Report Luis Sojo out as Venezuela WBC manager--Ken Davidoff

(From Newsday): "According to two people familiar with the situation, Sojo - the beloved veteran utilityman of the 1996-2001 Yankees - is likely to be replaced as Venezuela's manager in time for the 2009 WBC. The subject already has come up in discussions among the Venezuelan Baseball Federation, Players Association and Major League Baseball.

• "I don't want to create some sort of distraction," Sojo told Newsday in a telephone interview. "I try to do the best for everybody. If the best way is for me to leave, I'll do it."

Cbssports.com's Danny Knobler initially reported that many of Venezuela's star players - including the Mets' Johan Santana, the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano and the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordoñez - were threatening to boycott the WBC unless major changes were made in Team Venezuela's operations.

• Part of that ties into logistics; players were upset about issues such as tickets for family members and meals. But part of that reflected the players' dissatisfaction with Sojo,"...

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Pedro Alvarez issue reminds some of Red Sox-Arod deal--Olney

Buster Olney on ESPN radio this afternoon on the Pedro Alvarez/Pittsburgh Pirates signing dispute, says the situation caused some to wonder if 'most favored nation' status exists between "Bud" Selig and certain deal makers.

• Olney says it has recalled the Red Sox in 2003 when they tried to sign Alex Rodriguez.

The window at the time was 72 hours but the Red Sox were given 144 hours.

• Shocking that "Bud" Selig and Red Sox owners have a special business relationship.

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A-rod's elite August record

(Bill Madden): "The box score will show that A-Rod in fact hit into a double play (on Saturday) -

• his 11th in August,

• the most by a Yankee in any month

• since divisional play began in 1969"...

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Double Indemnity: Cano and A-rod provide guaranteed failure.

If A-rod had asked permission to leave in the 5th inning to go to a party (as he did at the All Star game), paying customers would have been spared the sight of him grounding into a double play in the bottom of the 9th with no outs and 2 men on base. Cano needs a manager more like Joe Maddon. ap photos

• NY Daily News is running a POLL:

"A-Rod's Escort Service

Is it worth taxpayers' money for police to drive Alex Rodriguez to Yankee Stadium?

Yes, Yanks need the help

No, they won't miss one more double play"

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Robinson Cano's words of wisdom

Suzyn Waldman notes on Blue Jays-Yankee radio an exciting piece of news Robinson Cano told her yesterday.

• He said next year he plans on coming into spring training in shape.

I didn't hear mention of the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Perhaps he'll do that so won't have to bother focusing on Yankee spring training anyway.

• Aside from his own mentality, Cano is being mismanaged.

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Lunatic runs onto field at Yankee Stadium, 1-2 count on Scutaro from Rivera

ap photos.

• Suggestion: Fire everyone in the security department.
• Get someone who can protect the players at Yankee Stadium.

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Red Sox fan names 3 current Yankees he likes

Touching All the Bases lists 3 current Yankees among his total of 9 all-time:

• 1. Mariano Rivera, for gracious response to an unpleasant situation.

• 2. Johnny Damon, because he'll "always be one of ours"...

• 3. Joe Girardi, as a player for keeping Posada out of the line-up; as a manager,
• keeping the Yankees out of the post season.

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Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel, and Palm Beach Post to share stories

(Miami Herald): "The Miami Herald, the Sun-Sentinel and The Palm Beach Post announced content sharing plans Friday that the editors said will involve exchanging basic news stories at the same time South Florida's major newspapers compete against one another.

• The experiment, which will begin Monday and run for a three-month trial period, will enable the papers to trade coverage of routine events and feature reviews....

Miami Herald Executive Editor Anders Gyllenhaal said that the move was part of many innovations the paper is launching in the midst of the changing media landscape. He said the papers need to begin working together to enhance and extend the newspaper style of journalism in an era of intense competition."...via Poynter.org/Romenesko

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Giambi comes through on the big stage

Newsday back cover, 8/29/08

• Honorable mention on the back pages of memory to Cody Ransom, Brett Gardner, and Mo Rivera.

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The Last Dance

						1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9				R		H		E
				BOS (77-56)		0		0		0		0		2		0		0		0		0				2		5		0
				NYY (71-62)		0		0		0		0		0		0		2		0		1				3		8		1
			W: M. Rivera (5-5, 1.50); L: J. Masterson (4-4, 3.30) HR: NYY: J. Giambi (27).

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