There is nothing new to report on the Johan Santana front as the Red Sox and Twins didn’t reach any sort of agreement after the Red Sox held an organizational meeting at midnight Nashville time.

With everyone expecting the Santana deal to take place first, another HUGE trade happened around 6 pm last night. The Marlins traded Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to the Detroit Tigers for Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Mike Rabelo and three pitching prospects.

Detroit did pull off another deal earlier in the day with the Rockies. They sent Jose Capellan to the Rockies for Denny Bautista.

Lots of rumors flying yesterday including Orioles pitcher Erik Bedard going to a number of different teams. Other names mentioned yesterday in trade talks includes Scott Rolen, Chris Capuano, Miguel Tejada, Livan Hernandez, Jose Valverde, Chris Burke, Alex Rios, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Dan Haren, Mark Prior and Josh Hamilton.

Believe it or not, there is other things going on in Nashville other than the Johan Santana sweepstakes.

The Rays finally got rid of their much maligned outfielder Elijah Dukes as they traded him to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later who turned out to be minor league pitcher Glenn Gibson.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox swapped players yesterday as the White Sox traded first base prospect Chris Carter for D’backs outfielder Carlos Quentin.

There are reports circulating that the Royals and free agent outfielder Jose Guillen have come to terms on a 3-year $36 million deal.

The Red Sox have expressed an interest Rockies setup man Brian Fuentes.

The Yankees did make a trade last night as they traded Tyler Clippard to the Nationals for Jonathan Albaladejo

Other than that there was just a lot of other names circulating around in trade talks, free agent signings.

Dick Williams, who managed the Red Sox to the “Impossible Dream” season in 1967, along with former commissioner Bowie Kuhn, long-time Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley, former Pittsburgh Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss and former manager Billy Southworth were all elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee on Monday.

Williams led three different teams to the World Series winning twice while managing the powerhouse Oakland A’s in 1972 and 1973 beating the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets. He also took the BoSox to their first series apprearance in 21 years in 1967 when they rode the back of future Hall member Carl Yasztremski in baseball’s last Triple Crown season. They lost in 7 games to the St. Louis Cardinals. Williams managed the San Diego Padres to the Fall Classic in 1984 where they lost to the Detroit Tigers.

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Could this be the year that Rich “Goose” Gossage and/or Jim Rice get into the Baseball Hall of Fame? Only time will tell.

The Hall of Fame Ballot was released and 575 members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will be receiving their ballots in the mail very shortly. There are 11 newcomers to the ballot and 14 returnees.

*newcomer to the 2008 ballot, must receive 5% (29) of the 575 votes to stay on it for 2009.

To be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, any of the eligible players must receive 75% (431 votes). If they don’t receive the required amount of votes, they must receive at least the 5% to stay on the ballot. If they don’t they are no longer eligible for the Hall of Fame. A player can stay on the ballot for 15 years if they receive the required amount of votes. Those players can still be elected to the Hall of Fame if the Veterans Committee decides they are Hall worthy.The Goose has the best chance of making the Hall as he got 71.1% of the vote last year. He still has 6 years left on the ballot so he should make it to the Hall shortly.

Rice on the other hand, faces a tougher challenge. He is in his 14th year on the ballot and has a lot of ground to make up as he received 63.5% of the votes last year.

Dave Concepcion is on his 15th and last ballot this year. Odds are he won’t be elected as he only received 13.6% of the votes last year.

Mark McGwire faces possible scrutiny again this year especially with the Mitchell Report looming. In his first year last year, he received 23.5% of the votes last year.

All of this bodes well for the Goose and maybe even Rice with no real star power on the ballot. The writers must postmark their ballots by December 31st and the results will be announced on January 8th, 2008.

While most of New England and Red Sox fans everywhere bask in the glow of the teams second World Series title in four seasons, the New York Yankees refuse to go away.

It is being reported that the New York Yankees have selected Joe Girardi to be their new manager replacing Joe Torre, who left after 12 years earlier this month. The Yankees have said to have offered Girardi a three-year deal for $6 million.

