Thursday's first pitch 11-19-09

Leading Off
Bud Selig has decided to listen to reason. We know. We're shocked too.
The Commish is going to trim some of the off days out of the playoff schedule.
This is good for baseball because this year's post-season was rediculous.
First of all, it should never go into November. Second of all, the reason it went so far into November was blamed on the World Baseball Classic. However, the Yankees had 14 off days during the playoffs.
That's like playing in the NBA.

Regional Roundup

• Tom Boswell thinks the Nats have made all the right moves. They brought in Davey Johnson, so Jim Rigleman might be on the hot seat.


• Anyone else befuddled that Uncle Cholly was sixth in the Manager of the Year award? How will the National League champs fix their bench problems?


• The Orioles are playing a waiting game with sometime York resident Mark Hendrickson.


• It doesn't look like the Pirates will be big spenders in free agency. If you thought they would be, you need an intervention.

• The Atlanta Braves might deal Javier Vazquez or Derek Lowe at a cheap price.


• Are the World Champs going to beat the Phillies again? This time in the free agent market with Mark DeRosa.


• What is Jason Bay's real value?

• Ted Keith breaks down the Cy Young race.

The Closer

For the Southpaw's money Mike Scioscia is the best manager in baseball.
So we were glad to see him win the American League Manager of the Year award.
Scioscia runs a game very well. His players consistently hustle. He handles pitching as well as he handles hitting. He deals well with injuries.
He did really well with injuries this year.
But he didn't do the best managerial job this year.
It was Jim Tracy who did that.
And he more than earned the National League award. He righted the Good Ship Rockie and guided it from choppy waters into a playoff berth.
For his work, Tracy was also rewarded with a contract extension.