Via Fan Nation: In an interview with the playboy magazine, uber-agent Scott Boras has shared his ideas on how he would change the World Series:

"I'd modernize it, make it five out of nine games, with the first two in a neutral city. Announce the MVP and Cy Young awards at a gala held between the playoffs and a new World Series weekend. Move the home-run contest from the All-Star game to that week too. "The gala and home-run derby would lead to Game 1 of the Series on Saturday, with Game 2 on Sunday. Then the Series would go on with the final seven games in the Series teams' cities. This way, different places get part of the Series. I want the World Series in Pittsburgh, Texas, Seattle. Teams in those markets would sell more season tickets. World Series weekend would be a major stage for corporate events; it could advance the game to the next level."

I can't say I'm too fond of these suggestions. I don't care much about the gala, although the home-run derby at the end of the season could work if you invite the season's home run leaders. Other than that, extending the series to nine games sounds like a pretty bad idea. First, from the top of my head I would guess that a game nine is even more unlikely than a game seven, which means that it reduces the possibility for drama, but nine games is simply too long anyway. And why play the first two games in neutral cities? Not only does it take away from the flair (for lack of a better word) of the series, why would this sell more season tickets in those cities? I don't see it. Likewise, why exactly would "a major stage for corporate events" "advance the game to the next level"? Which level is there to advance to? 200 million dollar contracts? Oh right, we already have those.

Personally, I don't think the World Series needs to be fixed. Other than letting the games start early and reduce the number of off-days to make sure the last day of the season does not fall into November.

Enjoy!

In a move telling about him, Oliver Perez declined assignment to the minor leagues and will instead pitch out of the Mets bullpen or be placed on the DL.

From Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post:

PHILADELPHIA -- The Mets got an unscheduled off day here yesterday due to the rain, but they remain in a fix when it comes to Oliver Perez.

The struggling left-hander's status stayed cloudy after Perez apparently balked at a trip to the minor leagues that the Mets hoped would enable him to salvage a season already gone terribly wrong.

The Mets are set to take Perez's spot in the rotation away after yet another terrible start Saturday, when he allowed four runs on five hits and six walks in a season-low 2 1/3 innings of their eventual 6-5 loss to the Phillies in 10 innings.

The wrench in the Mets' plans is that Perez -- who has a 9.97 ERA to go with his 1-2 record -- must consent to a minor league assignment because he has more than five years of major league service time.

Perez told reporters after Saturday's disaster that he would be willing to accept a stint in the minors to work out his problems.

But the fresh recipient of a three-year, $36 million contract from the Mets backtracked abruptly yesterday.

"I can't say yet," Perez replied when asked if he would go to the minors. Asked why he had appeared to change his mind overnight, Perez said: "I was frustrated [when the Saturday comment was made]. Every pitcher can say that, because that was a tough day for me and I can say anything. Today, I feel a little more relaxed."

Perez, who was demoted by the Pirates in 2006 after a similarly wretched start, also could be headed to the disabled list after revealing he has been bothered by a sore right knee that he aggravated during Saturday's game.

Perhaps Perez doesn't understand the magnitude of what's going on. The Mets only brought him back in the offseason because they were desperate to do something after Derek Lowe spurned their money. They obviously overpaid for an unproven talent, and it would be difficult to find anyone who disagrees with that.

Now, manager Jerry Manuel is fed up with Perez. He gave Perez one more opportunity to make good on his promise, and Perez blew it, allowing 4 runs in 2 1/3 innings to the division-rival Phillies. Manuel doesn't have confidence to hand the ball to Perez, and the sad thing is Perez doesn't realize that.

Pitching out of the bullpen isn't the easy way out of this, Oliver. You're going to get inconsistent work, and you may be coming in with runners on base. For someone who allows walks at an especially high rate, that's a recipe for a disaster.

Considering the way the Mets have faded down the stretch the last two seasons, that isn't something the fans in Queens need. They need Perez to go to the minor leagues and straighten everything out. It worked for Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.

Inconsistent work against the best hitters in the major leagues isn't the quickest way to get back into the rotation. Perez needs to go back down, pitch consistently and regain his mechanics. That's the quickest and most logical way to make it back. But I guess Perez isn't interested in that.

Yesterday, Joe Girardi discussed Selena Roberts' new book about Alex Rodriguez, which is due to release today. He made several good points about the lives of athletes off the field.

From the New York Daily News's Anthony McCarron:

"I don't want this Alex thing to be a target," an emotional Girardi said. "I have some issues with it. It's interesting that the book (release) date got moved up. And I get tired of answering these questions. It's just ... I don't understand why someone would write a book like this anyway. Some people might not care to hear that, but I don't understand it.

"I have three small kids and there are things in my life that I probably wish I could have a re-do on and I wouldn't necessarily want those dragged through the mud.

"I think sometimes that, you know, things are written about that none of us are proud of. There are things in my life I'm not proud of. I wouldn't want my kids to have to deal with that. I tell my kids that Daddy makes mistakes and I apologize for them. I say, 'Daddy's not perfect.' But it's not necessarily something that I'd want them to read about all the time and to be the focus. This man wants to be a father, too."

The Daily News reported some details of the book last week and the release date was moved up to Monday. Girardi was unhappy about what he perceived as tidbits about Rodriguez's personal life and said he worried about Rodriguez's two young daughters dealing with fallout.

...

As to why she wrote the book, Roberts said, "I think Alex is a complicated, fascinating personality and I thought he was a good book subject. And I think what I've done - if you read the book in full - it's not an excoriation. It's an explanation concerning just who is Alex Rodriguez as the greatest and richest player in the game."

The portions of the book that have been released certainly don't paint Rodriguez in a good light, as a baseball player or as a human. None of us want our dirty laundry to be aired out, and I'm betting Rodriguez is no exception.

As right Girardi is that Rodriguez deserves some sort of privacy, sports writers will continue to pound out these types of books. It's the nature of the media and the nature of sports writers. Buyers are going to love this book because of its voyeuristic view of Rodriguez's life.

The only cure is for athletes to live clean lives: Don't do anything you'd want anybody else to find out about. Rodriguez certainly hasn't been doing that. It's a shame he hasn't, but it's also a shame that people feel it's necessary to write about it.

As a side note, when's the book about Girardi coming out? From his quote, it sounds like some enterprising reporter might have some stuff to dig up.

Very cool picture of Wrigley field after mankind has left the planet.

Hat Tip: Rob Neyer

Enjoy!