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The View From the House That Ruth Built



The Yankees played their last game ever at Yankee Stadium last night. (Crazy, huh? You'd think they would've tried to let people know about this ahead of time or something.) After the game, the team gathered for one last conference at the mound while Derek Jeter took the mic to address the fans.

Keeping reading below the jump for more Last Game fun.

On Deck: One Final Party at Babe's House



On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups.

Baltimore Orioles (67-86) at New York Yankees (84-71) - 8:05 PM ET

There was a lot of wondering as to why the Yankees couldn't have the last game at Yankee Stadium on the last game of the season instead of having to play a whole week on the road afterwards. Some of that wondering came from the good folks at ESPN. But here's the rub: If the Yankees closed out the season at home, their final game at the Stadium would have been a daytime affair since recent history shows that the last day of the season doesn't include an ESPN Sunday night game (most likely to keep things fair for playoff teams and making sure they all get the same amount of rest and travel time). The way it is now, the final game in the House That Ruth Built And Steinbrenner Renovated gets the spotlight all to itself tonight on the very same network that wondered the schedule makers didn't have the Yankees close out the season in the Bronx against Boston.

From the Windup: Following the Rays



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

Unless you're a Red Sox fan, the best story in baseball this year is the Tampa Bay Rays. By now, everyone likely knows the story but let's recap. In 1998, the Rays came into existence. In every season between 1998 and 2007, they won between 61 and 69 games, except for in 2004. They won 70 that year.

This year, though, is a different story. With last night's win over the Red Sox, they've got 90 wins and a two-game lead in the AL East, a division that seemed to be locked in a deep stranglehold that the Yankees and Red Sox would never let up. The amazing part is that everyone saw this coming in some form. GM Andrew Friedman has rebuilt Chuck LaMar's mistake from the ground up and the Rays are winning because they're good, not because they're lucky.

Baseball is cyclical and every couple of years, a young team bursts on the scene and surprises everyone. Who among baseball's long suffering franchises is next? There are seven franchises that haven't made the playoffs since the turn of the century; the Pirates, Nationals, Royals, Brewers, Blue Jays, Reds, Orioles, and Rangers (sorry Mariners and Giants fans, you've been good this century and that disqualifies you from this exercise), so let's take a look at them and see if we can't figure out who might be in line for the next turnaround.

On Deck: Drowning in Doubleheaders



On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups.

Six games were postponed last night due to weather. The Cubs and the Astros, as you know, are postponed today and tomorrow due to Hurricane Ike. Another storm system, which stretched all the way from the east coast to Mid-America, caused the postponement of no less than five games. This sets up a scenario in which there are six doubleheaders that will be played today, and 20 games in total. Sunday doubleheaders used to be more commonplace in an era without win shares, maple bats, or Matt Stairs. But six in one day at this moment is enough to induce baseball coma. It's like fastballs with trails of tryptophan, baby! So enjoy, and feel free to unbutton that top button.

Dave Trembley Ain't Going Nowhere; He Can't Stop Now; He's a Bad Boy For Life

Orioles manager Dave Trembley seems like a genuine fellow. His rise to Major League manager included a really, really long stop in the minors, something that might have caused other managers – or players, or umpires – to forget about their crazy dreams. But not Dave. He stuck it out. And for all his work, he got to manage ... the Baltimore Orioles. A job has never been more thankless.

Given his history and the talent level at Baltimore this year, it would have been a Tom-Nieto-at-Radio-Shack-level shame if Trembley would have lost his job so quickly. Fortunately, Dave's not going anywhere – the Orioles announced today that they'll exercise his option for 2009.

Good on 'ya, Dave! Now you can walk into the locker room blaring one of the great forgotten classics of the post-Bad Boy era. Dave Trembley's the definition of ... half man, half thug ...

On Deck: Whoosh!



On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups.

New York Yankees (68-60) at Baltimore Orioles (61-66) 7:05 PM ET

I remember it being early April, 2007. I was just starting out at FanHouse, and I was blogging my ever-loving heart out while wearing some new pajamas that I had bought to celebrate my arrival here. It was then when all of a sudden, a loud "whoosh" rattled my windows and knocked me off of my seat. I thought it was some sort of freakish weather pattern, or an airplane flying a bit too low while landing at LaGuardia.

Turns out there was nothing to worry about. It was just Carl Pavano falling off the face of the earth.

