AROUND THE LEAGUE

***SELIG ON THE PIRATES***
Bud Selig says the Pirates "are not putting profits over winning." Don't tell me they're not making a profit, either.
***BOSTON VS LOS ANGELES***
Scouts are saying that the Angels can run wild against the Sox' catchers and that the Angel hitters can't hit good fastballs, which the Red Sox pitchers are noted for. Well, this ought to be interesting. One scout says the Sox' pitchers have to try different things to slow down base runners, such as throwing over to 1st more, holding the ball a little longer, using the slide step, etc. He also says he advocated the Roy Halladay approach. What's that? "You can run on Halladay but no one ever does, because he doesn't allow base runners." Good plan.
***OXYGEN, PLEASE***
Two teams who are feeling the pressure: The Phillies and the Rockies. Oh yeah: "METS FEVER. CATCH IT!" The Atlanta Braves are pushing both teams. 4 behind the Phils for the division and 2 behind Colorado for the wild-card.
***NO PRESSURE HERE***
The cubs are planning no major roster changes over the winter. Apparently second place is very comfortable.
***REMEMBER HIM?***
Nomar Garciaparra says he has given no thought as to whether or not he'll play next year. I wonder if he's given any thought to playing this year?
***THANK YOU VERY MUCH***
The Yankees, who played without 4 starters and used their #5 starter, beat the Royals 8-2. So naturally, some wise-ass reporter has to ask the KC manager how he liked getting beat by the Yanks "second team?" Why ask a manager a question like that, especially a nice guy like Trey Hillman? What's he supposed to say? "They looked like the first team to us."
***BIG DOUBLEHEADER TODAY***
The Tigers and the Twins go at it twice today with the AL Central up for grabs. The Tigers plan to start Porcello, their rookie phenom, in the 1st game, and their ace, Justin Verlander, in the 2nd game. It's just my opinion, but why put all that pressure on the rookie? I'd start Verlander in the first game. Win and it doesn't matter what Porcello does.Lose, and you're in a similar situation if he pitched the 1st game. I forgot; the Tigers have one of the two AL resident geniuses as the manager: Jim Leyland.