.

***PLEXICO BURRESS SHOOTS HIMSELF IN THE FOOT***
No, really! He was "accidentally" shot in a nightclub last night.
How could you make this stuff up?

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

SILLY SEASON - 11/26

***DID BORAS HIT A WALL?***
The Angels are unwilling to go beyond 7 years for Teixeira. Bore-us wants 10 years (probably because that's what A-Rod got). Artie Moreno is one owner that isn't afraid of Boras, who likes to drag things out until everybody panics. Good for you, Artie.

***ANGELS NOW FOCUSING ON SABATHIA***
It's been said they're willing to go as high as $135 million, which is close enough for Sabathia to go to California. Uh, ten years for Teixeira isn't really that bad, is it, Artie?

***PETTITTE TALKING TO DODGERS***
Fine, you're not getting $16 million from the Yanks.

***STOTTLEMEYER LET GO AS MARINERS PITCHING COACH***
Mel, you might want to try the Dodgers. Torre, Mattingly, Proctor, Pettitte...it'll be like old home week. Emphasis on the "old".

***BORAS WANTS POSADA MONEY FOR VARITEK***
He'll have to get it from Jorge, 'cause no major league team is going to pay it. As a concession, Boras says he willing to accept 3 years and not 4. Gee, thanks. Boston is willing to talk but indications are that what they're saying is, "Here's your hat, what's your hurry?" How does the Batavia Muckdogs sound?

***YANKEE NOTES***
A-Rod, why are you wasting your time with Madonna when Danielle Gamba is available? Besides, I think she wants to meet Nick Swisher.

Speaking of Swisher, I read that he has already been called by Girardi, Kevin Long and A-rod, welcoming him to the Yanks. ...but no Jeter. How come? Maybe Derek was too busy calling Danielle.

The Yanks have announced they are holding the line on ticket prices...in Tampa. While this may be great for Watusi's daughter, it ain't helping us New Yorkers.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! Annie-o and Chad will be dining with the #2 female Yankee fan of the Picasner clan, little Sarah.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

PICASNER HAS A BETTER IDEA

Citigroup Bank will be paying the Mets $400 million over the next 20 years for the rights to name their new stadium "Citi Field". Now, of course, Citigroup is getting BILLIONS of dollars bailout money. Since the agreement was made 4 years ago and the Mets are unwilling to let them out of the deal, some local politicians want the stadium named "Citi/Taxpayer Field". Embarrassing? Yes...but not enough.

Picasner's idea: Hold the bailout money until Citigroup agrees to a name that does NOT feature their name. Names like "Mets Stadium" or "Wilpon Field" or even "Marv Thronberry Park (my favorite). If the Mets disagree, they don't get the $400 million. See, everybody wins (even Marvelous Marv).

Sunday, November 23, 2008

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

***THE GOOD NEWS***
Nick Swisher's girlfriend, Danielle Gamba, is a former playboy Playmate.

***THE BAD NEWS***
According to Swisher's agent, Gamba is NOT his girlfriend. In fact, they have never even met.

I wonder if Brian Cashman knew this, and if he didn't, is Swisher on the block? Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

AROUND THE WORLD IN SPORTS

***WHY GEORGE IS THE MAN***
We talked a little about him in the last post, but this interesting tidbit just surfaced: How much has The Boss spent in his quest to win championships?
$2.3 BILLION. That's right, BILLION. That's a lot of money even for the Yanks.

***DEFINITION OF A TIME LIMIT***
The Yanks have said there is a 'time limit' on the Sabathia offer. Anyone buying this? If the Yanks pull that offer on Dec 25th, and CC comes back on Feb 1st and says he'll take it, what do you think will happen? "Sorry CC, we've sunk that money into Pedro Martinez." Yeah, right. Read the previous item, they've got to cut back somewhere.

***GOOD NEWS IN DETROIT***
Maybe the Lions can't win any football games, but they're doing better in one area. They are 3-for-9 winning coin tosses this year.
According to Gene Wojciechowski (Gene, please change your name; I'm running out of letters), "Having Matt Millen as your team president is like asking Britney Spears to babysit your kids."

***SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY EASY JOB***
Greg Norman and Chris Evert are starting to design tennis courts. I think the formats have been exhausted, guys. Maybe you should move on to bowling alleys or basketball courts.

***THE CANADIAN NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY***
It will include three floors of Wayne Gretsky paintings. Plans are on hold until they can find some other paintings.

***MARK CUBAN UNDER INVESTIGATION***
Accused of insider trading, he is being threatened with fines totaling $750,000. When told, Cuban responded, "Ouch. Maybe I can get a loan from the Steinbrenners." Insiders say this will prevent Cuban from ever owning the Cubs. I was sure the Cubs would cost more than that.

***YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING***
Annika Sorenstam is having an interesting week. She missed the cut on the latest LPGA tournament, decided to retire, and then learned she'd been selected for a random drug test. I will lay 8-1 she doesn't show for the test. Rumor has it she will be designing golf course holes: not the greens, just the holes. "If Chris Evert can do it, so can I."

Friday, November 21, 2008

IT'S YOUR POINT OF VIEW THAT COUNTS

***IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD***
Mike Mussina retires at age 40 (next month) after winning 20 games for the first time in his career. Picasner believes he's capable of pitching two more years. On the other hand, Chase Utley and Mike Lowell have HIP SURGERY and will continue playing. Hip surgery! Even Chad's Dad never had hip surgery and he made it to 92.

$$$ NUMBERS IN PERSPECTIVE $$$
The Red Sox are holding ticket prices in response to a failing economy.
The Phillies are raising ticket prices because...they won the World Series.

The Yankees are 'raising' ticket prices because..."No, we're not. This is a new stadium and we're just 'setting' the prices." Oh, I see. Sorry.

***BOSS GEORGE OFFICIALLY RETIRES***
I don't know if he'll ever make the Hall of Fame, but you can't ignore his impact on the game. Detractors always pointed to the enormous income of the Yankees as the reason they would spend so much on players. However, George plowed those profits right back into the club, unlike other owners, who took their 'luxury tax GIFTS' and plowed them right back into their pockets.

Good luck, Hal. Oh, and you too, Hank.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

SILLY SEASON - 11/19

Here are some examples of why I call it the silly season:

***DODGERS MOVING ON SABATHIA***
The Dodgers are rumored to be putting an offer together for CC. This offer will be "a little over $100 million". Uh, fellas, we're currently up to $140 million. Better talk to your accountants again.

***RED SOX BIDDING ON BURNETT***
There is talk that the Sox just want to drive the price up on the Yanks. Yeah, that should scare Cashman. He's not scheduling business lunches at McDonalds yet.

***PEDRO MARTINEZ WANTS TO GO BACK TO THE METS***
He says he may even pitch a little. Omar Minaya is thrilled and is holding open a spot on the DL for him.

***KANSAS CITY WRESTS COCO CRISP FROM THE RED SOX***
Sure fooled the Sox, picking up a 29 year speed demon who averages 20 stolen bases a year, has a lifetime .344 on-base pct. with no power. All they gave up was a 27 year old power pitcher who averages less than a hit per inning and 8.5 strikeouts per 9 innings. Of course, if Coco Crisp does well, they should have no trouble naming a cereal after him.

But on the serious side:
Dustin Pedroia wins the AL MVP: Well deserved, congratulations!
Mike Mussina retires: Great career, good luck. I hope there is a Hall of Fame in your future.

Monday, November 17, 2008

SILLY SEASON - 11/17

***BREWERS: YANKS OVERBID ON SABATHIA***
Milwaukee doesn't understand the Yanks $140 million 1st bid. "We bid $100 million. Why didn't they just bid $101 million?" Sorry Brewers, this isn't a friendly game of marbles. That bid just eliminated all the pretenders.

***MLBPA BACKING THE YANKEES BID?***
The word is that the Players Association is "encouraging" Sabathia to accept the highest offer; no "hometown discounts". They couldn't care less about the Yanks, they just want to raise the bar on salary levels.