On Deck: Welcome to First Place



On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

While they have had many chances to take over the AL Central lead from the Chicago White Sox, the Minnesota Twins had been faltering all summer to capitalize on Chicago's mistakes. They would get to within a half-game of the White Sox only to lose every time Chicago opened the door.

That is, until yesterday. After taking three of four from the Sox and two of three from the Indians over the weekend, the Twins are finally on top of the division (again) where nobody expected them to be (again). Now today the Twins will begin to find out that sometimes the only thing tougher than catching the team in front of you is staying ahead of them once you get there.

Is it a coincidence that on the day the Twins finally woke up and brought Francisco Liriano back from minor league purgatory that they gained control of the division? Probably, but his presence in the rotation will go a lot further in helping them hold onto it than Livan Hernandez would have.

Will they hold onto their lead, or let it slip through their grasp? It's still too early to tell but they will begin their quest to put some distance between themselves and the competition after the jump.

Notes From the Clubhouse: Baltimore Blues Might Finally Be Fading

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

Last week, the Orioles celebrated the 25th anniversary of their 1983 World Series title. That was the last time the once-proud franchise won a championship, in case you were wondering, and it's been a decade since they were relevant.

Eight days later GM Andy MacPhail did nothing at the trade deadline despite his club's grim chances in 2008. Closer George Sherrill is still an Oriole. So is second baseman Brian Roberts, first baseman Aubrey Huff, outfielder Jay Payton and starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera.

To an outsider it might look like the latest gaffe from a front office that has been as hapless as they come since the days of the Clinton administration. But spend a few days with the team at Camden Yards and you get an entirely different vibe.

MacPhail has overhauled the organization in such a way that there's very real hope for the very near future. In perfect concert, manager Dave Trembley has changed the clubhouse culture, stressing things like accountability, respect and appreciation. It's enough to make you see the light at the end of the tunnel, if nothing else.

Rumor Mill Roundup: July 25

With the trade deadline right around the corner, our MLB editor brings you the top five rumors every day until July 31.

- Along with Colorado closer Brian Fuentes, Baltimore left-hander George Sherrill continues to be the hottest commodity on the trading block, drawing interest from many contenders including the Cardinals, Rays, Red Sox and Marlins, according to Dan Graziano. The Orioles remain somewhat reluctant to even deal their closer, particularly since their bullpen is a bit shallow after Sherrill, Dennis Sarfate and Jim Johnson and also because he is under team control for the next three seasons after this one.


But at some point the offers from other clubs are going to be hard to ignore, particularly if the team continues to struggle as it has recently. And Sherrill will probably become the latest chipped cashed in by GM Andy MacPhail as the O's continue to build toward contention in 2009 and 2010.

- Though they have a ways to go to get to the top the AL Central, the Tigers do not consider themselves sellers and are looking at adding pitching, particularly in the bullpen if reliever Freddy Dolsi continues to be bothered by shoulder discomfort. Detroit's biggest need is probably a starting pitcher, not a relief arm, but unless it pursues a bargain option like Odalis Perez, the Tigers do not have the assets in the upper minor leagues to get someone like A.J. Burnett.

Rumor Mill Roundup: July 24

With the trade deadline right around the corner, our MLB editor brings you the top five rumors every day until July 31.

- The Braves continue to indicate that they won't move Mark Teixeira in hopes of contending for the NL East title, but if the team struggles over the next week, that could all change. Atlanta is already a bit of a longshot to make the playoffs, but two injuries to key players should push them over the cliff and turn them into sellers. Chipper Jones hurt his hamstring again last night in Florida and staff ace Tim Hudson left his start early with ominous-sounding elbow tightness.


If ever there was an omen that it might be time to let go of this season, wouldn't injuries to the team's best pitcher and hitter on the same night be it? Teixeira is certain to leave this winter and if Atlanta holds on to him all it will get is a pair of early draft picks. They stand to get much better talent in a deadline deal, even considering Teixeira's rental status.

- I got a chance to see A.J. Burnett's rain-shortened start last night in Baltimore. There were plenty of scouts in attendance, though some of them were probably there in hopes of seeing Orioles closer George Sherrill. Burnett has good raw stuff -- a fastball he gets to 95 mph with ease and a tough curveball in the low-80s. Still, Orioles hitters made good contact on him. He's a very good, but fragile No. 2 starter, who could help a number of contenders, but his uncertain contract status continues to make potential suitors cautious. Don't put too much stock into the Roy Halladay rumors, Burnett is still the most likely to get moved of any of Toronto's pitchers.
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