ESPN - Year-end awards: MVPs and LVPs, Cy Youngs and Yuks ... - MLB

Year-end awards: MVPs and LVPs, Cy Youngs and Yuks ... - Jason Stark

"Redman's claim to fame: First pitcher in modern history to give up 10 runs in the first inning and be left in to throw another pitch, let alone another five innings."

Houston's Brandon Backe had that déjà vu feeling last month -- when he became the second pitcher in the past 50 years to give up 11 runs (or more) twice in a week and a half."

Finally, we hadn't seen a catcher head for the mound and turn into the losing pitcher in any game since Hall of Famer Roger Bresnahan did it in 1901. But when the Mariners pointed catcher Jamie Burke toward the old hill in the 15th inning of a July 6 marathon with Detroit, he gave us not just a cool pitching line (1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, O K, 1 very wild pitch) but also this: Burke (LP, 0-1)"

Rule technicality fun: "Orioles rookie Lou Montanez got the first hit of his career on April 28 -- even though he wasn't called up until Aug. 5. And he got it in Chicago, even though he has never played there."

"CC Sabathia is tied for the lead in shutouts in both leagues in the same season."

From David Letterman, on the Pope's visit to Yankee Stadium: "People are saying it was a great mass. As a matter of fact, afterward the Yankees retired Roman numeral XVI."

From Jay Leno, on the New York financial crisis: "AIG has assets over $1 trillion. … Has anybody ever had $1 trillion and still failed? OK, besides the New York Yankees."