A Quick Update Before All Hell Breaks Loose.

Since several transactions have occurred off the field, we'll briefly discuss them as we gear up for the World Series, starting with a brand new segment, I Can't Believe He Got Fired!: Sarcastic Edition.

• The first entry in our ICBHGF:SE post, Bobby Valentine's tumultuous time as manager of the Red Sox mercifully came to a close two days after the regular season ended, when he was relieved of his duties. He led Boston to its first last-place finish since 1966 with a 69-93 record, and was viewed by many as responsible for running respected veteran Kevin Youkilis out of town after his remarks about the third baseman led Youk to be traded to the Chicago White Sox. Valentine's firing was all but certain, and just 3 weeks after it happened, the Sox finally got the man they really wanted last offseason in John Farrell, who spent the last year and a half managing the Blue Jays after spending time as Boston's pitching coach. In return for Farrell and minor league pitcher David Carpenter, the Red Sox sent shortstop Mike Aviles to Toronto, which may very well spell the end for troubled Yunel Escobar in the North. Farrell has already received votes of confidence from both the front office and the players, something that eluded Valentine since the day he was announced as manager. Will Farrell fare better than Valentine did, or will the stunning collapse of 2011 still float just above the heads of anyone who dons the Red Sox? This Yankees fan is hoping for the latter.

• In other ICBHEGF:SE news, three managers were dismissed or quit within the past 3 weeks. Indians skipper Manny Acta, who presided over a Cleveland team that was in the running for the AL Central crown as late as mid-July but blew up down the stretch, was let go days before the regular season ended; Rockies manager Jim Tracy, who had a "handshake agreement" to manage the team "indefinitely", resigned several days following the conclusion of the season; and word just broke this afternoon that Ozzie Guillen, who was acquired by the Marlins from the White Sox just a year ago and signed to a 4-year deal, has also been relieved of his duties. Acta, who has the third lowest winning percentage for a manager in baseball history, managed the Indians since 2010, was let go with 6 days remaining in the regular season, and was succeeded by his bench coach, Sandy Alomar, Jr. However, a few weeks ago, former Red Sox manager Terry Francona was welcomed back into the organization he had worked for almost a decade ago, and now Acta is supposedly in the running for the openings in Toronto and Colorado. Tracy, who managed a Rockies team that lost star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki early in the year and had high expectations for the last 2 seasons, decided it would be more beneficial for him and the Rockies to part ways instead of continuing to lose together. First baseman Jason Giambi, who has played in Colorado for the last two seasons, interviewed for the position, was apparently quite impressive according to sources, and would retire as a player to manage the team. Guillen, always controversial, caused a scandal at the outset of the season when his inflammatory remarks supporting dictator Fidel Castro garnered him a 5-game suspension, then he watched as his players fell one by one to injuries or trades. There were high expectations of this Miami team with Ozzie at the helm, and not only did they disappoint, they failed spectacularly. The next manager of the Marlins has his work cut out for him.

• We have our first big trade of the 2012-2013 offseason! Hooray! The Diamondbacks acquired shortstop Cliff Pennington and minor league infielder Yordy Cabrera from the Athletics in exchange for centerfielder Chris Young, and the D-backs turned around and traded Cabrera to the Marlins for reliever Heath Bell and cash. The Diamondbacks, with  surplus of young, power-hitting outfielders, felt trading Young was worth it to receive Pennington in return, as shortstop was something of a black hole for Arizona in 2012 (interestingly enough, they traded their starting shortstop, Stephen Drew, to the Athletics several months ago). Young joins a crowded Oakland outfield with Josh Reddick, Coco Crisp and Yoenis Cespedes all projected to return in 2013 for the reigning AL West Division champs, but there are rumblings that general manager and Moneyball inspiration Billy Beane could work some of his magic and send Crisp or Cespedes to a team that would, in turn, send promising prospects back to the A's. For the Marlins' part, they got rid of one of their albatross contracts (something owner Jeffrey Loria seems to specialize in) while sending Bell back to the division in which he led MLB with 151 saves between 2009 and 2011. This familiar scenery may be exactly what Bell needs, after an extremely disappointing season in which he had career highs in ERA and blown saves, and was replaced by Steve Cishek as Miami's closer early in the season. The Marlins also received Cabrera, a third baseman, to help shore up the hot corner in the absence of Hanley Ramirez, who was traded to the Dodgers this season. 

• And to wrap up our first offseason post, we'd like to congratulate Rays closer Fernando Rodney and Giants catcher Buster Posey for winning the first offseason awards announced, AL and NL Comeback Players of the Year. Rodney spent 2011 with the Angels, saved 3 games and blew 4, had 10 holds in 39 appearances, and was generally not used by manager Mike Scoscia. In 2012 with the Rays, however, he recorded 48 saves, only blew 2, and had a 0.60 ERA, the lowest single-season ERA for a reliever in Major League Baseball history. He also won the Delivery Man of the Year award, a Cy Young award for relievers, and is even being considered for the real thing. Posey missed the last 4 months of the 2011 season after a home plate collision with Blue Jays outfielder Scott Cousins (then of the Marlins) left him with a broken leg. Since returning to action in 2012, though, he emerged as a serious MVP candidate, winning the batting title with a .336 average (after teammate and suspended PED user Melky Cabrera's .346 was disqualified) and hitting 24 home runs and 103 RBI on the year, not to mention his grand slam in Game 5 of the NLDS that helped seal their comeback and NLCS appearance. Posey will now have a chance to win his second ring in his 3-year career as the Giants will be taking on the Tigers in the World Series starting tomorrow. Again, congratulations to both players.