Just heard on the World Series broadcast that Alex Rodriguez has opted out of his contract with the Yankees. The Crack Technical Staff points out that NY is less likely to re-sign him in his free-agent form since the Rangers are off the hook for the portion of his salary that they were paying before.

Even so, the number of teams that could step up to the plate and take a swing at Scott Boras’s pitch is pretty small, and, if not the Yankees, then who? Certainly there are some teams in the Central who wouldn’t mind adding A-Rod to the roster, it’s even mentioned in the Cubs.com mailbag this week.

I wonder how the guy will perform when he’s suddenly free from the pressure of the New York media, the enthusiasm of the fans, the excessive largeness of the pizza slices, and the ready willingness of the call girls to accompany you to strip clubs. A stint in, say, Milwaukee, could be a pretty big shock to his system. On the other hand, it might be just what a guy like A-Rod needs: a nice quiet small metropolis to buy with the money he’s going to get.

You can find the press conference where the Reds management announced Dusty Baker at Reds.com.

The Crack Technical Staff is encouraged by some of the things he has to say. You might be too. Me? I’m moved by this particular quote from Dusty:

I’ll never let you win. I’ll let you get close.

Just got a text message from a sympathetic Cubs fan who says that he just heard Joe Morgan say on ESPN that the Reds have signed Dusty Baker to be their manager next season.

If anyone has a corroborating source, I’d love to hear about it. And to start crying.

UPDATE 11:09 pm
Thanks, Zeldink, for the link:

Dusty Baker has agreed to a three-year deal to manage the Cincinnati Reds, beginning with the upcoming season, ESPN has learned.Baker, a former Cubs and Giants manager and current ESPN analyst, will continue to work with ESPN through this season’s League Championship Series and World Series.

Baker is expected to be introduced at a news conference in Cincinnati on Monday.

With so many managers still in flux–Larussa, Torre, etc.–is there really any reason to make this decision before the postseason is even over? Even if your GM has a long history of jumping the gun?

My irritation over this issue is significant. Podcast soon to come.

Thanks to BubbaFan for the tip:

The Bats' last game is over (Bats won, 8-2) so the Sept. callups were announced:

Todd Coffey, RP
Kirk Saarloos, RP
Brad Salmon, RP
Buck Coats, OF
Ryan Hanigan, C
Joey Votto, 1B

May they make all the difference.

Bobby Livingston is probably done for the season with a partially torn labrum in his pitching (left) shoulder. They haven't decided whether to operate, but if they do, that could take him out even longer.

Livingston has been a solid contributor to the Reds, though he did get roughed up pretty bad his last time out. Then again, with a partially torn labrum, maybe that's not so surprising.

He's currently on the 15-day DL and the team has brought back Mr. Sophomore Slump himself, Todd Coffey, to take his place. How in the world they think that Coffey fills the spot of the lefty starter who was scheduled to take the mound on Sunday, I cannot explain, but I'm hoping that Coffey has gotten his game together while with the Bats. He was going to be back with the team sooner than later anyway, as the minor league season is almost done.

Can you believe that? We're approaching our last month of baseball already. Time flies when you're constantly anticipating your team's next bonehead maneuver.

Sunday's pitcher is still up in the air. They're already having to recall Matt Belisle to start tomorrow. The options are many, and there isn't a standout choice. Hopefully the Reds' hot streak is so hot that it doesn't matter who they put on the mound in the same way that it didn't matter who they put in the outfield tonight.