The Texas Rangers let it slip through their hands. I think that is the main lesson to be learned. They had the Cards pinned - a few times- let them up, let them breath and let them win. Yes, I am loathe to offer any congratulations, despite begrudgingly admitting that they "earned" them, to LaRussa and his squad. But they came back home loose and ready and never said die. There was some pretty intense baseball and if you missed it, well, your loss.

The Yankees will announce Brian Cashman's new contract as GM today; yesterday they picked up the 2012 options on Robinson Cano (duh) and on Nick Swisher. The latter a little on the fence as Swish's failures year in and year out in the post-season had some of us wondering the New York team would let him go. But the ink is signed and I approve although wouldn't be shocked if the Yanks traded him this Winter; his play and numbers make $10M a "bargain" in today's economic baseball world.

Oh, so I  had applauded the set designer of "Moneyball" for the Strummer poster in Billy Beane's office and for the wonderful Bill Gallo cartoon of Thurman Munson in Art Howe's office. Turns out Howe, who can't really be pleased in how he comes off in the movie, never had that piece of art in his private space, but it at least made him look good in my eyes.

Time to turn toward the hot-stove league and a long Winter's worth of words, whiskey and hopefully equal doses of that other lovely W-word...

I'll save some foodie restaurant reviews of Heidi's, Barbette, Moto-I and Muddy Waters for some other time, but I can fully endorse each and every one of them, so that will have to suffice for now.

Out biking while it was snowing in Brooklyn is kind of sweet; much like East Coast kids who have Halloween off from school for an early snow day.

Enjoy it!
Brian