***HALL OF FAME GAME TO START AGAIN***
Picasner was thrilled to read that headline...until I read the rest of the story. The teams will consist of 4 Hall of Famers and 20 "other" retired players. 4 old men and 20 guys past their prime. Should be a great game. Thanks Mr. Selig, another fine decision. The original game was discontinued because of "scheduling problem". You have no problem scheduling the all-star game, though. Looks like another job for Commissioner Picasner.

***YANKS SELL RASNER TO JAPAN***
Isn't it enough that Japan lost the war? Well, that's one way to make sure a traded player doesn't come back to haunt you.

***HERE WE GO AGAIN***
The National League MVP winner is Albert Pujols. Don't get me wrong, he's a wonderful player and a great hitter. However,...most VALUABLE player. The Cards finished in 4th place, 12 games ahead of 5th place Cincinnati. Where would they have finished without Pujols? 4th place, 2 games ahead of 5th place? In Picasner's not-so-humble opinion, the very definition of the award means the winner should come from a team that at least made the playoffs. A player without whom they wouldn't have made the playoffs. In short, the most VALUABLE.

Maybe it's time to use the "HANK AARON AWARD", for the best all-round hitter in each league, not as a relacement, but an additional award. Solves all the problems.

Will someone please get me into the Commissioner's office?

Sunday, November 16, 2008

THE COMMISSONER RESPONDS

A loyal (?) reader wants Picasner to state his position on large market vs. small market teams and how to level the playing field. He feels the large market teams have more cash and can out bid the small market teams, who then have to rely on draft picks succeeding. How would the 'Commish' handle this?

***PICASNER'S RESPONSE***
Well Mr. Reader, the wheels of justice are already in place for this situation with only one minor bit of tweaking needed.

Hoping your draft picks work out? Well, when you lose a class A or B player to free agency, you get extra picks, usually first or second round plus 'sandwich' picks (that's a bonus pick between the 1st & 2nd round). So you get twice as many picks from the cream of the crop which increases your odds of some of them working out.

There is a salary cap and teams that exceed it pay a luxury tax to help the small market teams compete.
Now, here's the tweak I mentioned: Most of the small market teams POCKET the tax instead of using it. In Picasner's realm, the base would be the teams current salary, say, for purposes of argument, $90 million. If you receive $25 million in tax, the next years team salary must be at least $115 million or you give back the difference and you lose next years tax all together.

THAT is what is needed to help level the playing field. If we find, after a couple of years, that it's not working, we will address it again.

One final argument: How level do you want it to be? Who was in the World Series this year? Break up the Tampa Bay Rays!

Wow, two posts in one day.

...A COLD DAY IN HELL...

***RED SOX SUSPEND MANNY?***
Better late than never, but the real story is: They sent Manny an official letter after the July 23rd Game against the Yanks, informing him that he was suspended WITHOUT pay for refusing to play. Manny then agreed to play and the matter was dropped. Scott Boras, splitting his hairs as usual, said Manny was NOT suspended, that "intention to suspend" was not suspension. Right, teams threaten to suspend their best hitter all the time. May I remind you, Scott, that "intention to run to first fast" is NOT running to first fast, either.

***A NEW KIND OF PLAYER MOVE***
The resident 'genius' in Detroit, Jim Leyland, is considering moving his CATCHER to shortstop. This is good news only to Derek Jeter, who should now have some competition as "The worst shortstop in baseball." Maybe it will work, maybe it won't, but it will be interesting.
The Tigers, who finished last in their division with the the 8th highest payroll in baseball, have announced a ticket price increase for 2009. If I'm a Tiger fan, I don't think I'd want to pick up a newspaper anymore.

***MINNESOTA IS MINNESOTA***
This little item has GOT to tie into the Twins somehow. 13 restaurants in Austin, Minnesota have Spam on the menu. Spam! Apparently these restaurants won't pay for 'prime meat' either.

***WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' ANNA BENSON***
When players get traded, they bring their own glove. Nick Swisher brought something a little hotter: his girlfriend, Danielle Gamba. We can't put pictures on this blog, so I recommend you look this babe up. This is certainly Picasner's idea of "hot stove."

