PREFERS TEMPLE'S OFFENSE TO PRINCETON'S
JEERS: To Barry Bonds. He played his last home game for the Giants Wednesday night. After it was over, the crowd chanted his name, pleading for one last curtain call.
Longtime teammate Rich Aurilia noted before the game that the people of San Francisco had consistently supported Bonds even as he became one of baseball's most controversial figures. "The fans here loved Barry for the last 15 years, win, lose, draw or controversy," he noted.
Aurilia is right. Which is exactly why Bonds, who hasn't hit a home run since Sept. 5 and isn't expected to play this weekend in Los Angeles, was so wrong not to give them the final farewell they deserved.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3: Teams in history to make the playoffs despite being outscored for the season: 1987 Twins, 1997 Giants and 2005 Padres. The Diamondbacks are poised to join that list this season.
7: Division titles for the Indians since the leagues were split into three divisions in 1994. Only the Braves and Yankees have finished first more often.
16: Times the Brewers have blown leads of three runs or more this season, most in the majors.
UP NEXT: Alex Rodriguez already has topped 50 homers and become the first Yankee with more than 150 RBI since Joe DiMaggio in 1948. He's the clear front-runner to win another AL MVP Award. But none of that will matter next week when the playoffs start. A-Rod is 4-for-41 (.098) in his last 12 postseason games and hasn't driven in a run. New York is 3-9 in those games, but Rodriguez sounds confident that this year will be different. "More than anything, I think it's keeping the intensity of each at-bat at a high level," he said.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Mets closer Billy Wagner, on the team's recent bullpen meltdown: "I think they're bringing in Tom Seaver tomorrow. Basically, anybody who can get three outs right now."
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Mets closer Billy Wagner, on the team's recent bullpen meltdown: "I think they're bringing in Tom Seaver tomorrow. Basically, anybody who can get three outs right now."DÉJÀ VU OF THE WEEK: Would the Phillies trade for a veteran White Sox righthander, with a workhorse reputation and 1 big-money year left on his contract, coming off a mediocre season but a strong finish in September?
They did it last year with Freddy Garcia and ended up getting one win for the $10 million (not to mention pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Gavin Floyd that it cost them).
Now it appears the Sox will shop righthander Jon Garland this winter. He'll make $12 million in 2008, the final year of his contract. He is a disappointing 10-13 with a 4.23 earned run average but had a 1.38 ERA in five September starts. He also pitched over 200 innings for the fourth straight year.
ONE MORE THING: The Phillies had a scout at the White Sox game Wednesday for the express purpose of watching Garland pitch.
U-TURN OF THE WEEK: Indians righthander Fausto Carmona was 1-10 for the Tribe in 2006. This year he is 19-8 and his 3.06 earned run average is expected to lead the league.
TIMING OF THE WEEK: Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent lashed out this week, taking veiled shots at both manager Grady Little and the team's faction of younger players. "I don't know why they don't get it," he said in part. "I'm angry, disappointed, perplexed, bitter, curious. Pretty soon we're going to pay the piper and it's going to be painful."
The timing of Kent's outburst was interesting. He did it immediately after he got his 550th plate appearance of the season, which vested his $9 million option for 2008.
Little wouldn't respond directly, but did indicate that he thought Kent should take his share of the blame. "In a lot of ways, it's like a two-way street," the manager observed.
There are some fans in Pittsburgh who are calling for the dismissal of Pirates manager Jim Tracy. And it could happen. New general manager Neal Huntington repeatedly declined to address the manager's status during his introductory press conference. That's baseball.
There are some fans in Pittsburgh who are calling for the dismissal of Pirates manager . And it could happen. New general manager repeatedly declined to address the manager's status during his introductory press conference. That's baseball.
