As A.L.-N.L. Gap Widens, General Managers Tread Cautiously  —  CHICAGO — His shoulders shrugged.  His lips pursed.  But Kenny Williams bit his tongue one syllable too late.  —  “A guy going from the American League to the National League, no disrespect, but. ... ”

The Yankees Didn't Buy the World Series  —  Since 2004, 20 of baseball's 30 teams have made the playoffs.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Judging from the media coverage, it seems that the only thing the Yankees didn't do on their way to buying the 2009 World Series is ask the federal government for a bailout.

Opportunities knock for Yanks & Mets as others tighten fists  —  The GM Meetings lasted just one whole day and parts of two others in a Chicago airport hotel that had all the charm of Eric Mangini.  —  “By the time you unpacked, you were packing again,” one general manager said.

Inbox: Riggleman right man for job?  —  Beat reporter Bill Ladson answers Nats fans' questions  —  What did you think about the Nationals making Jim Riggleman the permanent manager?  —  It was a great move, because there is going to be discipline and accountability on the team …

Bottom line: Boras hounds owners that he says are crying wolf  —  Agents and teams have fought like cats and dogs for years, but there may never have been a time when the opinions were more divergent on the topic of spending money.  —  The Tigers, intent on cutting payroll …

Twenty-five years after his phenomenal rookie season, Dwight Gooden takes aim at his demons  —  Nobody hangs up Ks for Dwight Gooden anymore.  A mural of him - in mid-windup - no longer occupies the whole side of a building in Times Square.  —  More than half his life has passed since …

Book excerpt: Evaluating Baseball's Managers, 1876-2008  —  For the next few weeks, THT will publish excerpts from my new book Evaluating Baseball's Managers, 1876-2008, which is scheduled for release in December, but can be ordered now.  Please note, as an added bonus, and for a special limited time only …

Clone Wars: Jonathan Sanchez and Clayton Kershaw  —  This doesn't follow my normal comparison as I usually have two players with similar stat lines and try to explain why one player might be better or more surprising.  This time I found two players who couldn't have looked more different in 2009 …

Phils weigh options as free agency looms  —  Park, Eyre likely to return; Pedro not expected to be back  —  PHILADELPHIA — Let's catch up with where the Phillies stand as teams can sign free agents beginning Friday.  —  First, some important dates to know:

Former Yankees pitcher Ron Klimkowski dies at 65  —  Ron Klimkowski, a former pitcher  —  for the Yankees and the Oakland Athletics, has died at the age of 65.  —  Klimkowski died Friday of heart failure at Plainview Hospital, said his brother, Gary Klimkowski, 53, of Westbury.

No lack of interest in Angels pitcher  —  Free agent Lackey being courted by several teams  —  All eyes were on John Lackey as a 23-year-old rookie when he won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series, and all eyes are on him seven years later now that he's finally a free agent.