***SAD NEWS FOR THE JUD***
A lifelong Yankee fan, one of Jud's favorite players was Oscar Gamble, a left-handed outfielder with a 12-pound afro. He had to wear a cap two sizes larger to fit it over the afro. Well, sorry Jud: the afro's gone...completely. Oscar is now bald. Oscar was once quoted as saying, "When I'm at bat, I'm in scoring postion!"

Friday, November 14, 2008

IT'S NOT COMEDY CENTRAL, BUT...

***FROM CHRIS McDONNELL, HOCKEY'S BEST QUOTES***
Oilers coach Ted Green, after Shaun Van Allen suffered a concussion and couldn't remember who he was: "Tell him he's Wayne Gretzky."

***YANKEES ACQUIRE SWISHER***
Trading a career .260 hitter (Betemit), for a career .244 hitter (You do the math). Swisher is expected to take over 1st base. What happens if they get Mark Teixeira? "Mark, you're going to be our designated pinch-runner. After all, we've got Swisher now."

***SCOTT BORAS NOW ACCEPTING OFFERS***
Only 2 rules: Offers must be 9 figures. You must supply your own knee pads.

To help all you sports fans understand what is going on during the approaching negotiations, here are some phrases and their real meanings.
"Player is interested in going somewhere he has a chance to play in the World Series"
** I got $10 million, do I hear $11 million?
"We think the Mets are a good fit, but there are a LOT of teams interested."
** Oh boy, New York City money!
"He's a good player, but we're still exploring our options."
** How much do you want? Here, take it all.
-OR-
** Go away, I wouldn't pay that much for Cy Young.
"He brings more than ability to the table"
** He's irritated everyone he's played for.
"We're going to wait and see how things play out."
** My owner won't give me a cent.
"He really wants to play on the west coast (or, in the National League)"
** Unless the Yankees make an offer.
"He's very interested in the Red Sox"
** That should get a few more million out of Cashman.
"Hi, I'm Scott Boras"
** May I see your check book, please?
"Hi, I'm Scott Boras"
** We'll need more than that.
"Hi, I'm Scott Boras"
** Did you hear me? SCOTT BORAS!

Picasner needs help on this one. The Silver Slugger Awards (best overall hitter by position) came out today. The American League had a winner listed at pitcher. How does that make any sense? What are the standards? One at-bat? By the way, the winner was Aubrey Huff of the Orioles, their designated hitter. Not only wasn't he a pitcher, he didn't even HAVE a position.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

THE SILLY SEASON - 11/12

***NY DAILY NEWS POLL***
The News is running a poll asking fans to keep or dump 21 Yankees. Seven players were "dumped" by the fans: Cabrera, Giambi Kennedy, Pavano, Pettitte, Ponson & Ivan Rodriguez. No surprises there, but Abreu was a keeper. I didn't expect that.

***GIANTS INTERESTED IN MANNY?***
Why not? The Giants are used to having a big-hitting, bad-fielding left fielder that no one in the free world likes. While Manny probably won't be using "the cream" or "the clear", he's not far from using Grecian Formula, which, interestingly enough, is available in cream and clear.

### Note: the Bimb has mentioned that my references have been a little obscure. So, "the cream" and the "the clear" are two steroids that Barry Bonds allegedly used. (I use the word 'allegedly' very loosely)

***SILLY SEASON BEGINS IN EARNEST ON SATURDAY***
Not only will the Yanks be participating as usual, but this year they have a 'war chest' of some $80 million in dumped salary which is burning a hole in Cashman's pocket. Cashman reportedly has been in the gym practicing throwing wads of $1000 bills at posters of Sabathia, Teixiera and Burnett.

***ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS FIRE 31 EMPLOYEES***
This might be a good year to go see them play. You might get to see Randy Johnson working in the concession stands on his off days. So Arizona has a bad September and some poor secretary is out on the street. Wasn't her fault Adam Dunn couldn't hit in the clutch.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

WHERE HAVE YOU GONE CHAD PICASNER... ??

