NL Central

The rumors seem to be piling up on a day-to-day basis nowadays.

Yes, the Brewers are currently looking for a new manager, and Bobby Valentine seems to be the sure-fire candidate to succeed Ken Macha.

Doug Melvin has reportedly denied the reports, writes MLB.com correspondent Adam McClavy.

Asked by the newspaper whether he had been at least offered the job, Valentine said, "We have met but there is nothing ongoing and no follow-up meeting is scheduled."

Even though he's a Pirate, Andy McCutchen is a well above league average player.

Newbies such as Pedro Alvarez, Jose Tabata and Neil Walker were all more or less league average in 2010, their rookie year (above average on offense, below average on defense).

Garrett Jones was moderately below average in 2010 after an above average half-year in 2009; a time-weighted performance suggests that he could be average.

According to a source on ESPN, Joe Girardi and the New York Yankees have reached agreement on a three-year contract that will pay him $3 million per season with a $500,000 bonus for winning the World Series.

I'm not sure what the Pirates are looking for in a manager right now, but apparently a proven track record is not one of the qualifications. 

Hometown boy Ken Macha was told by General Manager Neal Huntington that he is no longer being considered for the position.  This came several days after the Seattle Mariners hired leading candidate Eric Wedge, and John Gibbons removed himself from consideration.

I know everyone has been on the edge of their seats anxiously awaiting to see who would be so lucky to be honored by achieving my year-end Pirates awards.

On a team that lost 105 games, awards aren't likely for many of these guys. Or deserved for that matter. What fun would that be though?

Let's dive right in and see who receives the dubious honors to conclude the 2010 season.

Feel free to comment and add your own opinions on each award.

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The Reds got decent production from their catchers in 2010 with their trio of Ryan Hanigan, Ramon Hernandez and Corky Miller posting the following numbers:

When this trade was made two years ago, the Texas Rangers were getting a big time question mark, a guy who had tons of natural ability, but people weren't quite sure if he could put it all together and stay healthy.

The Reds, in desperate need of arms, got a man who had great stuff, but from all indications, had a bit of an attitude problem.

As Hamilton ascends into superstardom, playing a key role for the Rangers in this year's postseason, many are thinking that the Reds got robbed in this deal, in hindsight.

The 2010 MLB Postseason has been bittersweet for the Cincinnati Reds and their fans.

Making the playoffs for the first time since 1995 is a huge deal. In fact just getting over .500 was a cause for celebration this season.

The Reds were able to fight off the big bad St. Louis Cardinals and finally made it to October baseball.

But then the Reds were no-hit by the Philies Roy Halladay. Running into a buzzsaw like that was part bad luck, but also part first game jitters of an inexperienced team.

The score was 3-2 in favor of the Yankees. There were two on and two out for one of the most feared hitters in the game today, Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers led the series two games to one, so this was a critical at-bat for the Yankees and their underachieving pitcher A.J. Burnett.

Hamilton hit a pop foul down the left field line—and then it happened.