Stan Musial League Golden Glove Awards

Dodgers Lead with Three Honorees

The 2005 Stan Musial League Golden Glove Awards were announced this evening at a black tie affair at the SML headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. The Los Angeles Dodgers were well represented at the dinner with pitcher Chris Carpenter, secondbaseman Luis Castillo, and outfielder Gary Sheffield each taking home hardware.

"It is an honor to be selected for the award," an emotional Carpenter said after the event. "I dedicate this to the groundskeepers at Dodger Stadium for always letting the grass get a little high before my starts."

The rest of the 2005 Stan Musial League Golden Glove Award winners: catcher Jason Varitek, Houston; firstbaseman Brad Wilkerson, Montreal-Washington Nationals; thirdbaseman Scott Rolen, Chicago; shortstop Jimmy Rollins, Chicago; outfielders Aubrey Huff, Washington Senators and Mark Kotsay, Florida.

Athletics Hurler Wins Cy Young

Santana Wins in Landslide

The Honus Wagner League announced this evening that Oakland Athletics southpaw Johan Santana has won the 2005 Honus Wagner League Cy Young Award, easily outdistancing San Francisco's Randy Johnson and Chicago's Roger Clemens for the title. Santana went 18-9 for the 72-90 Athletics, posting a 2.93 earned run average in 230 innings spanning 32 games. He also struck out 253 batters, the second-highest total in the HWL.

The Stan Musial League Cy Young Award is expected to be announced tomorrow.

League Announces Overuse Penalties

The Molson Baseball League this morning, in the spirit of the Grinch, announced penalties for teams that overused players in the 2005 season. Three teams were singled out for the highest penalty.

"The Overuse Committee, at the recommendation of the Commissioner," offered League spokesman G. Gordon Baer, "agreed by consensus that player abuse by the Chicago White Sox, Florida Marlins, and Oakland Athletics was most extreme and, as a result, each of those teams will be fined $1,000,000 in cap space."

"The Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, and Washington Senators were deemed moderate offenders and fined $500,000 each. The light offenders--the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, and San Diego Padres--were each fined $250,000."

Because of the attention drift in the league last season and the absence of a clear fine structure, the Overuse Committee and Commissioner also agreed that all of these penalties would be waived unless any of these teams overuse a player in the 2006 season. In that event, the 2005 penalties would be applied immediatelyin-season against the offending team's salary cap.

"Our overuse rules are not new," Commissioner Buchanan said, "and it is the responsibility of the owners--not the League--to track it during the year. However, given the extenuating circumstances, I think waiving the penalties for good behavior in the upcoming season is fair."

The Molson League also has updated its Charter with extensive, clear rules governing overuse penalties for the 2006 season. This penalty structure was derived by consensus within the Overuse Committee.

League Salaries Released

The Molson Baseball League released tonight the player salaries for the 2006 season. The team totals are based upon the players listed on that specific roster and may not include team identity players. Owners are asked to doublecheck their rosters to correct any problems.

The League also announced tonight that team identity decisions must be finalized by 21 January 2006. Pre-draft rosters must be submitted by 11 February 2006, and the 2006 Rookie/Free Agent Draft will begin at 1200 Eastern on Sunday, 19 February 2006.

Opening Day for the 2006 Molson Baseball League regular season will be 1 March 2006.

Fuentes Exonerated

League Shifts Focus to Teammate

The Molson Baseball League today announced that San Francisco Giants pitcher Brian Fuentes has been cleared of charges that he overperformed during the 2005 regular season. According to sources inside the Commissioner's office, the turn of events came about because Fuentes fingered a teammate during sworn testimony pursuant to the investigation and, as a result, the league has shifted its attention.

"Miguel Tejada gave it to me," Fuentes told investigators during his deposition, according to league documents obtained by The Home Plate Press sources. "I personally have never, and would never, intentionally overperform. Tejada told me if I took his supplements, I could pitch more than 20 innings over my natural ability."

Tejada, who has returned to the Dominican Republic for the holidays, was unavailable for comment.

Rumors that Fuentes should have been declared ineligible prior to last season's playoffs led to riots in Seattle, Phoenix, and Boston last night. According to police reports in those cities, several rioters had Southern drawls and were wearing hats bearing a script "A."

Riots were also reported in Washington, but they turned out to be unrelated to the Fuentes Affair. Instead, the violence in and around the nation's capital stemmed from a turf war between Senators and Nationals fans.

