I've got a big day planned (helping Dad take down the Xmas lights, watching 6 hours or so of football, and playing some tennis), so let's get right to it.

1. The Mets are reportedly close to signing Vladimir Guerrero to a 3 year, ~40 million dollar deal. First of all, let me say: HOLY CRAP. That would be an unbelievably good deal for any team, much less one with the payroll that the Mets have. If they do sign Guerrero, suddenly their OF is Cliff Floyd, Mike Cameron, Vladi. I am damn glad the Astros aren't in the NL East, and I've got a hunch that is going to be an absolutely brutal division next year.

2. Some smart-ass vet school kid suggested to me that the Astros go after Greg Norton. Here are Norton's batting splits against RHP (he really can't hit left handed pitching very well) over the last 3 years: .254 / .324 / .503 with 26 HR's and 95 RBI's...in 461 at-bats! Yeah, that is slightly inflated by playing half his games at Planet Coors, but: 1) Norton can play any infield position 2) He's left-handed 3) He's one of the best pinch-hitters in baseball. Greg Norton is not a great baseball player. But the guy whose at-bats he'd probably be taking, Jose Vizcaino, is significantly worse in every way. Viz's OPS the last 3 years with the Astros: 666, 739, 646. We need a guy like Greg Norton badly. Let's get him. He can't be that expensive.

Well, I'm off. Hope everyone has a great weekend.