It's been three days since my last rant. Sorry, but is it Chad's fault that things are slow? We have to scrape past the bottom of the barrel for anything.

***OF COURSE, THERE'S ALWAYS SCOTT***
Boras is insisting that Manny gets a six year contract. Why? Because Bonds and A-Rod both got deals that takes them to age 42. The only thing Manny led the league in last year was dreadlocks. So if he wants to emulate those two, he better start applying "the clear" or take up with Madonna. "The clear" is probably safer.

***SPEAKING OF A-ROD...***
Reports out of New York are that A-Rod has told Cynthia, his ex, that he's "going thru a phrase" and to please wait for him. Apparently, "phrase" means Madonna and usually she's the one who does the 'going through'. This is like the ballplayer who was asked, "What's the toughest thing is sports?" "Explaining to your wife why "she" needs penicillin for "your" kidney infection," he said. Alex, do you really think this will work? There's 50 million guys waiting to find out.

***DID HELL JUST FREEZE OVER?***
Billy Beane, Oakland A's, just made a trade to GET a big star. Beane, who is the poster child for United Dump Trucks, always gets rid of stars, not acquire them. Cashman must have slipped him a mickey at the GM meetings. Hey Boras, there's another phone number to add to your speed dial.

Free agents are not allowed to talk to other teams until Friday, so things will be quiet till this weekend. Picasner's on the case, boys and girls.

Saturday, November 08, 2008

SILLY SEASON - 11/8

***PETTITTE WANTS TO RETURN TO THE YANKS***
And the Yanks have indicated they want him back. What's the problem? They don't want to pay him big money, that's what. So they'll let him wait a while and maybe get him cheaper. Maybe.

***THE BREWERS ARE "ASKING AROUND" ABOUT MELKY CABRERA***
Um, why don't they ask the Yanks? Aren't they the ones who have him? It's pretty bad when a guy disappears so fast and so completely, no one knows who he plays for.

***MARINERS CONSIDERING BOBBY VALENTINE***
Bobby's been managing in Japan for years. He's not a players manager; they don't like him. The Mariners should hire him. That way, Ichiro won't be the most unpopular Japanese-speaking guy in the clubhouse.

***MANNY'S MONEY NOT SO GREAT***
Reportedly, a lot of the Dodgers big offer is deferred money; that is, salary paid AFTER the term of the contract, probably without interest. This effectively reduces the actual value of the contract significantly. Yeah, Scott Boras will fall for this one.

***SPEAKING OF SCOTT***
Man, this guy is worth a a whole posting on his own. Have you ever heard of Oliver Perez? I mean, if you're not a Mets fan. Well, you will. Seven years in the majors with 55 wins. Boras has written a book about him...with 8 chapters. The "book" compares him to Santana, Sabbathia, Hamels, and (everyone please sit down) Randy Johnson and Sandy Koufax! Sandy Koufax? Why, are they both Jewish? The chapters have headings like "Durable Ollie", "Big Game Ollie" and "Perez Turns a Corner". That's as opposed to being able to "pitch" on the corner. Sounds like Yankee material, doesn't he sports fans? The Yanks like pitchers who can turn a corner. Melky should get Boras as his agent. The Yankees would be dragging uniform #7 out of retirement, by the time Scott was through.
Ya gotta love this guy!

Friday, November 07, 2008

COMMISSIONER'S PLATFORM - PART III

***OFFICIAL SCORING***
Increase the number of umpires per crew from 4 to 5, with one umpire assigned to the official scorer's booth. This would be part of the regular rotation. An umpire would work a game at each base and a game scoring.
There are a lot of advantages to this. No scorer would have any kind of "alliance" with a team or player. the Umpires would get a day off from the physical demands of the job. The best advantage: CONSISTENCY. For example, if a team had a good fielding but light-hitting shortstop, there would be no "home-town" scorer giving that player the benefit of the doubt on questionable (or obvious) errors. The paperwork would also be consistent and not subject to change after a player berated the scorer in the clubhouse afterward. Since scorers are currently sportswriters for the home team, they often give in so players will still talk to them.
I'm tired of batters being given "hits" because the ball was too hot to handle. BULL****! They are major league fielders; there is no such thing as "too hot".

