ESPN is reporting that Bud Selig as well as Ryozo Kato, commissioner of Japanese baseball, are working to institute a yearly series between the champions of Japanese and American baseball before Selig's retirement in 2012. I think by and large Selig has done more bad than good in his tenure as commissioner, but I would wholeheartedly support something like this. It would be great for the worldwide growth of baseball.

Believe it or not, Aaron Miles finished ahead of Matt Holliday in the 2004 NL rookie of the year voting. How times change.

A rare good column from Phil Rogers explores the possibility that Bud Selig's newly formed rule revision group might lead to the end of the DH rule in the AL. Maybe it's too fantastical a thing to hope for, but it would be great to see the two leagues on equal footing once again - and both playing /real/ baseball.

Could the explanation for Brad Lidge's disastrous '09 seriously be that simple? He's been pitching hurt all year? If that's the case the Phillies are idiots. Although I suppose this could just be an issue that developed late in the year.