Today, the incomparable Lee Sinins posted several lists showing the recently-announced-his-retirement Edgar Martinez's place in baseball history.

Don't get too caught up in the actual statistics; look at the list of names. Then answer the question: is the Hall of Fame becoming too picky? And this isn't just about Edgar, it's also about a certain hurt player ... a Big Hurt player.

I've got four walls around me
The sun in the sky, the water surrounds me
I'll win now, but sometimes I'll lose
I've been battered, but I'll never bruise
I's not so bad

John Gibbons is smiling today, improving his franchise-best record to 4-0 as manager of the Blue Jays (1-0 as officialy grand poobah). Jason Frasor and Hideki Matsui made it close, but Josh Towers, pitching for next season's contract, and Gabe Gross with his first big-league home run, led the way. Read all about it:

Welcome to game 2 of the John Gibbons era. The lineup Gibby produced yesterday was eminently sensible; let's hope that continues.

I don't know if it makes a shade of difference, but I find it comforting that Gibbons was a member of the 1986 NY Mets - one of the most beautifully constructed offensive teams in National League history. They had on-base guys like Dykstra and Backman, a great overall hitter in Keith Hernandez and a super slugger in Darryl Strawberry. The supporting cast of Mookie, Gary (the Kid) Carter, Ray Knight, Kevin Mitchell and Tim Teufel gave them enormous depth and pinch-hitting possibilities Not to mention guys like George Foster, Danny Heep, Lee Mazzilli and Howard Johnson. The only offensive liability was shortstop Rafael Santana.

The Indians have an impressive bunch of hitters, don't they? They've scored 44 runs in their last six games, winning 5 of 6 and pushing themselves ahead of the White Sox for second place in the AL Central, 5 games behind the Twins. They almost blew an 8-0 lead against the Pale Hose last night (winning 13-11). It's a good thing they scored those 4 insurance runs in the 9th.

SABR, the Society for American Baseball Research, is 33 years old today.

Part 9: Win totals - Mercenaries 7, Blue Jays 1

Just a pointer for everyone to our interview last year with new Jays manager John Gibbons.

If anyone has any advice for Gibby, feel free to talk about it here. I have a feeling that most of you do... :)

I'm on my way, I'm making it
I've got to make it Show, yeah

Hello to John Gibbons, farewell to Carlos Tosca, turn the page on another chapter in Blue Jays history. The airwaves were filled with analysis and accusations after the firing of Carlos Tosca yesterday afternoon. So break out your reading glasses; there’s a lot of links to digest today:

In today's Game Thread, Spicol poses the opinion-question, "Esteban is the Spanish equivalent of Steve, which, Steve McQueen and Steve Austin aside, really isn't that cool. Or is it, and I've been Miles Davis all these years without knowing it?"

Well, let's see. What does our All-Steve Team look like?

Part 8: Win totals - Mercenaries 6, Blue Jays 1

Some Sunday-morning thoughts about baseball and the Yankees.

In The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers Bill James introduced a formula designed to pick the Cy Young award winner (not it should be noted necessarily the best pitcher in the league, but, the pitcher most likely to be thought the best by the Cy Young voters).

Where no one notices the contrast of white on white
And in between the moon and you the angels get a better view
Of the crumbling difference between wrong and right
I walk in the air between the rain through myself and back again
Where? I don’t know

Carlos Tosca has been fired. First base coach John Gibbons will replace Tosca on an interim basis for the rest of the season.

Discuss.

TSN has the story. John Gibbons will take over on an interim basis.

The following summary is of transcribed material provided to Batter's Box by Ed Gonser (Contributing Writer, he covers the Syracuse SkyChiefs for the Associated Press and the Syracuse Post-standard as a freelance writer). Ed is fast becoming an invaluable source of information for our site (source photos also provided by Ed Gonser). Here's what members of the Skychiefs think of Gabe Gross's promotion to the majors and the acquisition of Eric Crozier from the Indians.