"Competitive Balance"

The Giants have reached new heights:

• Dodgers, $31.8MM tax bill
• Yankees, $27.4MM
• Red Sox, $4.5MM
• Tigers, $4MM
• Giants, $3.4MM
• Cubs, $2.96MM

No more small-time for this outfit! Yes, our beloved orange-and-blackers are now officially out-of-balance and must pony up to the Man. In this case the Man is MLB. The so-called "luxury tax" (officially it is the Competitive Balance Tax) is mostly set aside for something called "industry development" and not for revenue sharing. Whatever, sounds a tad Orwellian. Big payroll, big expectations, wouldn't you say?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

--M.C.

. . . and Chris Heston is not

The right-hander was traded this evening for a Player To Be Named Later. I suppose this move makes a spot on the 40-man for Mark Melancon. Adios, Chris Heston. Thanks for suiting up in San Francisco. We won't forget the  ninth and most recent SF no-hitter. Best of luck--except of course when pitching against the Giants.

--M.C.

Apparently, Mark Melancon is a Giant

Mark Melancon.  I read $62 mil, 4 years, a record for closers, but probably not for long.