From The Windup is FanHouse's daily, extended look at a particular portion of America's pastime.

While discussing the Cy Young on Sunday night, Joe Morgan said, predictably, that it was "Brandon Webb's to lose". In fairness, he's probably right. But ... I don't really think he should be. See, the Cy Young is all about perception.

Headshots via Getty Images
Well, not all about perception, but there's a pretty hefty chunk of voting attribution distributed towards the feeling of performance, rather than the strictly statistical discussion of how various pitchers have excelled throughout the season.

If that wasn't the case, then Randy Johnson would have won the Cy Young in 2004, when he very clearly outperformed Roger Clemens on the mound.

In an "ideal" world, there would be someone stuck squarely in the upper left quadrant above -- a pitcher with obviously dominant stats that were publicly recognized (because his team didn't stink). That rarely happens, though, and this year's Cy Young race is, when you really start breaking it down, one of the most intriguing we've seen in a few years.

After all, we have the heavy favorite in Webb, the best pitcher in the National League in Tim Lincecum, the discussion incumbent (Johan Santana), the early season surprise (Edinson Volquez) and a few darkhorses in Danny Haren and Ryan Dempster, the latter which is nothing short of shocking.

See, it's perception that led smart baseball guru types Bill James and Rob Neyer to create a formula entirely devoted to predicting the Cy Young balloting. Not "should win" mind you, but "will win" based entirely on what the voters tend to look for in their winner.

As you can see from the list, Salomon Torres is the eighth most likely pitcher to win the CY. I'm willing to bet he won't get any votes come the end of the year. But a guy who deserves some votes, or at least some Award-worthy buzz, for what he's done since the beginning of July, is CC Sabathia.

Yes, yes and more yes. If you've ever had the opportunity to hear John Smoltz talk to the announcers during the game, or appear in the booth of a baseball game, you know that he is a high quality, on-air type. And that he would be superb if he ever got a permanent job as an announcer.

Well, since he's not retired (and I honestly think he'll be back next year) getting to run color in the TBS announcing booth for the duration of the playoffs is about as good as it will get. And it will get good (via AA/SBD).

TBS is close to signing injured Braves P John Smoltz to be an on-air color analyst during MLB playoff games, sources confirmed. The two sides have been talking, and an agreement is said to be close. The plan is to have Smoltz work the booth at one of the games. It's not known which play-by-play announcer he would be paired with. TBS is expected to announce its broadcasting teams during the playoffs in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, TBS' studio show for the playoffs is expected to be the same as its All-Star selection show, with Ernie Johnson, Cal Ripken Jr., Harold Reynolds and Dennis Eckersley. Frank Thomas is not expected to return.

Quite the craziness that will be going on in the studio, eh? Smoltz is, as you can see above, not officially signed. But this should end up happening -- it's certainly a win for TBS and I would imagine that even Smoltz is tired of playing golf every day at this point.

Jose Canseco was born to do reality television shows. His amazing stint on the Surreal Life was proof enough of that. However, a reality show that involves having to pass a polygraph to advance and make more money seems about in his wheelhouse as making a comeback as a relief pitcher.

Yet, David Vassegh of 570 KLAC is reporting that's exactly what he'll be doing sometime over the next two months as a guest on Fox's "Moment of Truth".

Canseco already has taped the episode and according to my source that was in attendance during the taping Canseco was asked if he ever injected Mark McGwire with steroids and if he ever corked his bat amoung other questions that were asked during the taping. The episode of "The Moment of Truth" with Canseco is supposed to air in late September or early October.

Again, Canseco will be asked questions before -- while on a polygraph -- and during the show (I believe I understand this correctly.) He will then answer those same questions on stage. If his answers on stage match the polygraph results, he moves on.

It stinks that we have to get more Jose Canseco in our lives. Lord knows I've been trying to quit. The bright side is that maybe, and I'm pretty skeptical about this, we'll get some truthful answers about what he did or did not do. Or, ideally, he'll keep lying about the first question they ask him, make a fool of himself on national television and win no money.

Via MMP at Deadspin

The stupid thing about the MVP race is that half of it involves perception. Is his team good regardless of how he performed as an individual? Is he a clutch player based on stuff we think we've seen but might not actually know? Is he the type of baseball player worthy of the honor of being selected by us sportswriter types as the best in the game? Is he tall? Is he handsome? Etc, etc.