"It's gotten really bad here since the Nationals came to town," District councilwoman Linda Cropp said. "The worst thing is the tagging. The National Park Service has had to continually remove script Ws from monuments, buildings, and RFK Stadium. I don't think the fans of either team are smart enough to realize they both use the same W."

Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, too, was offended by what he called "the invasion of neocons, supported by the Israelis, attempting to unnaturally influence the political climate by showing graphiti support for the President."

Seattle Riots on News of Ineligible Player

Police Called Out to Restore Order

Thousands of Mariners fans took to the streets of downtown Seattle tonight following the announcement by the Molson Baseball League that the World Champion San Francisco Giants used an ineligible player during their recent playoff run, which included seven-game series victories over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Honus Wagner League Championship and the Seattle Mariners in the World Series. Fans flocked into Pioneer Plaza and the area near Pike's Place Market chanting, "We want justice," and "Giants suck." San Franscisco owner Peter Spellos, a longtime Washington Capitals fan, was burned in effigy in several areas of the city.

Brian Fuentes, the center of the scandal, could not be reached for comment. The San Francisco Giants organization also refused requests for interviews for this story.

"This is a terrible scandal," Mariners season ticket holder Angelina Jolie said. "Shoeless Joe Fuentes has a nice ring to it." Ms. Jolie then quickly moved to adopt a Seattle youth.

As news of the scandal spread, fans that had gathered outside the final residence of Nirvana lead man Kurt Cobain reacted with rage and quickly organized a Spellos movie burning. Unfortunately, they were met with disappointment as they moved from video outlet to video outlet seeking fuel for their bonfire. Ultimately, one enterprising resident sold a copy of Bound and an American Dream: Season One box set to the crowd.

"If Miles Brand were in charge, the Giants would be handing in their rings," one resident said, "and probably would not be allowed to play in the postseason or on television for a year or two."

Steroids Scandal Rocks Molson League

The Molson Baseball League was rocked this evening with news that the Commissioner's office had released a list of players that had failed league steroids testing. although the list includes many players accused of marginal infractions, some players reportedly performed well beyond expectation during the 2005 season, and fines are expected.

"It is true," Commissioner Jack Buchanan said this evening from FedEx Field where the Washington Redskins had just demolished the Dallas Cowboys. "Although there are many onesy-twoseys, there are some serious violators of league useage rules that will lead to penalties."

The most serious violators were relievers. Arizona's Greg Aquino, Cleveland's Chad Qualls, Oakland's Chris Reitsma and Kyle Farnsworth, and last but not least, San Francisco's Brian Fuentes. Among hitters, Florida's Ray Durham was perhaps the winner, appearing in more than 20 unauthorized games. Other notable violators include Oakland's Joe Kennedy; the Senators' Frank Thomas, Mike Lieberthal, and Scott Williamson; and San Diego's Jorge Posada.

"Brian Fuentes was not an unimportant player in the World Series," Buchanan said, "and had I known he had been so grossly outside the parameters of league rules, I would have petitioned for his suspension for the playoffs." Fuentes appeared in five of seven World Series contests.

The Chicago White Sox led the league with twelve overused players, narrowly besting Houston (10) and Oakland (8).

"Teams are invited to write a defense of their overuse," Buchanan said, "but penalties are forthcoming."

SIX SHOOTER - Trader Jack in The Hot Seat with The Pistol

SIX SHOOTER target this week is none other than Trader Jack Buchanan (seen here at a recent fan "rally" in "Seattle". 6 tough questions for the owner of the Seattle Mariners and architect of the new MBL. When last we left TJ, he was mumbling the word Bottalico outside a Bay Area North Shore bar. We caught up with Buchanan at his winter haven, 90 miles off the coast of Florida.....

1. The M's gave up 19 runs in the last two games of the MBLWS. With all those young guns, is the bullpen an area of concern for the 2006 Mariners?

(Jack) No. Most of those runs were off our starters, actually. Nathan and Gonzalez should form a powerful tandem for some time to come, and Aaron Fultz has been signed to provide balance to Bob Howry in the set-up role. I think our pen will be stronger next year and our rotation considerably weaker (since I know the MBL stats).

