I've read a lot of stories over the past few days about Walt Jocketty and his future.  The last one said he was going to take some time off and think about what he wanted to do and where he wanted to go.  He says he's had several offers already and that he's sort of in a pondering mode. 

The reason this is so interesting is because wherever Jocketty winds up, the chances are he may bring his friend The Genius with him.  Just the street cred The Genius brings with him is huge, because knowing that a manager with his reputation is in your dugout automatically ups your season ticket sales. 

In one of the blogs I read (and I wish I would have saved the link but I didn't), the blog discussed Ned Yost getting another year with the Brewers.  It went on to say if Yost were to fail and The Genius were available, he would ride into Milwaukee and save the day.  Here's why that won't happen:

• Although there is not the degree of animosity between the Brewers and Cardinals that there is between the Cubs and Cardinals, there still is a pretty thick rivalry.  There's a lot of negativity regarding The Genius in Milwaukee and I can't see the fans warming to it.
• The Genius will command a salary worthy of, well, a Genius.  If he's hired at say the All-Star Break, you've just burnt your budget on player acquisition on a manager.  Not good business.  It's not that the Brewers are cheap, it's that their resources are limited due to lack of opportunity based on  market size.
  
• It's no secret that even if he gets hired in Milwaukee, The Genius has maybe four years left tops.  He wants to win now.  Does this Brewers team have enough pieces in place for him to do that.  The answer is yes and no.  But everywhere he's been, he likes to bring in his own boys and that could alter the chemistry on this team enough to screw it up.
• For almost 30 years, Dave Duncan has been The Genius' number one lieutenant.  The Brewers employ Mike Maddux on of the best pitching coaches in baseball.  Again, change for change sake isn't always that good.  Where ever The Genius winds up, Duncan will be right next to him on the bench.
• I think if The Genius and Jocketty relocate they will wind up in one of two places: Baltimore or Philadelphia.  Baltimore is under new management (Andy McPhail) and ther VP of baseball operations Jim Duquette, resigned yesterday.  This opens the door for Jocketty (or Terry Ryan but that's a different discussion for a different day) and possibly The Genius if there is some buyer's remorse regarding Manager Dave Trembley.  In Phillie, Pat Gillick is going into his last year as GM and if they want to pull the plug early on him and take out Manager Charlie Manuel as well (especially if the Phils get swept by the Rockies) then that opens a door for Jocketty and The Genius.  Cincinnati remains a possibility, but I have my doubts.  Besides that, there are few options with most of the managers in baseball being safe for now or too new.
• In the wackiest theory I've heard, there is also the possibility that The Genius could take a job that was above field level.  There are some who believe that Jerry Reinsdorf wants to cleanse his guilt for firing The Genius in 1986 by making him team President of the White Sox.  I can't see that, but don't forget, The Genius does hold a law degree.  I'm sure Kenny Williams would love to have him around.

Lightning Round

• The White Sox change their Razor and soften Hard Art.  Razor Shines is the only Sox coach who didn't play for the Sox and with Ozzie Guillen.  Ozzie should move Joey Cora back to third and find a really smart bench coach.  Hey, The Genius may be available soon.
  
• Rocky, not Peter Wirtz takes over the reigns of the Chicago Blackhawks and promises to go over the organization with a fine tooth comb.  He also says that the Hawks are in good shape with GM Dale Tallon and Coach Denis Savard, but never mentions VP Bob Pulford.  Hopefully, Pulford is the first change Wirtz makes (as in "Bob, all the black mail photos you have are of my dad, not me, therefore you are no longer needed.")  Oh, happy day.
  
• Don't think the media is having a love fest with The Elderly Hillbilly?  Here are their greatest hits.
  
• What a night in the playoffs last night with the Indians winning on a walk off single and the Red Sox on a walkoff home run.  If you don't follow the AL Central, nothing the Indians do surprises me because they are a total package.  Indians-Red Sox in round two would be fine with me.  Meanwhile, there's no way the Angels get out of the hole they've dug themselves into.
• In a shock to no one, Jim Tracy gets fired as manager of the Pirates.  You knew that a new GM was going to hire his own guy.  Since the guy comes from Cleveland, keep your eyes on Indians third base coach Joel Skinner who has long been discussed as a managerial candidate.
• How can you have playoffs without Bob Sheppard?
• SI's Don Banks thinks the Bears are done after four games.
• Some outstanding satire, courtesy of our Friends at Bugs & Cranks.
• The Webster's dictionary describes the word "Kragthorpe" as being German in origin and meaning "One whose defense couldn't stop a group of old ladies on walkers."
  
• The Bears Lance Briggs gets community service for leaving the scene of an accident earlier this year.  In Chicago, community service is considering maiming the Elderly Hillbilly.