Picasner will never be named Commissioner of Baseball, but if you read these changes carefully, you will realize: HE SHOULD BE.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

COMMISSIONER'S PLATFORM - PART II

***SCHEDULING***
The season shall commence on April 1st for ALL teams. The schedule should be set up so that the games are played in southern cities or domed stadiums for the first two weeks.
Each team will schedule 3 doubleheaders at home (and not twi-night doubleheaders). we're talking 2 games for the price of one). The 2nd game should be 7 innings (this is already allowed in the rules). Teams would then play 3 doubleheaders at home and 3 on the road, eliminating 6 play dates. -OR- Go back to a 154-game schedule.
Rainouts will be made up with twi-night doubleheaders.
The All-Star game will be a three-day break.
The season then ends on September 24th.
Playoffs begin for ALL teams on September 26th. Playoffs and World Series schedules would be the same: ONE day off for travel between cities. ONE day off between each series. Even allowing for the maximum number of games for each series, the season ends on October 21.
If two teams are tied at the end of the regular season, the playoff game will be the next day, but the playoff schedule remains the same. They lose their day off (Sorry!)
For the 1st series, four games will be played each day. Let 4 different networks broadcast the games so all can watch their favorite team. Weekend games will be played during the day, starting no later than 2:00 PM. Night games MUST start no later than 7:00 PM Eastern time. That means first pitch, not the beginning of McCarver's 35 minute explanation of baseball.
MOST IMPORTANT: There will be 25 seconds maximum between half-innings. If a network misses even one pitch, they don't get paid for that game.
If the teams are available, The next series begins immediately (after one day off), regardless of the day of the week.

DEAL WITH IT!!

Next: Scoring

THE SILLY SEASON - 11/6

Okay sports fans, turn on your laugh machine and get your drool-overflow cup handy, 'cause we're off and running.
***MANNY GETS HIS WISH***
The Dodgers have offered $25 million a year for 2-3 years. And Boras hasn't even sharpened his pencil (or his teeth) yet.
***HEEEEERE'S CC***
Brewers offered Sabathia $20 million/yr for 5 years. This is where Cashman was going to start.
***YANKS ARE GOING YOUNGER...NOT***
I've read that they are "strongly" considering Pettitte & Mussina. I'm getting my eyes checked.
***PEAVY CONSIDERS YANKS***
Cashman reportedly putting a package together including Hughes, Austin Jackson and Kennedy. Is Peavy that much better than Santana? And San Diego has no interest in Robinson Cano. Well, neither do I.
***NATIONAL LEAGUE ANNOUNCES GOLD GLOVE WINNERS***
Picasner's reaction: BIG DEAL! I lost faith in the validity of the award in 1999, when Rafael Palmeiro won at 1st base after playing 28 games there (the rest as DH) when he was with Texas. Apparently he wasn't even the best first baseman on the Rangers, let alone the league. Bill James says (and he works for the Red Sox, so take THAT into consideration) that Derek Jeter is the WORST DEFENSIVE player in the majors! Wow! He has 3 gold gloves on his mantle: 2004, 2005, 2006. Did he lose a leg in the 2008 pre-season? So who is screwed up here? I say both: the Rawlings people, who pick the winners, and Bill James. To top it off, Rob Neyer, ESPN, thought the choice of David Wright of the Mets at 3rd base was a bad pick. He said Scott Rolens should have won, completely forgetting that Scott now plays for Toronto...in the American League. That's ok Rob, that makes as much sense as Rafael.
That's it for now, fans.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

THE COMMISSIONERS PLATFORM - PART 1

This will be the start of Picasner's Platform - issues that need to be addressed.

***The ALL-STAR GAME***
It is an exhibition and should have no bearing on the home field advantage for the World Series. Eliminate the "every team represented" rule. Let's have the best players. Managers should have at least two pitchers in reserve through the 9th inning in case of a tie score. Players will wear their respective teams uniform, no generic all-star uniform, this way, a player will be more easily recognized and his team will get some recognition (The home/away uniforms as appropriate). Designated hitter ALWAYS, regardless of the game location. The pitchers generally don't hit anyway.