2. You chose an AL city to own a team in, yet the M's don't use the DH. Why?

(Jack) The DH should be outlawed from MLB, too. As a long-time Cardinals fan, I always have enjoyed small ball rather than the softballish scoring exhibited in MLB today. I am bored by Coors Field-type slugfests. When I reentered the league, the Cardinals were obviously taken, so I moved Klug's Athletics to Seattle, a city which offered a pitcher's park and has been a casual favorite of mine since visiting there in 1993.

3. What is your favorite Peter Spellos film?

(Jack) Silent or talkie?

4. Should their be asterisk next to Barry Bonds name if he surpasses Hanl Aaron's HR record?

(Jack) Yes.

5. Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Garner or Jennifer Love Hewitt?

(Jack) Jennifer Buchanan?

6. One last time: Pete Rose, Hall of Fame?

(Jack) Yes, but only if it is the National Gambling Association Hall of Fame. He should not be allowed near Cooperstown, and anyone that thinks he did not bet on baseball hasn't looked at the evidence.

Next up before Christmas will be former Cubs owner and current brother James Spelllos...

Six Shooter - On the MBL Hot Seat with The Pistol

Let me welcome you to a new regular column here at The Home Plate Press called, SIX SHOOTER - 6 Tough Questions for the MBL Owners. This forum will be a way to get to know some old friends, as well as our new ones, while dealing with the issuses and answers to smoking gun questions from America's favorite "loaded" weapon, The Pistol.

First up, Brad Colvey, (seen in photo with disgruntled A's season ticket holders) owner of the SF Giants Bay area rivals, the Oakland A's:

1. What do the A's need to do to compete with the Giants in their division?

[Brad Colvey] One word - Pitching. It looks as though the Giants will be coming back to the pack this year. I think offensively we can compete, and with another quality arm or 2 we should at least keep the Giants from winning the Division by 20 games.

2. Choose any 2 current players (one hitter, one pitcher) to start a franchise with today.

[Brad Colvey] Hitter - Albert Pujols - there is nothing he can't do. Pitcher - I'd take our own Johan Santana, although you couldn't go wrong with any of Seatle's starting five.

3. If you could make one MBL rule change, what would it be?

[Brad Colvey] Stricter steroid testing.

4. Paris France, Paris Texas, or Paris Hilton?

[Brad Colvey] France - less crowded than the Hilton.

5. Would you rather party with Babe Ruth, Jimmy Swaggert or the Minnesota Vikings?

[Brad Colvey] Vikings. The Babe's out of touch with today's partying, and I couldn't stand spending an evening with Swaggert. Plus, I love boats.

6. You have 30 minutes to speak with anyone alive in the world of baseball today. Who is it?

[Brad Colvey] Barry Bonds - I'd like to take him some "before" and "after" photos and see if he goes on a 30 minute incoherent tirade.

Celebs Carry On at Giants Victory Parade

It's all smiles in the Bay Area as the stars turned out for the San Francisco Giants, MBL World Series Champions, and their victory parade.

Commish Biermann (background) can be scene joking with Giant fans Cameron Diaz, Mike Myers and Antonio Banderas, as fans everwhere, even Albany , NY, cheered the G-Men's victory vs. the young Seattle Mariners.

Rumors persist around SF that former Cubs owner James Spellos will join the Giants staff as special consultant, and will personally see to the Josh Towers reclamation project.

Move Over Marlins, You Have Company

The Detroit Tigers were purchased today by investor David Yamin and immediately relocated to Tampa where they will be known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

"Strippers everywhere rejoice," said an exuberant club employee.

The Devil Rays--who will not use the designated hitter rule--will join the Cardinals, Dodgers, White Sox, and Blue Jays in the Gateway Division.

With the purchase of the Tigers, the 2006 set of MBL owners seems set.

Giants Champs Again! - Thome's 2 HR's Sink M's

The San Francisco Giants are MBL Champions. With a flair for the dramatic, much like their owner and manager, the G-Men spotted the M's a 4-1 lead before storming back on Jim Thome's (MVP)
2nd HR of the game to give the Giants an 11-6 vitory and the MBL Championship.

The favored Bay Area Boys spent most of the series chasing the young M's and their terrific pitching staff. "They're special," said a champagne soaked SF manager Peter Spellos about the M's staff, "but our boys, now these are HOF'ers. And remember age and trechery will always overcome youth and skill!" Well, that and 3 run HR's of course.

