Today's Lineup

…or nine stories from around the Majors you may have missed today.

Interested in each MLB team's TV deals? Fangraphs has it covered. Speaking of TV deals the Nationals talks with MASN is on a flight to nowhere.

River Avenue Blues examines the Yankees infield defense over the past decade.

While I'm sitting here, typing, waiting for either QPR or Sunderland to score, the Braves are waiting by the phone – so are the Phillies – for B.J. Upton to call.

Former MLB union chief Marvin Miller has died at age 95.

Coyotes are starting an early line for Cubs tickets.

The White Sox have promoted former Bristol Sox manager Bobby Thingpen – he's done a few other things, too – to be the big club's bullpen coach.

The Oakland A's are donating one full player playoff share to charity.

Jonathan Broxton and the Reds may be nearing a multi-year deal.

Is Rafael Soriano talking with the Tigers?

That QPR – Sunderland match was dreadful. Both teams desperately needed a win. The game ended 0-0. #comeonfulham

Forget Racing; Bristol is for Baseball

Bristol White Sox

Hey, we get at least two more years to root, root, root for the White Sox in Bristol.

Occasionally on this blog I want to highlight baseball topics, both current and historical, local to my geographic region, Southwest Virginia. Ever heard of the Marion Cuckoos? You will soon if you keep reading this blog.

But this morning, I simply want to share a news release from Bristol Baseball, Inc. announcing a two-year continued affiliation with the Chicago White Sox.

Here's the news release:

Bristol Baseball, Inc. announces continued affiliation with Chicago White Sox

Bristol Baseball, Inc. (BBI) has announced the signing of a two-year management agreement with the Chicago White Sox.

The agreement ensures that professional baseball will remain alive in the Twin Cities for the forty-fifth and forty-sixth consecutive summers, with BBI operating the Bristol White Sox team competing in the advanced rookie level Appalachian League.

“We are excited to continue our relationship with the Chicago White Sox,” said Mahlon Luttrell, President of BBI and General Manager for the Bristol Sox. “This agreement will allow us to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sox in Bristol in 2014.”

For more information on the Bristol Sox and professional baseball in Bristol, visit BristolSox.com and BristolBaseball.com.

Four More Years

In case you missed it – are you living in your mom's basement with no Internet access? – our lefty POTUS has been given a four-year extension.

Has A-Rod Played His Last Game in Yankees Pinstripes?

I'm listening and watching and reading… for what team will Alex Rodriguez be striking out next year?

This, for sure, seems destined at this point to be THE story of the hot stove league.

Rumors began circulating Wednesday, apparently by the always reliable Keith Olbermann, about a possible off-season trade that would send A-Rod to Miami – he lives there, ya know? – with the Yankees eating much of his $114 million remaining salary.

Are the Yankees really so sick of the guy that they'd consider sucking it up and moving on, paying him to play for another team? If you believe the reports, it sure appears that way.

And if it happens – the trade to Miami, that is, who do Yankees fans want from the Marlins roster in return? Did I really hear someone on the radio this morning mention Heather Bell? Really?

I'm still in wait and see mode, but with A-Rod getting benched for what will be three consecutive starts in ALCS Game 4 tonight – in favor of a guy who's batting oh-for-12 in the postseason – it's becoming increasing difficult to see how the Yankees and A-Rod can come back together in spring training like nothing ever happened, like right handed pitchers ceased to exist over the winter.

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By the way, Bob Nightengale has a story on usatoday.com saying A-Rod, who has a full no-trade clause, is telling friends (and cute bikini models in the stands?) he will not block a trade, but will only go to a large-market team. That seams fair. I never saw a pending reunion between A-Rod and A.J. Burnett happening in Pittsburgh.

But where will Rodriguez end up if the Yankees can and will pull the trigger on a trade? Could it be Miami? Dodgers? Angels? White Sox? Cubs? None of those seem logical, but who knows?

Rosey Hopes for Bristol Fans

The announcement Monday that Pete Rose Jr. will manage the Bristol White Sox in 2011 excited me far less than when Bobby Thigpen was named skipper of the Appalachian League team a few years back.

However, folks in the self-proclaimed birthplace of country music are buzzing over the move. The reason for the excitement is obvious. They’re all hoping that Pete senior will make an appearance at the ballpark. The Bristol Sox general manager said so.
“I think it’s going to add a lot of excitement to the fans this summer with a name like that obviously,” Bristol general manager Mahlon Luttrell told the Bristol Herald Courier. “Hopefully, if all permitting, his dad will attend the ballpark a few times this summer.”

That’s cool. I go to a few Bristol Sox games each summer and, at best, the ballpark lacks enthusiasm. That’s being kind. So maybe – and I hope this proves to be true – the addition and Pete Jr. and the hope that his pop will attend a few Bristol Sox games will bring a much-needed infusion of excitement to Boyce Cox Field.

Will the possibility of seeing the all-time hits king hanging out at Bristol Sox games prompt to me to make a few more visits to the ballpark? You bet it will.