Opinion

Francisco Rodriguez has been a premier closer (perhaps the premier closer) in all of baseball over the last six years. Since 2004, "K Rod" has saved 206 games and crafted a stunning 2.20 ERA during that span.

Justin Maxwell has shown flashes of brilliance around his periods of ineptness, but hasn't indicated any real ability to become an everyday major leaguer.

Since being recalled from "AA" Harrisburg in 2007, Maxwell has a 162-game average of just .245-13-26 with a .317 on-base percentage.

It doesn't seem like the Yankees care about anything other than winning at this point. Since clinching home field advantage for the entire postseason, they haven't lost a game and continue to look great.

However, things aren't set in stone in the American League Central. The Tigers hold a two game lead over the Twins, but the two teams face off tonight and tomorrow. According to Baseball Prospectus, Minnesota still has a 17 percent chance of winning the AL Central.

Ron Gardenhire is generally regarded as a good manager. He is a likable man and a likable manager, but that doesn't mean he isn't second-guessed.

Yesterday, in both games of a crucial doubleheader, Gardy made some questionable decisions. From an ill-advised suicide squeeze to not bringing in Jose Mijares to face a lefty, Twins' fans are split on Gardy.

Most like the man, some can't stand his managerial tactics.

With another disappointing season under his command, the Cleveland Indians have finally decided to release Manager Eric Wedge.  With a current record of 64-92, what else can they do?  This is the second year in a row that the very talented Tribe have been a disappointment.

How do you go from 96-66, one win away from a trip to the World Series, to becoming the bottom-dweller in your division?  The Tribe haven't finished last in their division since 1991, when they drug up the rear in the AL East, and they have never finished last since joining the AL Central.

Throughout this year and years past I have, as a Yankee fan, been subject to a ton of misguided hatred towards my favorite baseball team. This usually makes me angry and argumentative. I have written countless comments in defense of the Yankees, ex-Yankee players, and Yankee ownership.

The thing that really makes me sick however, is when people attribute any illegal indiscretion with a team or as something that is to be expected from a team. 

Eric Wedge inherited a young and talented baseball team seven years ago when he took over as manger of the Tribe.

In 1964 the Philadelphia Phillies, under manager Gene Mauch, were having their best season in nearly 15 years.

Led by pitching ace Jim Bunning, who threw a perfect game that year, and slugger Richie Allen, they had a six game lead in the National League with ten games to go; the pennant and a World Series date with the New York Yankees seemed safely theirs.

The Phillies then proceeded to lose ten straight games and the N.L. crown to the St. Louis Cardinals. It was an epic collapse that Philadelphia fans bitterly remember to this day.

It’s that time of year again, where football begins to saturate every possible media source. Many baseball fans have long given up on the season and have moved on to football.

To me, this is one of the most disappointing times during the year. Too many people have given up on one of the most thrilling aspects of Major League Baseball, October baseball. 

It is understandable when you live in a town where the baseball season is over almost before it begins.

Trust me. I get it. I am from Cincinnati. 

The Houston Astros, after 157 games this season, are 73-84, in fifth place in the NL Central, and 17 games back of the first place St. Louis Cardinals

The Astros' chances at the postseason are deader than...well, it would be in poor taste to give names, but deader than a certain environmentalist actor who died in his early 20s from a drug overdose.

The Detroit Tigers are far from a perfect team.

Despite holding a division lead since May 10, the Tigers have failed to pull away from the mediocre pack.

The Tigers took a seven game division lead and Tigers fans started doing the math to determine what kind of a ridiculous streak the Twins would have to get on if the Tigers just managed to play .500 ball.

Unfortunately, Detroit went 8-11 between the sweep of the Rays and the beginning of this last home stand. The Twins went 13-6, even in the midst of losing perennial MVP candidate Justin Morneau for the season.