Game Seven started much the way Game Six did, with the M's jumping out on top, this time 2-0 on Raphael Furcal's 2 run dinger. They had pushed it up to 4-1 by the 4th when Thome started a string of 3AB's driving in 5 runs. His solo blast, 3rd HR of the series cut the lead to 4-2, where it remained until the home 6th. With one out, regular season MVP Mark Loretta walked, followed by Miguel "screw the O's" Tejeda's single. Up walked Thome, and just like he did in Game 7 vs ARI (walk-off 10th inn GW HR) Thome came center stage and delivered. One pitch turned into 3 runs and the G-Men had a 5-4 lead and ALL the momentum.

Thome had quite the last two games in SF to win series MVP. He went 5 for 7 with 7 RBI's, 2 BB and 3 HR. Combine that with another "SF Geriatric" Curt Schilling's game 6 performance, and you can see why these dinosaurs aren't extinct yet. Fiscal realities will set in during the off season, so both these future SF HOF'ers may be doing more fishing than playing ball in 2006.

Once SF had the lead, they delived the KO punch in the next (7th) inning. The one that sent M's owner Trade Jack leaping out the luxury box was Ricky Bottalico's check swing, seeing-eye single that made it 7-4 and opened the floodgates for a 6-run home 7th. The Young Mariners could never recover after that. The #1 hitting team Giants, who had scored only 9 runs in the first 5 games of the MBLWS, scored 19 in the last 2 at home to punctuate another terrific season, and bring home their 2nd MBL title in the last 3 years.

SF has averaged 103 wins over the last 4 years, and though age is catching up with many of them, Noah Lowry and Matt Cain are poised to lead the charge and bring the G-Men back to the series in 2006.

Back to back? "That's pretty damn tough to do," a cigar smoking Spellos crooned between
kisses from SF fans Jennifer Aniston and Gina Gershon. "But with our guys....anything can happen. And unlike our state Govenor....we'll be back!!!"

Oh, and somewhere, Quentin McQ and Jeremi G are having a beer, and smiling.....

Mariners Rebound, Look at 2006

Although certainly disappointed with their late meltdown in the 2005 World Series against the San Francisco Giants, the Seattle Mariners--long a doormat in the Bucky Harris Division--will look back fondly on the 2005 campaign as the year in which they returned to competitiveness. Seattle embarked on a dramatic rebuilding project in 2000, and began to see the fruits of that laborious process mature this season, perhaps a little too soon. But with a young core returning to Safeco Field for 2006, optimism is high in Seattle.

"Losing to the Giants was tough," ace Ben Sheets said, "but the experience of playing in three game sevens this year--winning twice--is something we can build on. We know we can get it done."

Seattle began preparing for the 2006 season by promoting youngsters Felix Hernandez and Yuniesky Betancourt to the major league roster, designating Jose Lima and Eli Marrero for assignment. Hernandez is expected to spend most of 2006 in Tacoma, and Betancourt likely will join him there with Rafael Furcal entrenched at shortstop.

"We need to make some trades this offseason, to be sure," owner Jack Buchanan said. "For the first time since I've been here, we have depth in the field, but may need to acquire a starting pitcher before leaving Arizona next spring."

Indeed, the Mariners are looking for Joe Mauer (.355-6-20) to push Michael Barrett (.249-11-50) from behind the dish. Many analysts expect Barrett, acquired last winter from the Expos, to be dealt this winter.

Paul Konerko (.257-32-95) seems set to return at firstbase despite a disappointing World Series performance, and Jorge Cantu (.322-1-17) will be given the first shot at secondbase. While Furcal (.260-3-23) is expected to return at short, David Bell (.304-9-57) is not expected to be with the team next season, leaving the hot corner for a spring competition between Michael Cuddyer (.276-7-33) and Ryan Freel (.263-3-40). Alternately, the organization may look outside its current roster to fill the need at secondbase or thirdbase, switching Cantu to the other position.

With the midseason trades for J.D. Drew (.328-12-57) and Ichiro Suzuki (.332.-1-16), Seattle's outfield depth is better than ever. Ken Griffey, Jr. (.277-26-59), had a renaissance season and formed an effective centerfield platoon with Wily Mo Pena (.285-26-62), yielding a combined 52 homeruns. Jeremy Reed (.281-0-4), Gary Matthews, Jr. (.261-9-37), and Joey Gathright (.286-0-0) will provide depth should they return to the fold.

