Billy Beane says Sandy Alderson is perfect guy to lead Mets  —  Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane knows exactly why Sandy Alderson can stare into the Mets' abyss and see hope.  “It's because Sandy loves a challenge,” he said.  “The big thing is how knows it's not how quickly …

Pot charge casts doubt on Cubs' bullpen catcher's job  —  Cubs bullpen catcher Corey Miller's four-year tenure with the team likely is over after he was busted for marijuana possession Saturday while driving through Lincoln, Neb., earlier this week.  His contract with the team expires Monday.

Ichiro Suzuki, meet linear weights  —  Depending on when a given event occurs in a baseball game, it will have a different impact on the runs scoring differential.  A single, for example, is worth almost twice as much with a runner on first than it is with the bases empty.

Now you know why Ed Wade acquired Miguel Tejada, Mike Hampton, etc.  —  Now you know why it was easy to believe Astros general manager Ed Wade had done the right thing when he took a chance on Miguel Tejada.  This World Series is for you, Ed.  —  He went out and got Pedro Feliz for the same reason he got Miguel Tejada.

Source: Sox' Williams would give Quentin for Rasmus  —  If it's not nailed down or named “Reinsdorf,” White Sox general manager Ken Williams will try to trade it — as supported by a Sun-Times report Friday that Williams had offered manager Ozzie Guillen to the Florida Marlins for highly touted outfielder Mike Stanton.

On The Importance Of Playoff Experience  —  262 innings have been thrown this month by pitchers with previous playoff experience prior to 2010.  Those 262 innings have been thrown over 30 starts and 92 relief appearances.  Over those 262 innings, the pitchers have a combined 3.78 ERA, with an 8.3 strikeout rate and a 2.7 walk rate.

Rangers' Colby Lewis has been second to none  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  ARLINGTON, Texas - Colby Lewis has been Texas' second-best starter this season, but one stellar start tonight and he could move ahead of Cliff Lee in terms of playoff performance.

Don Mattingly ran out of pitchers while managing in fall league  —  Hired as the Dodgers' manager despite having zero actual managerial experience, Don Mattingly headed to the Arizona Fall League to get some games under his belt skippering the Phoenix Desert Dogs.

A look at what lies ahead for the Yankees  —  NEW YORK — Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman just held a conference call following official news of the manager's new three-year deal.  —  “I didn't really think about leaving the Yankees,” Girardi said.  —  Anyway, the Yankees manager …

Inbox: How will Houston handle offseason?  —  Beat reporter Brian McTaggart answers fans' questions … What do you think are the chances that Carlos Lee will be traded?  Since his full no-trade clause expired at the end of 2010 and is now a partial no-trade clause, what does that mean …

Giants' Offense Proving a Big Hit in World Series  —  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Hensley Meulens became the Giants' hitting coach a year ago, facing a daunting question: How to turn around a sluggish offense?  —  What a job his hitters have done so far in the World Series.