Ron Washington b4 game 7.

Classy move, Albert:

He's all about the $.

He can't even let his teammates make a few extra bucks.

Cards hire Matheny. I'm not one to be too opinionated on managerial hires, since I've never been able to completely grasp the entirety of what they do. Manage personalities. Keep the team focused. Fill out the lineup card. Not to many X's and O's and not much effect on player performance so just lots of intangibles, making this a wait 'n see hire. 

Didn't know the Cardinals have now had 49 different managers. A lot considering the last three have coached 30 yrs.

It's odd that first the White Sox, now the Cardinals and later this week the Cubs will all have hired managers without a shred of ML managing experience.  The Red Sox could complete a really odd quartet depending on who they hire.

It is odd.  What's driving that?  GMs not wanting to deal with a manager that has enough influence to force moves?  The decent success of the Diamondbacks this season under Gibson (I don't think he managed before, did he?)?

I think each situation is very unique so far.  The Sox wanted the anti-Ozzie.  The Cubs have a new braintrust.  The Cards went with an in-house guy that also could have been Oquendo, who would also fit this situation. 

I don't think it's so odd that you're getting a lot of 'younger'/inexperienced managers getting a go. For a FO/manager combination to work properly, you have to be on the same page regarding player worth, there's no point a FO evaluating guys based on advanced metrics, if the manager is going to bunt every time the guy comes to the plate, because he only hits .260 and clogs the bases by walking  (Slightly extreme, but you get my point).

Advanced metrics, are whilst not new, have come to prominence within the last 20 years; typically you would imagine older managers to be more set in their way of doing things, i think some FO's are finding more common ground with the inexperienced guys and hence giving them a shot.

There's a tendency to make too much of a perceived pattern within a small range. Baseball teams have often named managers with no managerial experience. Larussa had little or none when he started with the White Sox. The only gamble, really, is whether the man can handle personalities. Experienced players know everything else they need to know about how to play the game. Experience teaches only those who are paying attention.

Looks like the Marlins won't be able to go any higher on their offer to Pujols.

I actually think the 22/yr level is pretty reasonable. Thats about what they offered last year and every body was talking 25-30. Even when he declines on the back half of this deal, 22mil will worth a lot less due to inflation. And heck, we pay Holliday 17mil and Worthless Westbrook 10mil.

If Pujols signs for 10x22, Lozano should be banned from being an agent. He'd be better off settling for less years and higher AAV.

I was thinking about giving Lazano season tickets for life if it worked out.