Seattle's rebuilding effort has centered on pitching, and the staff should be even better in 2006 with another year of experience under their belts. Ben Sheets (16-9, 3.71), Josh Beckett (13-8, 3.24), and Rich Harden (16-9, 3.18) will balance southpaws Oliver Perez (15-3, 3.75) and Odalis Perez (10-10, 4.63). The bullpen will feature Joe Nathan (1.99, 6-4, 34 saves) again, with setup men Mike Gonzalez (1.87, 4-3, 2 saves) and Bob Howry (1.49, 6-3) also expected back.

Schilling Thrilling - Curt Pitches, Hits SF to Game 7

He saved the best for last.

And perhaps saved the Giants season as well. Curt Schilling, in what may be his last game as a Giant, went the distance AND knocked in the game-winning RBI as the SF Giants clobbered the Seattle Mariners 8-4, coming back from a 4-0, 1st inning hole to win Game Six of the MBL World Series. The Pre-Winter Classic now stands at 3-3, Schilling's heroics forcing game seven.

There were questions whether he fully healed from his injury that forced him out of Game Two. In the 1st inning, it looked almost over before it started. Rent-A-Ichiro's triple and Raphael Furcal's SF made it 1-0 before the fans were settled in their seats. After Drew popped out, Konerko walked, Griffey singled and Michael F-Ing Barrett cracked a 3 run HR to give Seattle a huge 4-0 1st inning lead.
Schilling then shut the door and hoped his teammateds bats would finally awake. They did by scoring in the each of the next 5 innings.

Jim Thome's single made it 4-1 after 1. Schilling, with a runner on 1st w/one out, was HBP, infurtiating manager Trade Jack Buchanan. David Newhan's double and Mark Loretta's SF made it 4-3 after 2. Thome struck again with a 3rd inning solo shot to tie it a 4-4, but the turning point came in the home 4th.

After Javier Valentin double to lead off, Curt Schilling came up and with the infield in at the corners, smashed a single to CF to give the Giants the lead for good. Robb Quinlan's SF and Valentin's 2 RBI triple cracked the game open in th 5th and there ended the scoring. Schilling went on to scatter 3 hits from the 2nd inning on to the end, needing only 103 pitches give the Giants a shot at their 2nd title in the last three years. Game 7. It gets no better than this.

It is now up to Pat Barry's favorite player and celebrity impersonator, David Wells, to bring the MBL Championship back home to the Bay Area.

M's Nip Giants 3-1, head to SF up 3-2

Randy Johnson can't catch a break.

He dropped his 2nd 3-1 decision to the Mariners, this time running into a hot Seattle bullpen. The Giants got 9 runners off victor Rich Harden in 6 innings but only could amass 1 run, Jim Thome scoring in Berniw Williams' triple. The M's got all the runs they'd need in the home 2nd on consecutive RBI's from Jorge Cantu, David Bell and Michael Barrett.

Game 5 was the first victory in the series for the home team. Game six SF willsend Curt Schilling to the mound (vs Josh Beckett), perhaps for his last time in a Giant uniform. The game is sold out, but if you need tix, call Pat Barry, there's always a pair reserved under his name at the 'Schtick...

Separated at Birth

Am I the Only One to Notice This???????

Lowry Seasons M's: Series Tied at 2-2

Dateline: Seattle

Rookie southpaw Noah Lowry is making the most of his one start per series this playoff season. He ran his post season record to 3-0 pitching the Giants to a 4-2 game 4 victory, knotting the series at two game apiece. Lowry had help from the Giants pen, with BJ Ryan stellar in Seattle, notching his 4th playoff save.

Bernie Williams 2 run HR put the Giants on top 3-1 after 2 innings. The game's pivoltal play may have come in the home 4th. Lowry seemed on the ropes with the bases loaded on 2 walks and 0 outs, but he induced Jorge Cantu into a 5-2-3 DP, then David Bell grounded to Loretta and the threat was snuffed. Cantu had a chance at redemtion in the 8th. With M's now only down 4-3 and JD "Ouch" Drew on 3rd with 2 outs, Cantu flied to CF and M's owner Jack Buchanan screamed "Where the hell's Jeff Kent when you really need him?"

With the Giants back in business at 2-2, Randy Johnson will take the mound in game 5 to make sure SF doesn't go sweep-less in Seattle. If injured starter Curt Schilling isn't ready for game 6 back in SF, David Wells will blearly take the mound on three days rest. All hands on deck. It's now a best of three series.

