News and notes from Latin baseball

While baseball fans, players and officials debated the merits of the increased presence of instant replay during Major League postseason games, replay...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 06, 2009

Obstacles to a World Series rematch

Charlie Manuel quoted a general after Game 6, in pronouncing that the baseball world has not seen the last of the Phillies. "I'll tell you something -...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 05, 2009

Cuban prospect Ruiz creating buzz

Cuban first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz, a defector who was declared a free agent this summer, continues to impress scouts during workouts. In the past tw...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 04, 2009

Six key matchups for Game 6

Six key matchups to watch in Game 6: Chase Utley versus the Yankees' adjustments: The Phillies' second baseman is not missing any fastballs; he is ha...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 04, 2009

...2009: Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee (34) throwing a pitch during the game between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Astros beat the Phillies...

Howard's slide-step hurting the Phillies

The great thing about the postseason, an evaluator noted the other day, is that you always find out what the real weaknesses of hitters are (or at lea...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 02, 2009

Winter market forecast: A flood of non-tenders

The conversations between general managers began accelerating this week, and some have noticed a distinct trend that does not bode well for this winte...

Blog Entry | Conversation | October 31, 2009

Arnsberg named Astros' pitching coach

The Astros added several coaches to new manager Brad Mills' staff Friday.

Jays' Gaston to be adviser after '10

Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston has signed a four-year consulting contract with the team that will begin when his managerial deal expires at the end of the 2010 season.

The leftovers tell us a lot from Game 2

It has been a World Series of pitching so far, with the inevitable umpiring controversy sprinkled in. Some leftovers from Game 2: Mariano Rivera is ...

Blog Entry | Conversation | October 30, 2009

Houston Astros

CINCINNATI - 1979: Outfielder Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros swings at the pitch during a game a 1979 season game against the Cincinnati Reds at...

Lee's calm is the Yankees' storm

We are accustomed to seeing October tension reflected in the eyes of the pitchers. Orel Hershiser's eyes in 1988 were intense -- the Bulldog locked in...

Blog Entry | Conversation | October 29, 2009

The top matchups of the World Series

These are my top matchups of the World Series, beyond the battle of old friends CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee: The Yankees' hitters against Cliff Lee's f...

Blog Entry | Conversation | October 28, 2009

A wrong message in McGwire's return

Tony La Russa, Bud Selig and others celebrating Mark McGwire's return to baseball still don't get it. This isn't the lesson baseball needs to be teaching.

Meet the World Series umpiring crew

Beginning with crew chief Gerry Davis, ESPN.com takes a closer look at the umpires for this year's World Series.