Around The Majors- Friday

Jeff Francis was excellent as Colorado won their 18th game in 19 tries as they beat Arizona 5-1 in game one of an NLCS that featured many more water bottles than good moments for the Snakes at Chase Field that barely sold out. Brandon Webb couldn't hold up his end of the bargain, and Herges, Affeldt, Fuentes, and Corpas sealed the deal. They play game 2 at 10:15 with Ubaldo Jimenez taking on Doug Davis.

ALCS Pick
Yes, Boston got tremendous pitching in their sweep of the Angels, but Ortiz and Ramirez were the only Red Sox producing on offense. The cleanup duo hit over .500 with 4 homers and 7 ribs, but the rest of the team in the series hit below .220. With Sabathia and Carmona, a hot nasty bullpen, and a team that fared so rediculously well with RISP and 2 out I'm gonna go with Cleveland. Obviously the Sprung hating Boston thing is definitely a factor, but Ortiz and Ramirez can't have slow pitch softball numbers when 3-4 of those games are going to be against the 2 Indian aces. Beckett faces Sabathia in a Cy Young showdown at 7pm.

-Frank Wren is the new GM of the Braves as John Schuerholz has stepped down. Read Thunder Thursday from yesterday to see my view on this subject on SOS2.
-Dusty Baker has interviewerd for the Reds managerial job, as has interrim skipper Pete Mackanin.
-Bobby Kielty is 9-29 with 2 homers lifetime off of CC Sabathia, sitting JD Drew for game one, and reducing the blood pressure in the Boston area immeasurably. "He was brought in here to give us some right-handed punch," Said Francona, what he was really thinking was that previous statement without the right-handed in Drew's case.
-The orginazational meetings to decide the fate of Joe Torre will be tabled until at least Monday, and Torre would likely return if he takes a pay cut according to the New York Post.The Post also says that Scott Boras could be looking for an A-Rod contract of 12 years 360 million. Torre could take a spot in the front office, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The MST also says that Torii Hunter will stay with the Twins if the offer is right.
-Yankees bullpen coach Joe Kerrigan will pursue other options in baseball, and the Leo Mazzone rumors may begin according to the Bergen Record.
-Roger Clemens has left the door open to come back, nobody cares.
-Nats pitcher Shawn Hill had surgery on his non throwing shoulder and will be ready for Spring Training.