Giants Go To The Wells for Victory

Dateline: Seattle

The suddenly reeling SF Giants went to an old friend to bail them out of their 2-0 games jam vs. the upstart Seattle Mariners. David Wells (2-1, playoffs) scattered five hits over 7 innings and left the rest to pen to handle as the Giants won game 3 of the MBL series 3-2. SF now trails 2 games to 1.

Bernie Williams and Paul Konerko traded 2nd inning HR's then Jim Thome's HR made it 2-1 in the 4th. Miguel Tejada's RBI single in the 5th proved to be important becasue JD Drew homered in the home 6th to cut SF's lead to 3-2. Then Wells and Co. retired the last 12 M's after Drew's blast to keep the G-Men's championship hopes alive. Trevor Hoffman (3) got the save.

"This team is tough!", a beer soaked Wells crooned in the visitors locker room after the victory. "Wait 'til the Little Unit (Noah Lowry) shows 'em his stuff manana. Woof!"

Game Four puts Lowry vs game 1 winner Ben Sheets.

Instant Classic

Mariners Hurler Tosses One-Hitter in Game Two

After surprising the favored San Francisco Giants and their staff ace Randy Johnson in Game One, the Seattle Mariners turned to Josh Beckett in the second game at SBC Park when it became apparent scheduled starter Oliver Perez was unable to go. Beckett was up to the task, tossing a one-hit shutout and striking out nine as Seattle won, 7-0, to take a two game lead in the World Series.

San Francisco, which finished the regular season with 998 runs scored--tops in the Molson League--had difficulty with the Seattle righthander the entire game. Only Miguel Tejada managed a hit--a first-inning double. Beckett was 13-8 with a 3.24 ERA during the regular season, contributing to the staff that allowed the fewest runs in the Molson League.

Beckett is expected to get a second start at SBC Park in game six should the World Series last that long.

The Fantastic Four

If the Giants win their 2nd MBL Championship in the last 3 years vs. the M's (series tied at 2), look no further than the Fantastic Four for the reason. Well, game four, that is. Rookie phoenom Noah Lowry has started all 3 game 4's this post season, and has won them all. "Little Unit" playoffs pitching numbers look like this: 3-0, 3 QS, 3.32 era, 1.200 whip, 21.2 IP, 12k/6bb.

His regular season numbers also reflected on a bright Bay Area future: 6-2 6 of 11 QS, 3.50 era, 1.290 whip, 74.2 IP, 55k/24bb. The Giants pitching is as deep as the left field alley at SBC, and they most certainly will be looking to deal for hitters in the off-season.

Sources close to the team say that SF will protect another young stud, P Matt Cain, and use him as their first round choice in next March's FA draft. This could spell the end of the glorious tenure of Curt Schilling with the Giants. Stay tuned.....

Oh, yeah, almost forgot. Santa is sending Pat Barry season tix to the MBL Giants, so he'll always be able to be in the playoffs each season......

New York Yankees Sold to New Investor

Mr. Chip Sotolar (right) today officially announced his resignation from the Molson Baseball League, news that did not come as a surprise to the League. Mr. Sotolar--who had owned the Yankees for over 15 years--had been less able to steward the franchise last season, and finally decided it was time for fresh blood.

Although there are several highlights of Mr. Sotolar's tenure in the MBL, he is perhaps best known as the bait that led to questions regarding the sexual orientation of a former owner. That owner, whose names (he had two) will not be released for fear of legal action, upon initially sighting Mr. Sotolar in Cleveland, Ohio, said, "He's gorgeous!"

We wish Mr. Sotolar the best in his future endeavors.

The new owner of the Yankees is Mark Hetterich, a veteran of the American Baseball League and Yankees fan. Mr. Hetterich has promised the Bronx that he will not relocate the team, and that he will use the designated hitter rule in league play.

Mariners, Giants to Square Off for Title

The San Francisco Giants won an exciting seventh game over the Arizona Diamondbacks to secure the Joe McCarthy League pennant and earn a birth in the World Series to face the Stan Musial League Champion Seattle Mariners. Game one will be in San Francisco this weekend and probably will feature Ben Sheets for the Mariners against his father, the Giants' Randy Johnson. Tickets are selling briskly for this rivalry matchup.