***WORLD SERIES HOME FIELD***
This will be determined based on the total record of inter-league play. The league with the most wins, gets home field. Isn't this the most logical thing?

***EJECTIONS BY UMPIRES***
Umpires will NOT prolong arguments. He may not follow a player or advance toward him . "Showing up" an umpire, such as pointing at the plate disputing a ball/strike call, is no reason for an ejection. Obviously, a player or manager cannot touch an umpire or vice-versa. An umpire will be required to do eveything in his power to keep a player in the game. Players should be allowed to argue calls, even if they are just venting. Upon review of any ejection, if it is determined that an umpire overstepped his bounds, the umpire will be suspended for an appropriate time.

Next: Scheduling

Monday, November 03, 2008

GENERAL MANAGERS MEETING

California is host to the annual GM meeting this year (What, you expected Idaho?). Scott Boras was carried in on a portable throne, with 6 GMs as bearers and Bud Selig tossing rose petals in front.
Brian Cashman reportedly brought two bankers with him and was handing out $1000 bills as party favors to all the agents. Scott Boras used his to light his cigar and an unfortunate assistant Gm who happened to be standing too close.

EARLY RUMORS:
Manny to the Dodgers for 3 years @ $23 million each.
Sabbathia to the Yanks for $180 million for 6 years.
The Cubs extremely interested in Bobby Abreau.

As I said, I doubt there will be any real movement now, but it's fun to dream.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

NOTES ON THE NFL (Aren't I versatile?)

So you all know that I don't just pick on the baseball writers, this little gem is from Matt Mosley of ESPN:

"Brad Johnson was picked off twice in the first half, and both interceptions led to Giant interceptions."
****Hard to dispute, isn't it. Thanks Matt, we'll be keeping our eye on you.

SILLY SEASON - 11/2

**The Yankees have declined the option on Damasco Marte. I guess $6 million was too much for a lefty reliever. Yeah, like they're falling off the trees out there. They could still resign him, though.
**Rumor has it that the Yanks will throw 6 years at $23 million/year at Sabbathia. The Brewers immediately offered CC the ownership of Miller Park Field.
**Scott Boras is Teixeira's agent. With the Yanks, Red Sox, Angels & Orioles extremely interested in Mark, Boras reportedly drooled so hard, he drowned two assistants.
**After a totally disappointing 2008 season, The Colorado Rockies say they are willing to trade everyone including Larry Walker, who retired 3 years ago.
**Rumors persist that Manny wants to go to the Yanks, just to hurt the Red Sox. Didn't he do that last year?
**The "World Series Neutral Site in a warm climate" talk is starting up again. Picasners opinion: NO!! There is a much better solution; start earlier.

The winter General Managers meetings start tomorrow. Expect nothing major to come out of it since there is so much money involved, I'm sure the owners will want some input. We may see some minor trades but that's about it.

Saturday, November 01, 2008

BASEBALL NEEDS A STRONG COMMISSIONER

Picasner is not oblivious to the real world. Baseball is all about money, money and, oh yeah, money. These numbers are so staggering that they are incomprehensible to the fans who support the game. Can any of us really understand what it would be like to have a NET INCOME of $1.4 million a month? That's $45,000 A DAY! CASH! AFTER TAXES! And you only "work" 9 months a year. That's A-Rod, what about the minimum salary. Well, you'd have to learn to live on a net of $250,000 a year. Poor guy.
Picasner doesn't call this the silly season for nothing. We are about to hear contract numbers tossed around that will boggle the mind and stun our senses. Granted, owners can do what they like with their money, but if some of their income was lessened, they may tighten their belts a little.

What we need, is a Commissioner that gives the game back to the fans. Make the game economically feasible for the poor fan and available time-wise to the young fan. Do this and you automatically build a fan base which will ultimately keep the game popular, and profitable, for years.

Picasner will begin to publish some changes that he believes will help with this.