Count Carl "The Phantom" Pavano among the growing number of contemporary athletes who just don’t get it—with "it" being a shred of common sense. Pavano, who has been continuing his never-ending his rehabilitation in Tampa, rejoined the Yankees in Tampa Bay over the weekend. When a reporter asked Pavano about his relationship with his Yankee teammates—do they even remember what he looks like?—the enigmatic right-hander insisted he didn’t feel any need to reach out to the other players. In the meantime, Yankee players repeatedly roll their eyes whenever they are asked about The Phantom. As much as fans and media have seen their disdain for Pavano grow since the spring of this year, the amount of respect for the right-hander isn’t much higher than ground level in the Yankee clubhouse…

The nasty weekend collision between Washington teammates Nick Johnson and Austin Kearns—which resulted in a broken leg for "Nick The Stick"—was all too reminiscent of last year’s horrific crash between Carlos Beltran and Mike Cameron. Still, Nationals manager Frank Robinson said the Johnson-Kearns crackup wasn’t the worst outfield collision he’s seen in six decades as a player and skipper. Robinson says the 1973 incident involving his then-angels teammate Bobby Valentine still rates as worse. Playing center field in a game at Anaheim Stadium, Valentine ran in full pursuit of a deep fly ball hit by Oakland A’s second baseman **** Green. Valentine awkwardly barreled into the wall, breaking his leg in two places. The injury ended Valentine’s season—and short-circuited what might have been a brilliant career. Prior to the injury, the young Valentine—who had speed, power, and the versatility to play shortstop or the outfield—had been regarded as one of the top prospects in both the Angels’ and Dodgers’ organizations…

What’s the worst outfield collision I’ve ever seen? While my recollections don’t go as far back as Frank Robinson’s, I do recall a particularly jaw-numbing collision between Yankee outfielders Roy White and Paul Blair at Royals Stadium on May 12, 1978. Somewhat miraculously, neither player came away seriously hurt, but the collision flattened both outfielders, who remained motionless as the ball rolled around the outfield wall, allowing the Royals to score the game-tying and game-winning runs in the bottom of the ninth. Kansas City’s Amos Otis was credited with an inside-the-park home run in what had to be one of the most frightening finishes to a game ever…

The most memorable collision I’ve ever seen involved former Mets and White Sox outfielder Rodney McCray, who literally ran threw the bottom of a plywood wall in a minor league game in 1991. The incident took place at Civic Stadium in Portland, while McCray was playing for the Vancouver Canadians of the Pacific Coast League. In honor of his outfield bravery, the Canadians renamed the right-center field portion of Civic Stadium after McCray, who somehow escaped the crash without any serious injury. (The Canadians also held "Rodney McCray Bobblehead Night" this past August. Just as importantly, McCray forever earned the alias of "Wallman."

The Angels, barely grasping to a thread in the American League West race, are paying greatly for their decision not to spend money on a bigtime slugger last winter. According to this week’s missive from owner Arte Moreno, they won’t be making that same mistake again. Moreno says he will add at least one premier hitter to the lineup this fall, regardless of the cost. Among the free agent class, two players stand out as fitting Angel needs: right-handed power hitters Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano. Ramirez is the better fit because the Angels desperately need a third baseman—they don’t believe that Dallas McPherson is the answer and they feel Chone Figgins is better suited to a jack-of-all-trades role—but there are whispers coming out of Chicago that indicate Ramirez will return to the Cubs in 2007. Soriano would not fit quite as smoothly, especially if he demands that his 2007 employer play him at second base. The Angels have already targeted Howie Kendrick to take over that position from Adam Kennedy, who will also be tossing his hat into the free agent ring. Hopefully, Soriano will come to realize that he’s better off in the outfield. He has the speed and arm to become a good left fielder next year, and his offense benefits greatly from not having to deal with the grind of playing the middle infield. A separation from the wears and tears of second base has helped Soriano reach the 40-40 plateau for the first time in his career… If Ramirez and Soriano fall through their mitts, the Angels will turn to plan C, which involves Rangers slugger Carlos Lee. "El Caballo" isn’t as athletic as Soriano or Ramirez and doesn’t offer the versatility of playing the infield, but is a reasonable fallback option if the dollars are acceptable…

