Sorry for the slow blog posts lately. As warned, my writing has been cranked up with the deadlines and travel schedule coming to a head. If you need some reading - non-baseball version - I'll suggest this roundtable/draft over at Football Outsiders. They asked me in to their playoff fantasy league and, well, like I said, it's a no lose situation for me.

Anyone from Phoenix/Scottsdale? Looking for restaurant recommendations for my upcoming trips there.

The HoF results? Surprisingly, Ryne Sandberg being voted in was anticlimax. My boyhood hero isn't someone that would get emotional and I'm surprisingly dull about it. It makes me feel a bit old, while my emotion is more locked up in hopes for Ron Santo. Wade Boggs was a no-brainer and the debate on closers has bordered on interesting. I like that Cooperstown isn't watered down and that it engenders debate and passion, like with Rich Lederer's support of Bert Blyleven.

Wasn't the Orange Bowl supposed to be close? Man, I'm glad I didn't watch it. The Amazing Race was much more competitive!

Carlos Beltran should make his decision late this week. The Mets haven't made a firm offer, instead trading parameters with Scott Boras. With a little tweaking, they'll have something in place today, giving Houston some time to up it's offer a bit more and for the few remaining teams (Cubs and Tigers, some outside sniffing from Baltimore) to bid if they want to.

Anyone noticed that Milwaukee's paperwork still hasn't been finalized? I haven't seen any coverage of this at all. With the Nationals sale upcoming - I'm told that bids will be taken in early February in hopes that the announcement could be made near Opening Day - MLB needs to get this one taken care of quickly.