Girardi’s only managerial experience came in 2006 when he won the NL Manager of the Year while guiding a very young and inexperienced Florida Marlins team to a 78-84 record. Girardi was fired after that season because he didn’t get along with the Marlins upper management.

The Yankee job came down to three people. Girardi, who spent the season as an analyst on the Yankees YES network, Yankees bench coach Don Mattingly and Yankees first base coach Tony Pena. Both coaches are not expected to return.

Girardi, who wears his hair like Sgt. Hulka, played 15 major league seasons with the Cubs, Rockies, Cardinals and Yankees and played on three World Series winners in New York.

It is unknown how Girardi’s in your face, my way or the highway style will play with the Yankees. This may very well be another reason or Sox fans to celebrate today as Girardi’s style is sure to alienate the veteran leaders on the Yankees.

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With nothing to do tonight but watch the Yankees and my fathers beloved Indians I figured it might be a good spot for some commentary.

Top 1

Ok in the playoffs we have two umpires on the foul lines in the outfield. How does the guy looking right down the line miss a fair or foul call???? Then in the one game playoff they missed the HR in Colorado. That granted was a little harder because it barely cleared the rail but still get your ass out to wall and make the effin’ call.

According to Craig Sager Alex Rodriguez stretched three times yesterday to make sure he was loose for tonight’s game. He didn’t say what he stretched.

What thrift store did Sager get that jacket from?

You don’t wanna walk guys in the first inning. – Bob Brenly. Ok Bob when is a good time to walk guys then?

Did the Chip Caray guy just say that Sabathia gave up a long HR to right? The ball was right down the line into the lower deck, it was Johnny Damon who hit the damn thing not Barry Bonds. My grandmother can hit the ball that far and she’s been dead for 15 years.

Bottom 1

When I went to Florida last month I really fucked up and didn’t go to a “Sonic” like I should have. Now I kicking myself because I want one of those cheese steak bacon beef bombs or whatever the hell it is.

Chingy hit Grady Sizemore with the first pitch.

Asdrubal? What kind of a name is that? What do you call him? Dru-bie?

Speaking of nicknames the best one possibly in all of baseball belongs to Travis Hafner, they call him Pronk. He wore a T-shirt that said “I may not be smart but I can lift heavy things”.

Look at these two retards with the painted faces. Is one of those guys David Puddy? These are grown men btw, not kids. Hey I’m a dork and I’ll wear a team jersey but I refuse to look like the total ass bag and paint my face.

TBS needs to find two different fans to show besides the guys with the face paint. There’s like 40,000 other people there. Show a few.

Hey we gotta 1-1 ball game because of Ryan Garko.

I’m surprised that Cabrera didn’t come up and try to take a shot a Hafner at the plate – Tony Gwynn. Tony he did try, Mientkeiwiahjdfyagakaka cut the ball off.

Was Jhonny Peralta’s mom dyslexic? I can just picture the kids teacher circling his name in red everyday in class.

Damn the Jake is rocking now with the sacks juiced thanks to a walk here comes Kenny Lofton.

Single to center two runs, but Jhonny gets hung between 2^nd and 3^rd to end the inning.

Top 2
Doug Mientkiewahajadkjakaka fell getting off the team bus tonight. That’s karma for the whole world series ball thing.

Top 3

Derek Jeter damn near screwed himself into the ground on the strikeout. If he had screwed himself into the ground could he give the dirt herpes?

Bottom 3

Holy crap Dru-bie goes yard off of Chingy

Jesus Bron Bron is everywhere. He was at the Bengals-Pats game Monday night and now tonight he’s at the Indians-Yanks game, wearing a Yankee hat. It probably didn’t go over well with all those Cavs fans. Turns out he’s a Jeter fan, hopefully he didn’t the herp like Jessica Alba did.

