Around The Majors- Wednesday

News, notes, discussion, rumors, AFL. Lots to do here on a Wednesday.

LCS
I'll be talking about the Rockies at length tomorrow, but the Indians are getting fantastic starting pitching from their secondary starters Westbrook and Byrd, and their unbelievable ability to get big hits with two outs has been seemingly unparallelled. Many will question Terry Francona's decison to go with Wakefield over a clutch Josh Beckett, but consider that in postseason play, pitchers going on 3 days rest only win 36% of the time, it was likely not worth the risk. Had Wakefield won and Beckett would be going for a series lead rather then to save Boston's season, Tito would have been praised. FOX has to be rooting for Boston, becaus as my Dad told me, nobody's gonna give a damn about Colorado-Cleveland; except for myself and my fellow readers, and I will continue to give you my best Rockies coverage considering I'm the #2 Rockies blogger on sportingnews.com.

-Joe Torre's status is still up in the air after meetings, but it seems that pitching coach Ron Guidry will not be invited back, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. Guidry did a nice job with Chien Ming Wang, but that's about it. What does make sense is that minor league pitching coach Dave Eiland is the favorite to take over, considering the influx of young pitchers the Yankees will have in 2008. Not the sexy move like hiring a Leo Mazzone, but the right one.
-Alex Rodriguez just completed a 3 day meeting with agent Scott Boras about offseason strategy. My crack staff here at SOS decoded the meetings into this brief message: $$$$$$$$ or @#!^% you!!
-Baltimore has hired former Florida coach Rick Kranitz as their pitching coach.
-In another large roid raid, the NYPD found over 7.2 million bucks worth of HGH at a pharmacy in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, enough for one million doses (insert Dr Evil voice here).
"It's hard to believe that all the growth hormone we found was meant for the people of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn," Said investigator Mark "painfully obvious" Haskins.

Rumors
-Joe Girardi nixed talks that he would replace Joe Torre, said the New York Daily News.
-Arizona would like to bring back Tony Clark, according to the Arizona Republic.
-Aaron Rowand's price tag could be as much as 6 years at 84 million, according to the Kansas City Star.
-The Phillies, Twins, Angels, Dodgers and Astros are all interested in dealing for Garrett Atkins, said the Philadelphia Daily News.
-The Angels don't want A-Rod at 30 mill a year, said the LA Times.
-San Diego wants to sign Andruw Jones to a 1 year deal, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
-Joel Skinner (CLE 3B coach) and John Farrell (BOS pitching coach_ are both candidates for the Pirates managerial job. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
-The YES network could keep A-Rod in The Bronx, said the New York Post.
-Seattle is interested in Jon Garland, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
-Joe Mauer will undergo surgery to repair a sports hernia, said the St Paul Pioneer Press.
-Baltimore claimed Roberto Novoa off of waivers. (Baltimore Sun)

Arizona Fall League
Yesterday, Braves catching prospect Clint Sammons homered and drove in 5 as the Peoria Javelinas pounded Mesa 9-1. Braves 2B spect JC Holt drove in 2 for the Javelinas.
Pirates star CF prospect Nyjer Morgan, who is expected to start in center for Pittsburgh next year drove in 2 runs as Phoenix edged the Peoria Saguaros 3-2. Indians OF Trevor Crowe, Reds OF Christopher Dickerson, and Royals 1B Kila Kaaihue each drove in 2 as Surprise stomped Scottsdale 10-1.