All-Star Break and Hot Stove

Aren't you excited about All-Star Weekend? How can you think about missing the Breakaway challenge? Seeing one player after another flub on trick-shot breakaways. Getting dizzy watching the coverage on Versus and their cameraman on skates. I'll take a look at the festivities today, only for the player intros and the start of it, but if that cameraman on skates is back, the TV will be switched to another channel. Okay, there's also Brandon Dubinsky and Marc Staal in the YoungStars game. And how can we forget about Henrik Lundqvist? Maybe we'll watch the whole thing after all.

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You know, for years I could not stand Larry Brooks for all his exclusive scoops that never panned out for the sake of getting headlines (well, not really, it's hockey), but this season he's a must read, the only one who's telling it like it is. Kind of like Bob Page at the MSG Sportsdesk back in the day. Remember him?

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The NHL Players decided not to re-open the collective bargaining agreement. Good, at least we don't have to worry about any work stoppages for another couple of years. Once this agreement ends, let's tweak that salary cap to allow unlimited pay that does not count against the cap to homegrown players.

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The Mets signed Freddy Garcia and Alex Cora. Finally we have a backup infielder we can trust to play both middle infield positions. I wish Damion Easley luck, but you know he was not coming back. I'm sorry to say, Luis Castillo is not going anywhere. If he continues his antics this season, you'll see a lot more of Cora at second base. Liking the Garcia move as well. Stock up on a bunch of #5 starting pitchers and let them have at it in Spring Training.

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The Texas Rangers changed their uniforms again, going back to red. They'll be switching back to blue in 2015.

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Finally, the solution to avoid listening to Versus, NBC and Fox. Why couldn't I find this thing in 2006 when I was so sick of Fox that I stopped watching and only listened to Game 7 of the NLCS?