The A's beat the Twins in three quick games.  Here's gigantic A's slugger Frank Thomas, getting out of the path of an inside pitch:

According to the occasionally-reputable New York Daily News, Joe Torre is about to be removed, by his choice of resigning or being fired, as manager of the Yankees. This would not be the first in a series of off-season managerial changes, but would certainly be the most noteworthy so far. Reportedly, Lou Piniella would return for another go-round as manager in the Bronx.

So, if this is in fact what happens, what does that mean ...

Yeah, I said I was going to post a Twin today... but then Joel Zumaya had such a kickass game against the Yankees that I had to put him up.  Here he is:

A's 5 - Twins 2 (A's lead series 2 - 0)

Mets 6 - Dodgers 5 (Mets lead series 1 - 0)

I know, the Twins aren't playing today -- I just figured I should get at least one Twin player in today and another in tomorrow, in case their series is as short as it looks like it could be.  But perhaps this off-day mojo will carry over for Justin Morneau to tomorrow:

Hi Gary,

Off the top, I want to say a couple of things. First, the timing of this letter is not designed to disrupt opening day for the NHL -- I decided not to wait a few days before writing and posting it because I think that this is a really urgent issue that needs to be dealt with right away. Second, I'm not sending this to you privately because I'm pretty certain that you'd never see it. I'm hoping that by putting it out here on the internet it draws enough attention for this matter to be dealt with immediately.

What's the issue? I went to NHL.com yesterday and I saw something that thoroughly disgusted me:

The incomparable Sean Forman of Baseball-Reference.com has released the 2006 statistics.  Remarkable speed!

This link will take you to the 2006 Blue Jays statistics.  A few things that jump out at me...

The Jays 2006 season was quite a ride.  Here are a few of the dizzying highs and the devastating lows from the perspective of pinch-hitter Joanna, who has put together her perspective on the 2006 season.

Everything about the batting stance of Oakland A's catcher Jason Kendall makes me think of an axe murderer:

Special No-Prize to the first person to explain the significance of the headline!

Let's be clear about how much rules can suck sometimes. There have been about 100 major league ballplayers in the game's history to bear the given first name "Kenneth."

Unfortunately, that does NOT include what would be two-thirds of a mighty fine starting outfield in father/son duo George Kenneth Griffey(s) Sr. and Jr. But even without their combined 700+ homers and two All-Star MVP trophies (one each), this could be a pretty good ballclub, as we meet ...

Mike Emeigh of Baseball Think Factory has posted the 2007 draft order.  The Jays pick 21st in what is reputed to be a deep draft.  Who might be available in the first round when #21 comes around?

By request, here's our first Photo of the Day: Playoff Edition desktop, featuring Detroit's Curtis Granderson.  Details on who's available for you to request next can be found in the thread.

Your 2006 Champions:
Alomar Division: Edmonton Decepticons
Barfield Division: Pohnpei Papayas
Carter Division: The Wedding Singers

So you (like everyone, pretty much) figured Florida's Joe Girardi would be the first manager dismissed after the end of the regular season? No so fast my friend ... this morning the loveable, loseable Cubbies axed Dusty Baker to start what may or may not be an off-season managerial merry-go-round.

• Late Update: Dusty's old team, the Giants, hurried into second place in the axe-the-skip sweepstakes by firing Felipe Alou.
• Still Later Update: And Girardi, as expected, is gone -- the fourth skipper to get a pink slip, along with Alou, Baker and Frank Robinson on Saturday. ESPN.com is tracking all the 2006 MLB managerial changes.
• Yep, A Still Later Later Update: The Rangers say Bye-Bye, Buck and bring to five the number of '06 managers now out of work.
  

So ...