And man, is it nice in here! Get a load of this chair, and the desk... and what a view! I need to take some pictures so that I know what to do with my Cub Tracks cubicle. Now where did I leave my iPhone...
Just as a note: This edition of MLB Bullets was filed before the Giants-Cardinals game ended on Thursday night. Congratulations to the Giants on making the World Series, but this was filed too early for any coverage of it here.
- The Kansas City Royals became the first team to punch their ticket for the 2014 World Series with a 2-1 win on Wednesday to sweep the Baltimore Orioles. Jerry Crasnick says the Royals are basking in the glow of success and that nobody should dare to tell them that it's been a raging success of a season regardless of what happens from here.
- Jim Caple tells Royals fans to enjoy the moment...
- While Sean Keeler talks about Royals fans that can't stop pinching themselves.
- Phil Rogers says that Ned Yost has earned his moment, too.
- David Schoenfield looks back at five moments from the Game 4 win as the streak goes on for Kansas City.
- And once again their defense made a huge difference, including a few key plays by Alex Gordon.
- Jon Paul Morosi says that Dayton Moore's vision is finally being validated.
- Jeff Passan says that the Royals are America and looks at how they reached the World Series after 29 years without a playoff win.
- Couldn't make it into Kauffman Stadium for the Royals' win? Here's what it sounded like from the parking lot.
- Paul Casella looks back at some of the most unlikely World Series winners from years past.
- In other baseball news, the pitch clock made its debut in the Arizona Fall League on Tuesday night and the final time of the game: 2:14. Of course, it helps that the final score of the game was 1-0.
- In the land of other teams searching for hitting coaches, the New York Yankees will be interviewing Oakland Athletics hitting coach Chili Davis for the job.
- The Boston Red Sox may also be interested in Davis, but right now their focus is on five names including former Cubs hitting coach Bill Mueller.
- With the offseason now upon them, the Orioles have some decisions to make on hitters this winter.
- A couple of decisions seems apparent, though: Nelson Cruz will receive a qualifying offer and the option on Nick Markakis will be declined, according to Jon Heyman.
- Another team facing an option decision is the Milwaukee Brewers, who have to decide whether or not to pick up the $14 million option on Aramis Ramirez.
- And the Texas Rangers have declined to pick up the $14 million option on Alex Rios.
- Making the pursuit of Russell Martin more unlikely for the Cubs, Jon Heyman reports that the Pirates plan to extend him a qualifying offer.
- For all of the Atlanta Braves fans that are hoping to get Dayton Moore as their new GM, owner David Glass would like you to know that the Royals are "absolutely" keeping Moore.
- However, contrary to a report from Jeff Passan, the Braves have not been declined by John Hart.
- A couple of hires that will be made: Ken Rosenthal reports that the Rangers will hire Pittsburgh Pirates bench coach Jeff Banister as their manager.
- And Steve Gilbert reports that Mark Grace will be the new Arizona Diamondbacks assistant hitting coach.
- Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp will be fined for his remarks about Dale Scott's strike zone in Game 3 of the NLDS.
- Bruce Levine looks back at the career of Ned Colletti, saying that throughout life Colletti has done it his way.
- Anthony Bosch, the former owner of the Biogenesis clinic in Florida, pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges of illegally providing performance-enhancing drugs to athletes. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.
- Apparently we missed a party at Paul Rudd's mom's house after Game 4 of the ALCS. I could have scratched together five dollars for the cover.
- The blogosphere has not been kind to David Eckstein over the years. He's a good sport about it, though, and replied by reading some of the mean blogs that were written about him. I can't agree with him on the sour apple lollipops, though.
- We've talked before about how the playoffs are a crapshoot and how the better team doesn't always win. So just how many games would have to be played in the World Series to ensure with statistical significance that the better team wins? Only 269. Get on that, Rob Manfred!
- If you've been watching postseason baseball, this photo probably will ring very familiar to you.
- John Thorn looks back at the 1964 National League pennant race and the three-way tie that almost happened. And it would have been an ugly tie-breaker.
- Scott Miller takes a look back at the life of Ken Caminiti, who died 10 years ago this week. It's a long article, but definitely worth a read.
Hey, it's a red Swingline stapler! I could use one of those. I wonder if Josh will notice that it's gone...