Another rumor involving the Angels has also made the rounds, and it leans toward the wild side, but is still worth mentioning. The blockbuster deal would send Alex Rodriguez to the Halos for a package headed up by Figgins, pitchers Ervin Santana and Scott Shields, and a top prospect. That kind of compensation package sounds about right from the Yankees, who will want a lot for A-Rod, but the bottom line remains this: Rodriguez has a no-trade clause and has given no indication that he is willing to waive it. A-Rod seems determined to succeed or fail in pinstripes and doesn’t want to be labeled as someone who is "running" from a bad situation. That’s the last piece of criticism that Rodriguez needs to hear after a summer of overheated bashing…

It’s no secret that the Red Sox want to revamp their bullpen this winter. They’d like to start the changeover by moving Jonathan Papelbon to the rotation and making Matt Clement the closer, but the oft-injured right-hander has already given thumbs down to that maneuver. Of course, the Red Sox can always insist that Clement move to the pen, but they’re more likely to consider a relatively cheap acquisition from outside the organization. GM Theo Epstein doesn’t believe in investing large amounts of players or salary into bringing in a closer, which probably rules out someone like Brad Lidge. He might, however, give strong consideration to Justin Speier (the son of former big league shortstop Chris Speier), who has pitched supremely well in a set-up role for the Blue Jays. The acquisition of Speier would not only help the Red Sox but would significantly hurt the Blue Jays, who figure to be contenders in the American League East next summer…

This week’s edition of the Rumor Mill wouldn’t be complete without an update on Joe Girardi. With the Marlins having stumbled out of realistic wild card contention over the last week, it appears that Girardi will most definitely be fired at season’s end. Some of the reasons given for the impending move are laughable, such as Girardi’s decision to bring back Josh Johnson after a rain delay, as if no manager has ever done that before in major league history. There’s also a claim that Girardi is too "introverted," which is a funny thing to say about a guy who has been a broadcaster, bench coach, and a highly regarded handler of pitchers. All of the so-called reasons are merely an attempt to cover up the bottom line—Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria doesn’t like Girardi and considers him disrespectful and insubordinate. With Girardi’s days in Florida numbered, the Marlins are considering at least a half-dozen candidates. The list includes Braves special assistant Jim Fregosi, Mets bench coach Jerry Manuel, Japanese Leagues manager Trey Hillman and a trio of third base coaches—Manny Acta, Joey Cora, and Fredi Gonzalez. (I’d love to see Hillman get a chance. I’ve liked him dating back to his days as manager of the Columbus Clippers.) The Marlins would like to bring in a manager who can speak Spanish, which might give Manuel or one of the third base coaches the upper hand. One legitimate criticism of Girardi is that he hired no one on his coaching staff who speaks Spanish, and that is something that will have to change on next year’s Marlins.

I’ve attended and participated in scores of baseball-related programs over the years—book signings, school visits, commemorative days honoring retired stars, and meetings of the Society for American Baseball Research. Yet, I’ve never attended a baseball event that was as well organized or as effective as the one I participated in earlier this week.

On Monday at Philadelphia’s Renaissance Airport Hotel, I took part in a special benefit luncheon commemorating the 35^th anniversary of the lineup that Pittsburgh Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh wrote out on September 1, 1971. Regular readers of this column know of what I speak: the first all-minority lineup in major league history. The luncheon provided local baseball officials with a way of honoring Murtaugh’s history-making lineup while simultaneously raising much needed funding for the last youth baseball team still operating in Murtaugh’s financially depressed hometown of Chester, Pennsylvania.

