Mariotti told the Chicago Tribune he decided to quit after covering the Olympics in Beijing because newspapers are in serious trouble, and he did not want to go down with the ship.

"I'm a competitor and I get the sense this marketplace doesn't compete," he said in the Tribune story. "Everyone is hanging on for dear life at both papers.

"To see what has happened in this business. … I don't want to go down with it."

Mariotti can be a complete jackass, but it is a dying business and newspapers are simply refusing to radically adapt to the internet.

http://cbs2chicago.com/sports/jay.mariotti.quits.2.803995.html

I stay away from the game threads these days, but was curious about thoughts on tonight's victory . . .

Was tonight the end for CJ as the closer? If so, who next? Closer by committee?

Did Guardado impress enough with those Ks of Ichiro and Ibanez to convince a GM to make JD an offer he can't turn down?

If you take the bunt off on a 1-0 count, why do you put it back on for a 2-0 count?

Note to Vazquez: In the last two games you made 3 errors, couldn't get down a sac bunt, and got picked off 3rd in a 1 run game with two of the league's best hitters at bat and on deck. Congrats on redeeming yourself, but you earned any booing you got.

Z linked the DMN article this morning about Ranger attendance in the main thread. I dug a little deeper because the piece just struck me as being overblown.

Gary Jacobson writes that the Rangers are experiencing a 20% drop in attendance so far this year. He mentions four culprits: 1) The Rangers had already played 9 home games against the Yankees and Red Sox by this time last year (they've yet to host either team in '08), 2) a 15% drop in season ticket sales for '08, 3) the hot weather, and 4) the economy.

Attendance is down, no doubt, and by any measure.

Yet, Jacobson overlooked the fact that, last year, the Rangers hosted the Cubs, baseball's other big road draw in a Tuesday through Thursday series for a 3 game average of 38,087.

The Rangers also had their home opener last year during the 1st weekend - hosting over 120,000 fans while playing against Boston in abnormally cold April weather. This year's home opener was on the second Tuesday of the season against Baltimore and due to a rainout and subsequent doubleheader, the Rangers hosted 64,368 for the first three games.

The Rangers also hosted a Memorial Day weekend series in '07 (which have typically been big draws, although the holiday itself isn't). This year they were in Cleveland for that series. In '07 the Rangers hosted the Angels in front of 46,105 for a Wednesday 4th of July game. This year - on the road.

The scheduling gods went against the Rangers this year. I could even throw in that the Rangers had to play 9 on the road after an All-Star Break in which Josh Hamilton was the national sports headline story.

Just some thoughts. Attendance is down, but it's not the apocalypse.

Beavan - 5IP 1H 0R 0BB 3K, Nolan's gonna be pissed, just kidding. Beavan hasn't pitched more than 6 innings in any of his 5 starts. The Clinton box scores don't have pitch counts, I'm guessing his limit is somewhere between 70 and 90.

Gac -  4-4, 3 doubles, promote him

Diamond (welcome back) 4.2IP 4H 6R 4BB 5K

Elvis 2-5

Max Ramirez 4-5, HR, 2B --- 23XBH in 151 ABs this year, crazy good

Davis 3-5, 2B

OKC is off today.

Bakersfield goes for the organizational sweep tonight.

Be careful what you wish for.

From Richie Whitt at the Dallas Observer blog Sportatorium.

I'm having trouble with the link feature, or else I'd insert it.

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According to foxsports.com

Miguel Cabrera's tenure as the Detroit Tigers' third baseman lasted three weeks.

A month after signing Cabrera to a $152.3 million, eight-year contract, the Tigers announced Tuesday night that he would be moving to first base. Carlos Guillen, an All-Star shortstop last season, will move from first base to third.

"We think, at this particular time, this gives us a better team," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said after a 10-2 win over Texas.

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Countless times this offseason, JD said that the way the team started 2007 “was embarrassing” and even invoked the Bad News Bears. We were persuaded that a cleaner product would be put on the field from game one.  Unfortunately, aside from solid starting pitching, this has been an awful rerun of the start of 2007.

                Right now, something needs to happen. I believe the time has come for JD or Nolan Ryan to publicly call out this team, manager, and coaching staff. Something along the lines of: “This team is playing terrible baseball. The level of play is unacceptable and honestly embarrassing. Rangers fans and this organization deserve better. We have set a high standard for this organization and everyone will be accountable to that standard.”

                The Rangers organization has constantly said that defense and walks allowed need to improve. But, here we are 14 games into the season, and the Rangers defense, especially the mental lapses, have been nothing short of pathetic and the pitchers have given up the third most walks in the AL.  Bottom line – there has been a lot of talk, but nothing has changed.

From Jeff at Lookout Landing:

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