Baker interviews with Reds (FOX Sports)

The Cincinnati Reds have discussed their “open” managerial position with Dusty Baker, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal confirms.

Baker, the former San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs skipper, currently works as a network analyst for ESPN.

The Reds are seeking a higher profile name to pilot the club after a string of unsuccessful hires.  Current manager Pete Mackanin is a candidate for the position that he filled on an interim basis after the club fired Jerry Narron during the 2006 season.

(From time to time, we’ll post a short blog entry regarding a current topic or something else that catches our fancy. It might be something trivial or something that really makes us wonder what the hell is going on.)

Two teams have made it to the National League Championship Series and they’re both squads that no one thought would reach it this far: the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Rockies swept the NL East champion Philadelphia Fightin’ Phillies in three games, continuing their unbelievable stretch of winning 17 of their 18 games.  The Diamondbacks took out the NL Central “champion” (we use that term loosely, like sorta saying you’re the world’s tallest midget) Chicago Cubs in three games, extending the Cubs post-season futility to its 99th consecutive season.

Before we move on to breaking this thing down, we’d like to point out we did awfully well with our division series predictions, nailing all four of them (the duration of each series doesn’t count!).

With that, let’s get crackin’!

More after the jump »

ATP to look into 150 suspicious matches (AP/SI.com)

Amid swirling reports of gambling in tennis, the ATP tennis authority will examine a document that alleges some 150 professional matches that may be “suspicious.”

More after the jump »

News and notes while Frank DeFord hammers sideline reporters…

Report: Reggie Bush received $280K in benefits at USC (AP/ESPNU) Updating an earlier story, the sports marketer has agreed to turn over evidence that allegedly claims a large amount of benefits for the current New Orleans Saints running back.

Call on Boulerice should be easy (TSN.ca) Respected hockey commentator/insider Bob McKenzie says the NHL has an easy call to make on Flyer Jesse Boulerice’s hit on Canuck Ryan Kessler.

Plenty to like about MLB’s final four (SI.com) Jon Heyman of SI.com examines the storylines surrounding the remaining four teams in the LCS.

Scott Boras, “Yes”, we had another conversation (SportsBiz) Darren Rovell of CNBC digs deeper on agent Scott Boras’ idea of tying YES Network ratings into Alex Rodriguez’s contract extension with the Yankees.

What is the most popular Internet sports destination? (The Big Lead) We’re number 53,234.390 with a bullet!

Schuerholz expected to step down (FOX Sports)

Long-time Atlanta Braves president/general manager John Schuerholz is stepping down, according to a report from FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

The replacement is expected to be Frank Wren, his assistant general manager.

***UPDATED at 12:26 PM ET***

AJC.com is reporting that he will remain with the organization in another capacity via two sources close to the situation.

A&M rebukes Franchione, reports coach to NCAA (AP/ESPNU)

Texas A&M officials said Thursday that coach Dennis Franchione will be admonished for a secretive for-pay newsletter sent to boosters and that the school will report violations related to the newsletter to the NCAA.

More after the jump »

Baseball is given evidence of player receiving drugs (New York Times)

The New York Times’ Michael S. Schmidt reports that the Albany (NY) district attorney’s office has provided Major League Baseball with detailed information that a player linked in published reports to shipments of performance-enhancing drugs did indeed receive a banned substance.

More after the jump »

Buss still willing to listen to trade offers for Kobe (LA Times)

The NBA season must be approaching because the Kobe Bryant trade talk is popping up again, this time with Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss telling the tale, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Speaking for the first time since the offseason verbal bouquets between the parties took place, Buss told Lakers beat writers that he would entertain the possibility of moving the star.
More after the jump »

News and notes while wanting to strangle ESPN’s Stu Scott for his poetry highlights…

MLB announces LCS umpiring crews (Biz of Baseball) For some strange reason, Angel Hernandez is on the NL crew.

Shapiro knew the direction (Y! Sports) Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports takes on how the Cleveland Indians GM Mark Shapiro build the franchise after John Hart left for Texas.

Chiefs to hang with Huard (AP/SI.com) Despite an injured shoulder, Damon Huard to handle the starting chores for the Chiefs.

Hard to know who real winners are in The Steroid Era (USA Today) The excellent USA Today columnist Christine Brennan profiles the aftermath of sprinter Marion Jones and the other victims — her teammates.

Gipp family has Notre Dame legend’s body exhumed for DNA testing (AP/ESPN) Relatedly bizzare, ESPN filmed the exhumation for an upcoming story.