They talking about how Torre is sticking with the Wanger because of all the wins he has had the last two years and with the Yankee bats you’re never out it. No the reason Torre stays with Chingy is his bullpen sucks before he gets to Joba and Mariano. If you had a choice between Chingy or Farnsworth who would you take?

Bottom 4

“Tony, what does it mean when a pitcher needs to extend?” – Chip Caray. Jesus Chip you act like ain’t never seen a ball game before. (I just couldn’t come up with the Grandpa Chip jokes from Talladega Nights).

Can Chip Caray over pronounce “uncomfortable” just one more time please?

Did Chip just say the Yankees big four (pitchers) made most of their starts? To quote Tom Jackson. “Are you retarded”?

Is it me or is the crowd noise overpowering???

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The Astros paid for overestimating their talent in 2007.

The Braves will not be re-signing Andruw Jones for 2008.

The Brewers believe they played their best down the stretch.

Cardinals skipper Tony LaRussa is unsure about his future.

Lou Pinella has put the swagger back in the Cubs.

The Diamondbacks don’t mind being underdogs.

The Dodgers started their youth movement in 2007.

The Giants have a lot of questions to answer for 2008.

The Marlins have a lot to build on for 2008.

Willie Randolph will remain Mets skipper despite the collapse.

Justin Maxwell impressed the Nationals brass this season.

The Padres 2007 season was like a roller coaster ride.

The Phillies left Adam Eaton off their NLDS roster.

The Pirates had an inconsistent 2007 season.

The Reds fell short of their expectations in 2007.

The Rockies are playing percentages by starting two lefties in the NLDS.

The Dodgers will look to continue their youth movement next year.

Angels reliever Chris Bootcheck has a new look on life with the recent birth of his daughter.

Giants beat writer Chris Haft posts your letters about Bonds

Mychael Urban answers A’s fans’ questions in this week’s mailbag.

The Diamondbacks pulled Brandon Webb from his start on Thursday due to a chance of rain in Pittsburgh.

The Mariners announced that GM Bill Bavasi and manager John McLaren will return for the 2008 season.

Rockies skipper Clint Hurdle is touting Matt Holliday for NL MVP.

Before going after free agents in the offseason, the Rangers will look to fill holes internally.

The Padres pitchers will be very careful when they face Prince Fielder this weekend.

Craig Biggio will play catcher on Saturday for the Astros.

The Indians are in the process of making decisions about their postseason roster.

Bill Hall has made some adjustments in his swing for the Brewers.

Royals pitcher Jorge De La Rosa has been tipping his pitches all season.

Despite a sore shoulder, Anthony Reyes will pitch for the ailing Cardinals bullpen this weekend.

Jim Leyland will meet with the Tiger’s GM on Monday to talk about a contract extension.

Cubs skipper Lou Pinella made some tweaks to his rotation despite not being in the playoffs yet.

Torii Hunter had some harsh words to say about his Twins teammates on a radio show Tuesday.

SS Jack Wilson is going to do everything he can to convince the Pirates to keep him.

Lance Broadway will make his first Major League start today for the White Sox.

Josh Hamilton enjoyed his first season in the big leagues with the Reds.

(Image from Vote756.com) Click to see full size.

The people have spoken in the case of Barry Bond’s 756th home run ball. We the people have decided that the ball will go to Cooperstown with an asterisk branded into it.

Fashion designer Marc Ecko had bought the ball and decided to let the people vote on the fate of the ball. Now that the public has spoken, Ecko will turn the ball over to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

“We’re happy to get it,” Hall of Fame president Dale Petroskey said. “We’re a nonprofit history museum, so this ball wouldn’t be coming to Cooperstown without Marc Ecko buying it from the fan who caught it.”

Even though it was voted to be branded because of Bond’s alleged steroid use, the Hall of Fame doesn’t think Bonds did it by accepting the ball.

Personally, I think it’s great that it will be in the Hall of Fame with an asterisk on it. While Bonds has publicly denied using steroids, the evidence is there. And the people agree by voting the ball to Hall of Fame, branded with an asterisk on it.