These ridiculous perceptions are probably why -- despite what the fans think -- Dustin Pedroia will not win the MVP this season. Don't believe me? Just ask Ozzie Guillen, who called the smallish in stature second baseman a "g*dd*mn jockey".

''I never thought I was going to walk a goddamn jockey,'' Guillen said of the 5-7 Pedroia, a player he actually admires. ''Walking a guy who just came from being on top of Big Brown. Right now, he's on a roll. This guy right now is on fire. No matter what you throw up there, he's going to get it. I can't believe you can change professions in one year, go from the Kentucky Derby to the Boston Red Sox ballpark.''

Pedroia has reached base in 10 consecutive plate appearances and became the first Red Sox player with four hits or more in consecutive games since Wade Boggs did it in June 1989.

When he stepped to the plate in the eighth inning, Pedroia was met with cheers of ''MVP, MVP.''

Now, in fairness to Ozzie, he then proceeded to discuss the fact that Pedroia was the heart and soul of Boston's team right now.

Nothing like a set of circumstances -- Orlando Hudson's season ending surgery in this case -- to force a playoff caliber team into acquiring the services of one Mr. Hustle, David Eckstein. And it appears that, based on what Fox's Ken Rosenthal is saying, Eckstein will be traded by Sunday night and most likely to the Snakes.

Eckstein, 33, is almost certain to be traded before the deadline for setting postseason rosters at midnight Sunday. While talks are fluid, the Jays currently are more inclined to trade with the D-backs, sources say.

Now, you may be asking yourself, "Isn't O-Dog a second basemen?" Why, yes, yes he is. So Eck would not actually be playing shortstop, which is certainly a shame given the cannon arm that he possesses.

The biggest downside of this entire theoretical transaction is that we will be subjected to countless columns, pandering in nature, that detail the hustle-y nature of David Eckstein and how his grit, toughness and ability to take control of a game with his sheer determination -- skill does not matter, I say! -- can put a team over the top.

Oh, and if the Diamondbacks actually win the World Series? Night-horse of epic proportions, folks. We already hear about Eckstein's presence as a leader on an Angels and a Cardinals club that won the World Series -- it was not Troy Glaus or Albert Pujols that prevailed triumphantly, mind you -- and how he inspired victory. This would be disastrous.

UPDATE: Eckstein is a Diamondback! Scrappiness will abooooooooooound! Bud Selig's evil plan has come to fruition and the Snakes will be rewarded with eternal hustle. Muhahahahahhaha. No, seriously, they gave up Chad Beck to the Blue Jays for him and MLB.com make sure you know he was once World Series MVP. For depth purposes it's not a bad deal, hitting wise, well, not so much.

Jeff Kent has been in baseball a long time. He has also said that he has zero intention of going out the door like Brett Favre (you know, indecisive whining that tortures a fanbase). And now he may have a touch decision ahead, if he wants to stick to his guns on that call.

See, he's probably going to be out for the season. And it was supposed to be his final season. So, um, yeah.

Kent, 40, has been playing through pain from slightly torn cartilage in his knee for about a month, fully aware that the continued grind of playing baseball on an everyday basis meant there was a strong risk of additional, more painful tearing.

That additional tearing is believed to be what took place during Friday's game. Kent was said to be in "excruciating pain" after leaving the game, and club officials were holding out slim hope of getting him back in what is widely expected to be his final season.

"Knowing him, I can't say (he is done) for sure," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.

Torre also went on to say that he felt like Kent's goal in sticking around was to help the Dodgers "win a pennant", which seems kind of obvious, but it's pretty indicative that he wouldn't have still been playing if the Dodgers didn't have a shot at winning this year.

Kent's a lockjob for Cooperstown, and it would make sense that the only thing he wants to do before he rolls out of the game is pick up a championship ring. But it also stands to reason that he knows how pathetic chasing one looks. So, he may just call the dogs off, head back home and spend the rest of his days not watching porn.

Diesels and Sevens were the hot ticket metrosexual jeans for dudes when I was in school. I have no clue if they're still hip or if metrosexual is even kosher to say; my jeans are Wrangler. And I swear allegiance to all things Favre.

I don't care for $250 blue jeans and I certainly won't pay for them. But some people will, I suppose, otherwise Barry Zito wouldn't be modeling for True Religion, a designer brand of jeans for dudes. (Gracias to 'Duk for reminding me that I heard this on television the other night.)

