J.R.

Given the payroll situation and the Cubs' debt, there really was no other choice. We may not really start living again until 2013.

He was actually GM and laid the groundwork for the late-'90s dynasty.

The meatballs are gonna riot if they can be distracted from the NFL long enough to hear about this.

So Quade is the first interim Cubs manager since Gene Michael ('86-'87) to earn the job outright for the following year. That worked out swell.

This.

So we're having a news conference running at the same time as NLCS Game 3? Very curious. I'm happy with Quade.

That was awesome.

Strange that they've used the NFL theme both nights.

I'm sure there is a clause in Howard's contract that forbids travel via ATVs.

Mineaswell get started. Evan Brunell at CBS: I think this is BS: http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/25245724

Field prep would appear to be underway. http://cubs.truelook.com/timages/live20/chicagocubs/chicagocubs_cubs_club_only_camera2/imgbuf/buf_249/1286815300852395.jpg

Texas needed that in the worst way.

MLB Network: ALCS Preview TBS: Kid Rock interview MLBN is worth every penny.

Nothing like a winner-take-all game. Giddy I am. Rangers.

I thought this was the best of his four tours with TBS. Of course, he had nowhere to go but up. Two Game 5s would have been sweet, but I'll settle for this NLCS matchup over what surely would have been a Philly cakewalk had Atlanta somehow advanced.

Glaus to start tonight at 3B. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/10/11/conrad-out-of-lineup-glaus-at-third-base/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog Oh, and it appears that they're waking up in Tampa. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/oct/11/111432/game-5-tickets-rays-rangers-sale/sports-rays/

Random observations from Game 3 in Cincinnati, my first non-Cubs playoff game: - The Phillies are a [expletive] machine. Poised, deliberate and seemingly unstoppable. - Dusty Baker is still an idiot. The Philadelphia hurlers are fantastic, but Baker's continuing refusal to recognize the value of working the count was a huge factor in the gaudy success of Doc and Hamels. - As a detached observer with no rooting interest, the postseason's extra commercial time in-between innings is truly a shame. The players, creatures of habit for 162 games with a set-in-stone break now given extra time, are standing around doing nothing, waiting for the red lights to come on. The natural rhythm of the game is distorted. It feels all too much like seeing something like Monday Night Raw in person, which leads to ... - The TBS intros with the waving towels are so nauseatingly bogus in person. You have the public address announcer imploring the crowd to wave the towels before an empty field like some poor sap holding up an "APPLAUSE" sign. The whole exercise is degrading to the game of baseball IMO. - Everyone should see a playoff game in person, regardless of rooting interests or lack thereof. If you're lucky enough to have a contending team within range, go. Despite the hyper-commercialization that permeates everything, when the game is actually going on, it's awesome.

Awesome.

[expletive]. Every one of these [expletive] series are going to be sweeps.

Why not?

http://cubs.truelook.com/timages/live20/chicagocubs/chicagocubs_cubs_club_only_camera2/imgbuf/buf_249/1286312351720318.jpg

Hard to believe that the Giants hadn't been to the playoffs in seven years.

Berkman? Really?

'07 - FrankTV '08 - FrankTV '09 - Lopez Tonight '10 - Conan There may yet be hope for TBS.

Hard to give Philly much credit for recognizing Cincinnati's change of strategy since Dusty announced it on TBS a few minutes ago.