We haven't had a minor league thread in a while, now seems like a good time to get one going.  I received some updates from the instructional league last week and I thought I would share those.  In addition I have a look back at the 2011 season and we will catch up on the AFL.

Last week we found plenty of topics to kick off the first week of the winter, winter being that time of the year when baseball is not played. This week threatens to be a quiet week on the baseball front but who knows? Award season doesn't start until next week so baseball news will have to be generated by the general managers.

Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Forsch passed away Thursday after an aneurysm in his chest. He was 61.

Bob Forsch, who threw two no-hitters with the St. Louis Cardinals, threw out the ceremonial first pitch for Game 7 of the World Series.

According to BlueJays.com, the team has re-acquired right-handed reliever Trystan Magnuson from the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations.
 
Vancouver native Trystan Magnuson made his major league debut with the A's in 2011.

Thanks to the inconsistent genius (today is an "up" day) of Mother Goose & Grimm, in case you missed today's funny papers, we have a baseball joke time-stamped approx. 1960 ...

A full list of who hit the market as free agents (Class of '11-'12) is now available (all names shown in a list at the bottom of the page after the jump) .... Every year, we take a look at what kind of roster we might be able to build from the talent on the open market. Let's see how that works out THIS year.

So here's the thought experiment. Let's say you own a major league franchise that has NO players. You can select any 25 of the current free agents (no budget limitations -- they are literaly "free" agents) to fill out your team's roster. Who do you place on your roster from the list of possible candidates? And more importantly, how does that team do when they are dropped into the middle of the 2012 American League East?

One such roster follows. Your criticisms, corrections, and "Hey-Doherty-why-aren't-you-doing-this-for-a-living?" adulation is welcome and invited, of course.

Today's POTD looks back at the Surrey, B.C. native's best day as a hitter in the majors.
 
Adam Loewen on the Jays right field scoreboard during lineup introductions at the Dome September 11.

The consummate pro, a member of one of baseball's royal families, has passed away ... RIP, Matty Alou. 15 years in the big leagues, with six teams, primarily the Giants and Pirates. 1667 games played, 1777 hits for a .307 career batting average. Just 31 career homers, but 10 different seasons in double-digit steals, with a high-water mark of 23 in 1966 -- the same year he, as a Pirate, won the NL batting title, hitting .342. (He finished in the Top 10 in batting average six times in the eight-year span from 1966-73.) Matty had seasons he led the NL in hits (1969), singles (1969-70) amd OF games played (1970). He even pitched two shutout innings for the '65 Giants. He was involved in one of the biggest trades of the 1971-72 off-season, when the Pirates dealt him and George Brunet to the Cardinals for Nellie Briles and Vic Davalillo. He played in three post-seasons, getting to the World Series twice and winning one ring, with the 1972 A's. Matty Alou -- the quintessential entry into the Hall of Pretty Damn Fine Ballplayer. Very few Bauxites will have seen the middle Alou brother play, and frankly, most won't even remember Moises' uncle as a player. But the baseball world is a little sadder, a little poorer today. Rest well, Matty.

In unsurprising news, Tony LaCava was offered the job as the General Manager of the Baltimore Orioles today, after meeting with owner Peter Angelos yesterday.

In surprising news, he turned down the offer, electing to remain with the Toronto Blue Jays, saying he prioritized his relationship with Alex Anthopolous and wanted to see through the job they had begun in Toronto.

The World Series is done and we are officially in hot stove league time.  Free agents are filing, trades and signings are starting, so let the speculation begin.

Latest News: The Jays have announced they will be picking up Edwin Encarnacion's 2012 option and have declined the 2012 option on Jon Rauch's contract.

According to numerous St. Louis-based media outlets, Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa is retiring.

This is what's known as "going out on top," I guess!

Ugh. The Hamilton home run would have been TOO storybook of a finish, huh?

It's no surprise that #1 Ranger fan/addict (and valued Bauxite) Jamey Newberg summed it up best on behalf of all us North Texas baseball watchers  in his e-mail newsletter this morning ...

John Heyman has apparently tweeted that Tony LaCava is "very likely" to be Baltimore's new GM. This has followed on from the earlier rumour that the Angel's are about to hire Jerry Dipoto. Nothing is certain, of course, until it's officially announced and in this case we definitely have to consider the source.

According  to The Sporting News yesterday, your 2011 Rookies of the Year in each league are ...

• Angels first baseman Mark Trumbo, who hit .254 with a team-leading 29 home runs and 89 runs
  batted in this season, was awarded the honor in the American League.
• Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel, who had 46 saves and a 2.10 earned run average,
  nabbed the NL rookie honors.

Voting was done by 289 major league players, 177 in the AL and 112 in the NL.

Game 6 of the World Series now goes Thursday night, with Game-Seven-If-Necessary to follow on Friday.

Elsewhere...