A gentleman named Jim Vankoski deserves more than a few pats on the back for the exhaustive work he did in putting together a smoothly run, well-paced, and supremely entertaining event. Vankoski, the president of the local Delaware County Baseball League (of which Chester is a member), almost single-handedly tied up all of the loose ends in the planning of the event. The list of attendees that Vankoski managed to secure included former Philadelphia Phillies slugger **** Allen, who overcame repeated bouts with racism to become the first African-American star in the team’s history; his brother, Hank Allen, currently a scout with the Milwaukee Brewers and formerly a utility player with the Brewers, Washington Senators, and Chicago White Sox; Tim Murtaugh, the son of Danny Murtaugh and a former player and minor league manager with the Pirates; and former Senators star Mickey Vernon, a native son of Delaware County who won two American League batting titles during a career that was interrupted by World War II.

**** Allen and Tim Murtaugh both spoke during the two-hour event, which almost became a three-hour program as some of the baseball celebrities graciously stayed late to sign autographs and take pictures. Allen wasn’t scheduled to speak, but agreed to when asked at the last moment. Showing few signs of a lack of preparations, he delivered a short series of thoughtful and funny remarks, exhibiting the kind of intelligence and humor that the media wrote so little about during his tumultuous career in the sixties and seventies. The soft-spoken Murtaugh concluded the program, which was ably emceed by Phillies PA announcer Dan Baker, by offering some heartfelt recollections of his father, who was almost universally beloved by Pirates players during a career that included four managerial terms in Pittsburgh.

Although Hank Allen and Mickey Vernon did not make formal comments during the luncheon, they both made strong impressions as approachable gentlemen willing to talk openly about their careers in baseball. I was fortunate enough to interview both; Allen was articulate and amiable, and highly respectful of the accomplishments of his brother, while the 88-year-old Vernon was sharp and insightful, giving off the presence of a much younger man.

The luncheon also provided a personal thrill. After I made a few public comments about Danny Murtaugh and his involvement in starting the all-minority nine, **** Allen motioned me to come over to his table, extended his large right hand, and congratulated me for the remarks I made. It’s not often that I’ve received that kind of acknowledgment at a speaking engagement, especially from someone as noteworthy as **** Allen.

More importantly, the Philadelphia luncheon achieved both of its intended goals. The luncheon sold out, and with an overflow turnout of 150 fans at a rate of $35 per person, the Chester baseball team received a substantial jumpstart in remaining in business for 2007. Just as happily, the nearly 200 people that attended the program learned a little bit more about the Pirates’ first all-minority lineup, a story that continues to be ignored by much of the mainstream media. A few more folks will learn about that historic event now, thanks in part to the presence of reporters from both the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Tribune, the latter being the oldest black newspaper in the country.

It isn’t often that such events achieve financial success while also delivering an inspiring message along the way. Simply put, the luncheon honoring Murtaugh and the all-minority lineup exhibited the stark way in which past and present can come full circle. In 1971, Murtaugh showed the courage to field a lineup consisting entirely of black and Latino players. Thirty five years later, Murtaugh’s good name and reputation have allowed the youth team from his hometown of Chester, a team that consists largely of black and Latino players, to continue playing the game that Murtaugh’s Pirates played so well.

