If not Manny, then Raul?

The Mets are reported to be interested in Mariners' left fielder Raul Ibanez. They need outfield help badly, and Ibanez is a professional hitter who is not likely to slump much even if he faces all new pitchers after changing leagues.

What's next, underhand pitching?

The International Baseball Federation is crazy. They're trying to turn baseball into softball, testing extra inning tiebreaker rules like placing a runner at second base to begin innings. This would occur in the 11th inning and all innings thereafter. The thinking is this might speed up problematic extra innings games to help make baseball logistically attractive in terms of formatting for futures olympic games.

“The upcoming Beijing Olympic competition may be our last unless we are successful in adding the sport back to the Olympic program for the 2016 Games,” said IBAF President Dr. Harvey W. Schiller. “We must demonstrate to the International Olympic Committee not only does our game belong alongside the other great sports of the world, but our sport is manageable from a television and operational standpoint.”

Dr. Schiller continued, saying the change is both a positive and necessary step for the sport of baseball.

“One of the unique aspects of our game is that it has no time limit. Extra-inning contests can bring about the most exciting results for players and fans, but such circumstances also make it difficult in the context of the Olympic program. Delays cause scheduling and logistical nightmares. Planned security, transportation, drug testing, broadcasts, and entertainment are just a few of the activities that may be seriously affected,” Dr. Schiller continued.

This is insane, and if that's what it takes to get baseball back in the olympics after 2008, forget it. Baseball and the olympics are a bad marriage that cannot be reconciled by changing the covenant after a short break.