Today at FanHouse

Where it's all Barry, and some other crap thrown in.

• Eric Byrnes Is Staying in Arizona - As a White Sox fan when I heard the rumors that the Diamondbacks weren't going to keep Eric Byrnes around after this season, I became excited at the possibility of seeing him in a White Sox uniform next season. I'm sure there are quite a few of you out there who felt the same way as I did. Well, none of us will be getting what we want. The Diamondbacks have signed Byrnes to a three-year extension.
• Dale Murphy On Bonds: 'A Terrible Example For Our Kids' - Now that Barry has finally passed Hank Aaron-congratulations, Barry-we can all just go back to watching baseball. Just to make things clear on my feelings towards Barry and this record, I don't like Barry, but I don't hate him either. Am I upset that he's broken Hank's record? Not really. I never saw Hank Aaron play, and I have no personal connection to his record. It doesn't cause me great pain to see the record broken by Bonds, because in my lifetime I haven't seen many players better than Barry Bonds. You know who doesn't quite feel the same way about this as I do? Former Atlanta Brave Dale Murphy. He's not particularly happy.
• Jim Leyland Is Feeling Emotional - Earlier this morning Pat Lackey shared his feelings about Barry Bonds breaking the record from the perspective of a lifelong Pirates fan who watched Bonds in his early years. What about the man who managed Barry while he was in Pittsburgh? Jim Leyland was able to watch Bonds hit the record breaking home run live after the Tigers victory on Tuesday night, and he shared his thoughts afterward.
• On Deck: No Records Just Division Races - Wow, I'm not sure I even remember how to write an On Deck without including Barry Bonds and the Giants. It's been awhile. There will be no records set tonight in New York, but at least these games mean something. The Braves were the most active team at the trade deadline this season with the intent to catch and pass the New York Mets so they can reclaim their throne in the NL East. They took the first step last night with a 7-3 victory, and look to get within 2.5 games of the Mets tonight. John Smoltz will start for the Braves, and he's going to need a better performance than in his last start against Colorado. It's Smoltz's fourth start against the Mets this season, and he's 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA. Of course, both those wins came at home in Atlanta. Smoltz was roughed up in his only start at Shea this season for six runs in 5.2 innings of work. Orlando Hernandez starts for the Mets, and he hasn't lost a game since July 4th. In his one start against the Braves this season, El Duque didn't pick up a decision after allowing only one run in six innings.