According to Newsday, The Mets have scheduled a conference call for this afternoon to announce they will pick up their $7.5 million option on leftfielder Moises Alou's contract.

The Mets will also announce that they have re-signed utility player Damion Easley to a one-year, $950,000 contract.

Here is the press release from MLB.com.

It looks like Wright won't be moving to left field if they sign A-rod after all. I disapprove of that whole situation to begin with anyway.

Major League Baseball named Alex Rodriguez "The 2007 MLB Clutch Performer of the Year".

The winner of the inaugural award which was presented by Pepsi, was selected by the fans from a list of six nominees chosen by a special editorial panel from MLB Advanced Media and Major League Baseball Productions.

Wasn't A-Rod's clutch inability what Yanks fans hated most about him? Odd.

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Buck O'Neil, will finally make it to Cooperstown.

The acclaimed late Negro League icon will be honored with a statue and an award in his honor.

The Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award will honor an individual whose extraordinary efforts enhanced baseball's positive impact on society, has broadened the game's appeal, and whose character, integrity and dignity are comparable to the qualities exhibited by O'Neil.

The award will be bestowed by the Hall of Fame's Board of Directors at its discretion, though not more frequently than once every three years. O'Neil will be the first recipient.

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Rick Reilly is leaving Sports Illustrated to go to ESPN. 

Reilly's back page is what I anticipate most when I get my issue of SI, and I hope he doesn't have to change his style over at ESPN.

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Never Forget 69 has the radio transcript of the 1986 World Series Game 6 which featured Bob Murphy and Gary Thorne. I only knew of the Vin Scully version myself. To hear that, play this:



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Eric Simon at Amazin' Avenue says the Kaz hype is overblown.

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The Daily News reports that Duaner Sanchez and Luis Castillo are doing better. Castillo had his troublesome right knee cleaned during a recent surgical procedure, and should be 100% by Jan.1.

Sanchez is nearing a return to game action. The RHP plans to begin participating in winter ball the first week in December.

Also, Tim Teufel is expected to be asked to manage the Mets' top Class A affiliate, St. Lucie. Teufel managed the Mets' class A affiliate Savannah Sand Gnats last season.

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Dave at Mets Lifers asks who would you trade?

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Brooklyn Met Fan says, wake up Mets Fans, Johan Santana is not coming to Queens.

Obviously the heavy favorites have to be the Boston Red Sox whom have a pitching staff that could silence the Gods. However, the Colorado Rockies have suspended disbelief. They have won 21 of their last 22 games, and as we all know, anything can happen in baseball.

So who do you think will win the World Series?

The Mets angered, disappointed, and frustrated me down the home stretch of the season. They fell just short of winning the division they owned all year, and consequently missed the playoffs. But now, without meaningful baseball, and when I say that I mean Mets baseball, I have become a little bit bored.

I guess it is Mets withdrawal, but tonight on SNY they showed Badminton, yes the BWF Sudriman Cup...which I watched for its full hour. I resort to odd news such as the revelation that Dumbledore is gay. The Red Sox provided some amusement last night with their dancing, but other than that, I once again feel the void of an October without the Mets.

I guess I'd rather yell at my TV when a Metsy has a baserunning blunder than passively watch the nonsensical garbage that inundates the airwaves. How many more Bob Ross shows can I watch before I too become a master of painting landscapes with "happy little trees". I don't want that...I want my Mets TV.

But I'll wait, you'll wait, and the Mets themselves will wait until next year as we watch other ballplayers celebrate their success or wallow in their defeat. Other than that I have a rumor-filled winter and bad TV ahead of me. But there's always next year and the clean slate that comes with it, so I'll be waiting.

Sorry for the unrelated topic but it's for a good cause. If you like to fish and are in the New York Metro/Long Island area, the North Shore Anglers Club is having a fund raising blackfish tournament on Saturday October 27th to benefit Freedom Is Not free Inc.

The tournament will be run out of Huntington Harbor. There will be 2 large party boats leaving out of Huntington that anyone can get on. Prizes will be awarded for the biggest fish (adult /child) and more. There will be a catered fiesta to follow with a very generous raffle, a barbecue, and beverages galore.

For more information go to their website or email me.

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd, winning pitcher of game 4 of the ALCS, allegedly bought nearly $25,000 worth of HGH and syringes.

The Chronicle notes that Byrd bought the HGH from a Florida clinic over a period from August 2002 to January 2005.

Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports writes the following:

"Byrd says he no longer takes HGH and has not taken it this season."

MLB also issued a press release noting that they "will interview Mr. Byrd prior to the start of the World Series should the Cleveland club advance."

I knew something was fishy about that old-school windup. Seriously though, whether he used HGH or not, it's unfortunate news during a dramatic ALCS.

With the Yankees basically forcing Joe Torre out of the Bronx, other players such as Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera are likely to leave as well. 

If Mariano came to the Mets via free agency, I'd imagine he would be the setup man for Billy Wagner, a role he is not used to.  I don't think the chances of this happening are very high, but my question to you is, if Mariano does become available this offseason, would you like to see him come to the Mets?

Joe Torre has reportedly turned down an offer to return to the Yankees due to a substantial proposed pay cut.

Torre turned down a $5 million, one-year contract Thursday that still would have made him the highest-paid manager in baseball.

All-time managerial
wins leaders

Manager	Wins
Connie Mack	3,776
John McGraw	2,840
Tony La Russa	2,375
Bobby Cox	2,255
Sparky Anderson	2,194
Bucky Harris	2,159
Joe McCarthy	2,126
Joe Torre	2,067

This was a strange move by the Yankees organization. True, they haven't won a World Series since 2000, but how high are the Yankees' expectations when they basically force out a manager who led them to the 12 straight playoff appearances and four World Series championships. Ridiculous.

I understand that maybe it was time for a change, but I think it was poorly handled right from the moment when "The Boss" commented that Torre's job was on the line when the Yanks were down two games to none in the ALDS.  Good for you Joe, for not letting them treat you like a chump!

Those Dane Cook commercials irk me, and apparently SNL thought they were just as annoying.

According to numerous reports, the Yankees' longtime owner George Steinbrenner will be handing over much of the the day-to-day operations to his two sons, Hank and Hal.

According to club president Randy Levine:

To read a list of The Boss's 10 worst moves, check out ESPN's Page 2.

In a time when things have been a little too quiet, here's an interesting tid-bit for you Mets fans.

Allen Salkin at the Chicago Tribune writes the following:



It was so humid that night, I think I lost around ten pounds myself, and I was just sitting there.

I've heard of Pedialyte being drank by hungover college students and the like who probably suffer from the most severe forms of dehydration, so I'm surprised it has taken this long to gather a big league following.

I tried it once, but the taste actually made me feel sicker than I had felt before drinking it.

In an article for the Bergen Record, Ian O'Connor writes that Joe Torre's job is on the line tonight in what could be an early playoff exit for the Yankees.

O'Conner writes:


Torre's done a great job with the Yankees, but Steinbrenner's outrageous standards will always be too high for anyone who doesn't continue to win championships for the Evil Empire.

Thanks to Catherine for the link.