"I miss playing in Atlanta," Seattle rightfielder Ichiro Suzuki said. "It was fun to beat their ass with regularity. We only play them once a year." Suzuki spent about a season with the Braves before returning to the Pacific Northwest mid-season.

Rumors have surfaced that the Boston Red Sox coaching staff has supplied the Mariners with hours of video footage and scouting tips on San Francisco. The New York Mets have also offered to assist Seattle bywhatever means possible.

When asked to make a series prediction, Mr. T said, "Pain."

Mariners Keep Warm Waiting on World Series Opponent

The Seattle Mariners returned to practice this week after enjoying a four-day break following their game seven win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Stan Musial League Championship Series. The Arizona Diamondbacks earned a split during the first two games in San Francisco, as the Joe McCarthy League Championship continues.

"It was a nice break," thirdbaseman David Bell said, "since I was able to get some Christmas shopping done. I hope we get started with the World Series soon, or some of these guys in the lockerroom will have to stay in the country illegally."

Unfortunately for the Mariners, the extra time off has not advanced healing on the injury front. Secondbaseman Jorge Cantu, who strained a bicep in the first game of the LCS, still cannot swing a bat and could be dropped from the World Series roster.

Baseball Returns to Minnesota

Roy Gorham this afternoon completed purchase of the Chicago Cubs from James Spellos. Mr. Gorham, of Ohio, also has decided to relocate the team to Minnesota, citing poor fan support in the friendy confines. Although the Molson League will return to Minneapolis-St. Paul next spring, the Twins will pick through the Chicago rookies this offseason.

The franchise (83-79) finished second to the San Francisco Giants last year, a mere twenty games behind.

Oakland Athletics owner Brad Colvey, for one, is happy about the change among the division rivals.

"Let's be honest. Minnesota is almost Canada, and Northwest offers considerably cheaper charters than United," Mr. Colvey said by phone.

Wait 'Til This Year in Boston

Boston Poised to Make Playoff Run in 2005
Trader Jack and Little Nicky Outmanuevered on Waiver Transaction

Thanks to a series of low buck signees the Sox are poised to make another serious run at the playoffs. As the snow falls on New England today, the long suffering denizens of Red Sox Nation, taunted by a movie fantasy Fever Pitch, that actually portrays them winning the World Series, instead of the cruel debacle surrounding last years play-in game, at last have a reason for hope. A picture of the elaborate fake parade filmed for the movie is shown at left.

The Sox have long been known as A-Rod and the little Red Midgets. This year he has help. Brady Clark was signed and at last the team has a good CF to replace Griffey. Hillenbrand and Tony Clark now man the corners, A-Rod and the underrated Placido Polanco form the best Keystone Combo around. Of course A-Rod and his sister might be better than most teams have to offer. Matt Stairs and Jay Gibbons and Magglio Ordonez figure to see time in the OF. young'ens MacPherson and Kubel figure to mature on the farms.

The pitching is much improved. The lefty brigade of Fossum Moyer and Rusch look to be much improved aiding the remarkable Freddy Garcia and Livian hernandez. Rhodes, Wise Miller and ageless Todd Jones are back from an underappreciated and overworked 2005 bullpen.

All in all a great core, at least by Beantown standards. Maybe a corner has been turned. Or will fate in the form of a salary cap decimate this team. Time will tell my friends.

Chicago Cubs Open

Jim Spellos saddened Chicago Cubs fans everywhere this morning by officially announcing he can no longer continue his duties and owner of the club. Mr. Spellos's resignation is expected to be filled within the next few days.

Mr. Spellos, who had been with the league for over five years, initially had owned the Pittsburgh Pirates before relocating the team to the Windy City.

Cardinals Secure First Pick

The St. Louis Cardinals, by virtue of their league-worst 64-98 record last season, will choose first in next spring's Rookie/Free Agent Draft. The Redbirds--who may be scouting Zach Duke--will be followed by the perrenial cellar-dweller Tigers and then the Atlanta Braves, who find themselves in unusual territory. Atlanta owner Steve Sargent may have to, for the first time in several years, show up within the first hour of the draft's beginning.

Atlanta and Oakland finished with 72-90 records, but the Athletics won the season series, 5-1. Similarly, the Chicago White Sox and newly-relocated Washington Nationals finished tied, 76-86, but the Pale Hose get the nod because of their 2-4 record against the former Montreal Expos last year. The New York Mets and Florida Marlins will have a tiebreaker at a later date as will the Toronto Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks.