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Guys like Cubs outfield Alfonso Soriano may get $136 for eight years, but you want more bang for the buck?

How about CC Sabathia and his six-year, $140 million contract he signed for the Yankees. Or the Yanks' A.J. Burnett, who signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract in the 2008-09 offseason.

It seems that Jim Hendry and the Cubs are intent on doing everything within their power to move Milton Bradley this winter. This reminds me of the offseason that Hendry spent trying to trade Sammy Sosa. Eventually, he did, of course, but in the process ignored other Cubs needs.

I don't think that this is so much of a concern this winter because, quite frankly, there isn't a whole lot that Hendry can do. Given all the expensive, long-term contracts that are untradeable, Hendry has basically tied his own hands. Maybe he's a masochist.

So, we tasted the agony of defeat.

Actually, it’s quite good on toast.

You could say I’m making light of the fact that the PA team focused on a World Series repeat came up short.

You’re right.

Sometimes it is tough to be a Mets fan, isn’t it?  You sit and you watch other teams, both big market and small, call up player after player from their minor league system who step foot on a major league diamond and instantly make an impact. 

If you love pitching, this World Series is the sort that you can only dream about.

Let’s recap what we’ve seen so far:

In Game One, Cliff Lee threw an absolute gem, allowing only one run, which was unearned, while racking up 10 strikeouts over nine innings. CC Sabathia countered with a pretty impressive performance of his own, pitching seven strong innings and allowing two earned runs, both on solo shots from Chase Utley.

While I may hate both teams involved, the World Series this year has provided some very good baseball thus far. The reality is, these teams both legitimately deserve to be there this year.

Some thoughts on the matchup so far:

This week's Sports Illustrated previewed the World Series with a cover story with the following headline: "Welcome to the Big Bash," and this subhead, "Ryan Howard + A-Rod = World Series Home Run Derby."

Or maybe not. After two games Rodriguez and Howard have combined to go 2-for-17 with 12 strikeouts and zero home runs. Howard has both of the hits, and both players have six Ks. Good call SI.

For those who were hoping there might be some new blood in the Blue Jays manager's office next year, you're going to have to hold your breath for yet another season.

According to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, the Houston Astros have named Brad Arnsberg as their new pitching coach.

Arnsberg, who served as Toronto’s pitching coach the last five seasons, is the final piece to the coaching puzzle, as Houston hired Bobby Meacham as the first-base coach and Al Pedrique as the bench coach earlier today.

In addition, McTaggart is reporting that the Astros have reached an agreement with infielder Geoff Blum (one year, $1.5 million contract for 2010, with mutual option for 2011 worth $1.65 million).

In case you’re wondering, “Who’s Your Daddy!” chants rained down in a hurry on a villain still wearing Jheri curls and bearing frightening fastballs. His return to New York wasn’t too lenient, including an unbearable crowd that had waited to avenge cruel remarks that dated back to the days when Pedro Martinez faced the New York Yankees as a member of the archrival Red Sox.