One look at the lineup the Orioles used against the Yankees on Sunday tells you all you need to know about the lack of vision the franchise seems to have. Here’s a team that has been completely out of contention for months now, yet somehow sees the need to make out a lineup that includes journeymen like Chris Gomez at first base and Kevin Millar at DH. (And don’t even get me started about Fernando Tatis.) A light-hitting shortstop by trade, Gomez should never be starting games at first base—and certainly not for a rebuilding team that ought to be looking at young players at every turn. As for Millar, he should have been traded at the July 31^st deadline rather than be allowed to soak up at-bats that could be going to one of Baltimore’s minor league prospects. Then again, as Orioles fans are sure to point out, Baltimore really doesn’t have a sufficient number of prospects to go around… Speaking of the Orioles, Sam Perlozzo has been uninspiring in his first full season as manager, making one wonder why a career coach was brought in to manage the team in the first place. Furthermore, it’s puzzling why Baltimore, a proud franchise with a rich history, doesn’t have more of its former players working in the organization as either managers or coaches. Terry Crowley and Rick Dempsey are currently coaches on Perlozzo’s staff, but that’s not enough for an organization that used to pride itself on doing things the "Oriole way." People like Don Baylor, Paul Blair, Davey Johnson, Eddie Murray, and Merv Rettenmund are either with other organizations or on the outside looking in, searching for work in baseball…

Bill Madden had an interesting note in his Sunday New York Daily News column. In assessing Theo Epstein’s recent streak of bad trades, Madden mentioned that backup catcher Doug Mirabelli was the most unpopular player among teammates on the 2004 World Championship team. If that’s really the case, then Epstein’s decision to reacquire Mirabelli becomes even more curious. Did Epstein know the degree of Mirabelli’s unpopularity? If he knew, did he ignore the social dynamic, as Sabermetric types are known to do? Either way, the trade that sent pitcher Cla Meredith and catcher Josh Bard to San Diego for Mirabelli may stand as the worst of all the moves that Epstein has made since returning from his brief hiatus to resume the GM reins. Meredith has become arguably the National League’s best set-up man, while Bard has a chance to become San Diego’s No. 1 catcher whenever Mike Piazza decides to call it quits…

On the subject of Sabermetric thinking, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has taken his share of criticism from Sabermetric types for being the anti-Paul DePodesta, but critics should take note of two important team statistics. Colletti’s Dodgers are currently ranked first in the National League in on-base percentage and a respectable fourth in the league in runs scored. Without Colletti acquisitions like Nomar Garciaparra, Rafael Furcal, Kenny Lofton, and Rookie of the Year candidate Andre Ethier (picked up as part of the Milton Bradley deal), the Dodgers wouldn’t rate nearly as high in either category. Though not known as a Sabermetric follower in the tradition of Billy Beane or J.P. Ricciardi, Colletti has concentrated most of his acquisitions on players capable of reaching base, with the added bonus of speed in the form of Lofton and Furcal…

On a team packed with high-profile names, the best story among the current crop of Yankees might involve little known reliever Brian Bruney. A self-professed Yankee hater, Bruney was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks in May. A bad elbow then sidelined him for two months. The Yankees took a chance, and Bruney bit the bullet over his hatred for the Yankees. A Bob Wickman lookalike, Bruney has emerged as a reliable entity in Joe Torre’s deepening bullpen. Bruney has hit 97 and 98 on the radar gun, making him the team’s hardest thrower after Kyle Farnsworth and Scott Proctor. More importantly, Bruney has yet to have a bad outing in relief, instead showing control, movement, and poise, to the extent that he has probably pitched himself onto the team’s postseason roster…

Finally, I saw that one of my old favorites, Richie Hebner, lost his job as a coach with the Durham Bulls over the weekend. It doesn’t sound like Hebner did anything particularly wrong; the entire Bulls staff was fired by the Devil Rays, including the manager, coaches, and trainer. The colorful Hebner, who can let the expletives fly with the best of them, will probably land on his feet, as he always seems to do. He’s worked for the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Pirates, and Devil Rays in a variety of roles since his playing days ended. There should always be a place in baseball for someone like Hebner, who has a passion for the game that is matched by few others.

