* Fired as Rockies manager in the middle of this season, Clint Hurdle is reportedly close to replacing Rudy Jaramillo as the Rangers' hitting coach. Rangers Ballpark in Arlington isn't quite Coors Field, but Hurdle definitely picked a good place to be judged on hitters' production.

* George W. Bush threw out the first pitch before yesterday's Game 3 of the Japan Series between the Yomiuri Giants and Nippon Ham Fighters. He tossed a one-hopper to the plate and then watched the game in a private suite with Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh and former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi.

* Mary J. Blige will sing the national anthem prior to Game 6 tonight in New York after Canadian-born Alanis Morissette did the honors before Game 5 in Philadelphia. Sadly, no one followed my advice to get Boyz II Men back to together.

* The cover of today's New York Post has Pedro Martinez's head superimposed on the body of a baby wearing a diaper. Seriously.