The Zito ads will appear on the sides of buses in Japan. In San Francisco, a True Religion billboard is planned for a building near the intersection of Bush Street and Van Ness Avenue.

"It's crazy,'' Zito said. "I got a text message from (former A's teammate) Eric Byrnes that said, 'Dude, my wife just saw you on a billboard in Vegas. You've got to be (kidding) me!' "

Zito did not seek out this second career. He told his publicist, Kathy Jacobson, to refuse any endorsement offers - especially when he had an 0-8 record after nine starts.

"I can't be the `Seiko guy,' none of that," Zito said. "That just looks bad, like I'm not focusing on baseball. But Kathy said, `No, it's not an endorsement. It's not because of who you are or that you play baseball. This is a modeling gig.' "

Wow. What a humble guy. $126 mil is enough; 0-8 doesn't deserve any more money or endorsements. Gosh. Zen, like, really.

I do kind of respect, though, his willingness to take on a second career, even if said career is male modeling. It's pretty similar to what I've got going on right now, what with the office job that pays big bucks and the blogging on the side. Less glamorous, maybe, but similar nonetheless.

While most of the blogging world has been celebrating the resignation/firing of Jay Mariotti at the Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday, it's not just those of us who read him that are happy to see him go. The Chicago White Sox have long been one of Jay's favorite targets. Whether he's ripping on team owner Jerry Reinsdorf, manager Ozzie Guillen, or even play-by-play announcer Hawk Harrelson, Jay never had anything nice to say about the organization.

So when the news reached the White Sox in Baltimore on Tuesday night that Jay's reign of terror was coming to an end, the Sox were quite happy to hear the news.

''When people wish the worst on people, you have to be careful because the baseball gods are going to get you,'' [Ozzie] Guillen said. ''He was not asking just for my job, he was asking for thousands and thousands of people's jobs over the years. I'm not going to say I will get the last laugh because I will get fired from this job. But the day I get fired is the day I lose interest in this game.

Perhaps you haven't heard, but Joe Torre is currently in Los Angeles. And it's a mid-life crisis type thing too, if you believe the VISA commercials (said it on TV, etc., so yeah). Which might explain why Joe is suddenly firing up a blog on MLBlogs.com, the thing that we love because it's about sports and it's not Dane Cook.

Well, here's my first blog entry. I was a little nervous at first, but the guys who blog on MLBlogs said it was sort of like keeping an online diary, so I figured how hard could it be? Aside from the fact that men don't usually have diaries; even the word "diary" brings to mind a little pink book with a heart-shaped lock and a label that reads "My Secrets" in lavender bubble letters. But that's not really me, so I think a blog is a more acceptable "dude-like" version.

Some of the guys talk about their team or their swing, their away game trips, some even write restaurant reviews (thanks for the reco, Ethier). Me? I'm just a coach with a new team, a new city, a new life as a West-Coaster, and above all a new outlook on life.

He then goes on (actually this was the first entry about a week ago) to make awkward comments about web speak (ROFL!!!!1) Most of the blogs are actually well written, and while I don't doubt Torre's ability to write, I just don't know if I'm buying how completely freaking chipper they all sound.

There's also a very heavy "I just moved to L.A." factor going on, which is cool and all ... but he's been there for a few months now. So, while he should be kind of used to at this point, I guess I understand why his agent keeps reminding him to spin that image how it all seems so new.

Via Deadspin

Much of the first half of the MLB season was spent discussing Chipper Jones' amazing "run" at .400. He was absolutely killing the ball for the first two months of the season, hitting .422 in April and .417 in May. He hit a very respectable .328 in June to finish with a super pre-ASB .376 average.

But in July he hit .270 and after the break he's averaging only .290, allowing Albert Pujols to creep within .004 points of his NL-leading average. And Chipper himself knows he's struggling.

"I'm scuffling bad," said Jones, who had a .262 average and only three extra-base hits (one home run) in his past 25 games before Saturday, after batting .388 with 33 extra-base hits (18 homers) in his first 77 games. "I've got to get it back. I really struggling with my mechanics [hitting] left-handed," said the switch-hitter. "Until I get that straightened out, I'm going to be scratching to get a hit."

All of this isn't to say that Chipper's 2008 season hasn't been a success; it has in terms of individual achievements (although he would probably argue how "success" actually plays into the Braves whiffing on the playoffs).

The point is that, even as much fun as theorizing early in the season is, people really, really need to understand the reality of hitting .400 over the course of an entire season versus two months.