Sports Night

Columbus sports fans and baseball fans across the nation mourn the loss of former International League President George Sisler, Jr., who passed away at the age of 89 on December 31, 2006. Sisler served as the general manager for two Columbus minor league baseball teams, first the Red Birds and later the Clippers. He also spent time from 1966 until 1976 leading the International League, which is based in Dublin, Ohio, a northwest Columbus suburb. Sisler was the son of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer George Sisler, Sr., who held the record for hits in a season (257) until it was broken by Ichiro Suzuki's 262 hits in 2004. Sisler, Jr. was part of four IL Championships while with the Clippers and was named IL Executive of the Year four times as well.

-In comments that are sure to gain Stuart Appleby both adulation and scorn, the PGA veteran suggested that teenage golfer Michelle Wie should improve her game on the LPGA Tour before continuing to play in men's golf events. Appleby did provide some basis for his comments, stating the facts that Wie has missed 11 of 12 cuts and has yet to win an LPGA event, but there is much doubt as to how his comments will be taken. Wie has went beyond simple novelty participation and straight to embarassing in my opinion, especially given the nature of her performances in both men's and women's events. Wie has shown flashes of brilliance, but she needs to build up some confidence and experience before continuing to try and swing it with the guys. If Wie continues to develop, and enrolling at Stanford to play golf is a sign that she is committed to improvement, there is almost no doubt that she can dominate the LPGA and someday compete with the man. Right now, though, she is undergoing a seeming exercise in futility. Meanwhile, Appleby will be gunning for a fourth straight win at the PGA's All-Star tournament, the Mercedes Championships, and this time he will not have to compete against Tour heavyweights Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

-It appears that the Cleveland Indians will soon be adding another late-inning option to their bullpen, as Red Sox pitcher Keith Foulke is in town for a physical. Foulke missed much of last season with injuries, and was supplanted by rookie sensation Jonathan Papelbon in the closer's role for Boston. Signing Foulke would be the latest move in a string of offseason signings and trades to improve the Indians; other acquisitions include 2B Josh Barfield, P Joe Borowski, OF David Dellucci, and P Roberto Hernandez. The Tribe has also invited two former MLB infielders to Spring Training who spent last year in the minor leagues, Luis Rivas and Keith Ginter. Both are expected to compete for the open utility infielder position and received minor league contracts with the Tribe. Indians GM Mark Shapiro has also been hard after St. Louis Cardinals P Mark Mulder, a 29-year old starter who will miss 2007 while rehabbing from major surgery. Any deal would likely be a two-year deal, with no expectations of major league production from Mulder until 2008. This move would appear to provide insurance in the case of two current Indians starting pitchers who will be eligible for free agency after the upcoming season, Paul Byrd and Jake Westbrook. Bryd is 36 years old, and Westbrook could price himself out of the Indians price range, especially given the large deals given to rather mediocre starters in this offseason. Having Mulder around would be a solid contingency plan, should the Indians win out in this bidding war against the Rangers and Cardinals, the other two possible destinations for Mulder according to his agent.

-ESPN's Bill Simmons is a phenomenal writer, and easily one of my favorite sports columnists. He is back at it this week with a piece in ESPN the Magazine, which is also featured online at ESPN.com, on the hypocrisy of Mark McGwire's exclusion from the Hall of Fame. Go check it out!