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Overheard and Understood: How King Felix and CC Sabathia Can Both Win

This week, members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America will fill out ballots for the BBWAA's postseason awards. Meanwhile, it's important for us to point out that voting patterns and criteria evolve. The Most Valuable Player award, for example, has come to be based on something other than a strict definition...

Overheard and Understood: Pirates Plunder Depths, but Hope on Horizon

Chris Snyder has seen this before. The Diamondbacks called him up in mid-August 2004, and he got to see the final seven weeks of a 111-loss season. The Pirates acquired him at the end of July this season, and he will witness first-hand the final nine weeks of another 100-loss season. Here's the thing: Three years after...

Overheard and Understood: NL Packed With Standout Rookies

Mike Stanton has 20 home runs. Tyler Colvin has 19. Ike Davis has 18. Ian Desmond has 58 RBI, 27 doubles and 15 stolen bases. Neil Walker has a .306 average and had an 18-game hitting streak. John Axford has 21 saves. Jon Niese has nine wins, a 3.85 ERA and 134 strikeouts. Jonny Venters has a 1.86 ERA and .188 average...

Overheard and Understood: Cito Gaston Getting Off Managerial Carousel

One could not blame Cito Gaston, with the Blue Jays not in contention for the playoffs, if his mind occasionally wandered to thoughts of the Irish countryside, South African safaris or Sydney harbor. But as the end of his managerial career approaches, Gaston claims no twinges of wistfulness nor sentimentality -- "So far I...

Overheard and Understood: Postseason Path Will Include Lefty Land Mines

Unfortunately for fans of pennant races, we pretty much know the playoff field, except perhaps for one or two NL spots. We also pretty much know this. To advance in the postseason, teams (especially American League teams) will have to be able to beat left-handed pitching. Very good left-handed pitching. For example,...