Yankees Lose Billy Eppler to Anaheim

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were one of many teams entering the final month of the regular season and were the latest team to finally get their man, that man was Brian Cashman’s assistant general manager Billy Eppler. Eppler, 40-year old, will take over the Angels personnel decisions after Jerry Dipoto resigned earlier this season due to conflicts with management and team manager Mike Scioscia.

Eppler was a finalists for the Angels GM job back in 2011 before Angels owner Arte Moreno hired Dipoto and will finally get the opportunity to run his own team in Los Angeles. Eppler spent 11 seasons inside the Yankees organization spending time as a scout, the assistant director of baseball operations and the assistant GM where he has spent his last four seasons. Eppler is a San Diego native who was long thought to prefer a job on the West Coast near his home town and he finally has it in Los Angeles.

A Hat Tip to Buck Showalter

As we saw this morning in the TGP Daily Poll the American League and National League Managers of the Year Awards will be handed out today by the BBWAA. The finalists for the American League are Buck Showalter from the Orioles, Mike Scioscia for the Angels, and Ned Yost from the Royals. In the National League Bruce Bochy from the Giants, Clint Hurdle from the Pirates, and Matt Williams from the Nationals are up for the award. Good luck to all six of these men tonight as all of them are definitely deserving of the award.

If Showalter wanted something to feel confident about going into tonight he can remember back on this day in 2004 when Buck won his second AL Manager of the Year Award. Showalter managed the Texas Rangers to a 89-73 record which was an 18 game improvement over the previous season. The first time Buck won the award was with the New York Yankees in the strike shortened 1994 season.

I think Buck wins his third Manager of the Year Award tonight with the Orioles as much as that pains me to admit. Good luck Buck and thank the writers that they don't take douchiness into account.

Mike Scioscia Is Playing w/ Borrowed Time... Meme

Have to think there is some truth to this meme. The team has not been over the .500 mark for an entire season plus...

Quick Hit: Any Guesses On Jeter's Farewell Gift?

Tonight is the final time that the New York Yankees will be in Anaheim this season and the last time that Derek Jeter will ever play in Angels Stadium. As we all know Jeter, much like Chipper Jones and Mariano Rivera before him, will be showered with gifts all season long when visiting the visitors stadiums, any guesses on what that gift might be? Is it a stuffed rally monkey? Does Mike Scioscia have a sense of humor and will he get him a gift basket full of Preparation H? What say you?