This article is dedicated to the memory of Adam Lewis, Hamilton College Class of 1987, who was killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

With absolutely no managers having been fired during the regular season, it’s inevitable that some field bosses will lose their jobs this fall or winter. The first to go may be Seattle’s Mike Hargrove, who has already taken his share of blame for the Mariners’ awful August, which transformed them from contenders into also-rans. I must confess that I like Hargrove—he’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in the game—but his track record outside of Cleveland has produced few highlights. Neither the Orioles nor the Mariners seemed to play with passion for Hargrove, who might just be too much a gentleman to give underachieving players the kick that they need. So whom will the Mariners turn to as a successor to the “Human Rain Delay?” Other than administrative coach Dan Rohn, who is respected within Seattle’ hierarchy and knows the Mariners’ young talent, Seattle’s coaching staff is lacking in realistic managerial candidates of the name brand variety. As a result, the Mariners may end up going outside of the organization for Hargrove’s successor… There have been some whispers that Seattle could bring back Lou Piniella, but “Sweet Lou” will have his pick of managerial jobs, and there may be more attractive openings in Chicago and Philadelphia. Another candidate who has already been mentioned is Dusty Baker, who will almost certainly be fired by the Cubs after the season. Four years ago, Baker expressed interest in managing the Mariners; that’s why his name is being linked to Seattle right now. But let’s remember that the Mariners didn’t even bring Baker in for an interview in 2002, when his managerial stock was much higher. Don’t expect Mariners GM Bill Bavasi to call Baker on this occasion, either… The Mariners will probably end up hiring a lesser name with little to no managing experience, someone who is willing to work for something less than an upper echelon salary. Two candidates could be Bud Black, the Angels’ highly respected pitching coach, and Luis Sojo, the former Mariners utility infielder currently managing in the Yankees’ farm system… Besides Hargrove and Baker, three other managers are expected to be fired at season’s end. They are Charlie Manuel in Philadelphia—unless the Phillies can somehow pull off the wildcard—Felipe Alou in San Francisco, and Frank Robinson in Washington. A sixth manager could be moving on if Marlins owner Jeff Loria does the unthinkable and fires Joe Girardi for various acts of insubordination. If the Marlins finish the season better than .500 and win the wildcard (both of which are real possibilities), Loria will face the public relations job of a lifetime in trying to explain Girardi’s firing to the Marlins’ fan base. Like the Mariners, the Marlins don’t have many in-house candidates. Third base coach Bobby Meacham is a possibility, but most of Seattle’s coaches are career minor leaguers like Perry Hill and Gary Tuck. If the Marlins delve outside of the organization for a bigger name, they’ll face the problem of enticing someone into working for a meddlesome owner. I can’t believe a marquee managerial name like Piniella or Bobby Valentine would be willing to take the job, which might force Florida to settle for a mid-range hire like Jerry Manuel or Don Baylor. Manuel has a solid tie to the organization, having worked as a coach under Jim Leyland on the Marlins’ 1997 World Championship team. Loria would have to play up that connection fiercely in order for Manuel to gain acceptance in Florida… Count me among the legions of those who were shocked by the Tigers’ release of DH-outfielder Dmitri Young. The Tigers claim that Young’s release had to do with his performance and not with any drug or alcohol related incident, but the timing of the move, just three weeks before the start of the postseason, has to make you wonder. Unnamed whispers out of Detroit have already indicated that Young had become a negative influence in the clubhouse. Still, this is a team that has been searching for left-handed hitting ever since the switch-hitting Young first went on the disabled list earlier this summer. Other than Carlos Guillen, the Tigers have lacked a dangerous left-handed presence in their lineup. Curtis Granderson has struggled badly in the second half of the season and mid-season pickup Sean Casey is merely a pedestrian hitter, clearly nowhere near his peak of two years ago … Once Young clears waivers on Monday, he’ll be free to work out a deal with another major league team. One club that might have interest is a rival of the Tigers; the Twins have had the worst DH production of any American League team this year and could platoon Young with another new acquisition, Phil Nevin. The team that signs Young will have to deal with at least one caveat. Since the Tigers released him after September 1, he won’t be eligible for postseason play with anyone.