Monday Applesauce

In the Dominican Republic:

• Argenis Reyes went 0-for-4 with a walk.
• Fernando Martinez went 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.
• Fernando Tatis went 2-for-7 with an RBI.

In Puerto Rico:

• After picking up his first two hits of the fall on Saturday, Nick Evans went 0-for-2 with a walk on Sunday.
• Brahiam Maldonado went 1-for-2.

At MetsGeek, Chris McCown lays out his offseason manifesto.

In Newsday, Ken Davidoff talks about how the Mets are concerned with Francisco Rodriguez's drop in velocity, but maybe aren't so concerned about Bobby Jenks's precipitous drop in strikeouts. I'd be concerned about both, frankly, and if the White Sox are really looking for a "high-level prospect" for Jenks (say, Fernando Martinez), the Mets had better be doing their shopping elsewhere.

The Yankees have sold the rights to Darrell Rasner to a team in Japan, which perhaps gives Rasner a chance to make a better living for himself than he would have as a farmhand with the Yanks. Tyler Kepner has more.

Speaking of the Yankees, are they overbidding for C.C. Sabathia? Possibly. Some Red Sox fans are hoping the Yankees do sign him (scroll down to reason #947, via Ken Davidoff's baseball insider).

The Hardball Times Annual sounds awesome. Go pre-order it from ACTA Sports.

Seven of ESPN's "experts" picked Ryan Howard for NL MVP. One of them picked Manny Ramirez, and another picked C.C. Sabathia. Rob Neyer picked Lance Berkman which, while hardly a bad pick, is just Neyer trying to be different, I think. Bob Klapisch was one of the seven to pick Howard, so he is officially dead to me.

Rich Lederer has the first part of his twelve-part review of the Bill James Handbook. I should have part one of my one-part review up sometime this week.

The Pirates' Nate McLouth won a Gold Glove, but John Dewan's +/- system rated him at -40, the worst of any centerfielder in baseball. How do we reconcile the two? John Dewan himself takes a crack at it (via WHYGAVS?).