FanHouse JohnMcgraw

But don't read too much into McGraw's absence, he's been dead for over 73 years. So please don't create controversy that isn't there. Let's just focus on the positive, and congratulate Bobby Cox on finally passing McGraw to set the record for all-time ejections with his 132nd career thumb on Tuesday night, courtesy of Ted Barrett. As Cox probably would have wanted it, the historic moment was understated.

Fans at Turner Field didn't even know Cox was ejected for the 132nd time Tuesday night, since the record-breaking ejection wasn't preceded by his familiar jaunt onto the field and cursing argument with an umpire. (...) Cox was thrown out for arguing from the dugout after Chipper Jones looked at a called third strike to end the fifth inning of the Braves' game against the San Francisco Giants. Without any fanfare, home-plate umpire Ted Barrett walked toward the Braves' dugout and signaled to Cox that he was ejected.

Until an announcement was made in the pressbox minutes later, most reporters didn't even realize Cox had been thrown out of the game.

So no post ejection speech, no video tribute (see, don't feel bad Barry ... Hank Aaron probably slept through this milestone too), nobody from the Hall of Fame looking to take artifacts like Cox's lineup card, uniform, and Ted Barrett's thumb for display, and no Met fans to grab the ball that struck out Chipper Jones and go to Sydney on vacation. (Oh yeah, and no Erin Andrews to interview the opposing pitcher.) Have we already forgotten how to celebrate a hallowed baseball record?

Tracking Cox's Ejections:
Bobby Cox Ties John McGraw
Bobby Cox One Away from McGraw
Bobby Cox Headed for History

As my colleague PostmanE already pointed out on Monday, having homefield advantage decided in the World Series is one of the stupidest things going on in the game of baseball today. That's saying something too, because there area a lot of stupid things going on in baseball.

But since the All-Star Game will be played later tonight, I'm just going to focus on that.

The reason we have to deal with this rule is that the 2002 All-Star Game ended in a tie. It was Bud Selig's knee-jerk reaction to people getting upset that a meaningless game didn't have a winner. So in a sense, we as fans are to blame. If we had just kept our mouths shut, none of this would have happened.

Though to be completely honest with you, when that game ended in a tie, I didn't care.

Still, some good has come out of that 2002 "debacle." They expanded the rosters of each team, and gave players and coaches more say in who should be among those chosen. Very good moves by Mr. Selig. In fact, the first move of expanding the rosters was so good, it's all he would have had to do to ensure that the game never end in a tie again.

But Bud just couldn't stop. He had to come up with this joke of a rule for 2003, letting us know that this time, it counts!

Does it? I don't remember seeing any of the game stats counted, or teams in the winning league tacking on a W to their teams win totals. It's still considered an exhibition game, yet it can greatly influence who will become baseball's champion at season's end.

If you think it doesn't matter, consider this fact. In the last 25 years, the home team has an 18-3 record in Games 6 and 7. 18-3. So, to quote my colleague Pat Lackey, if Freddy Sanchez hits a game-winning single off of Gil Meche in the 9th inning tonight, the National League has just improved it's chance to win the World Series.

Two players who shouldn't even be on the team and have no hopes of playing in October barring some kind of trade, just had a huge impact on the World Series.

Terrific.

On Deck is the Fanhouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

New York Yankees (21-26) vs. Los Angeles Angels (30-20)-1:05PM Est.

Can you name the only American League team that has a winning record against the New York Yankees since Joe Torre took over? If you can't, you're pretty stupid. I mean, it's obvious isn't it? The Yankees are playing the Angels right now, so why would I be asking the question if they were playing the Royals? The Angels look for their first sweep in the Bronx since August of 2004, and have won 17 of their last 25 games against the Yankees. John Lackey gets the start for the Halos, and looks to become the first pitcher in baseball to notch his 8th victory of the season.

Atlanta Braves (28-21) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (25-24)-1:05PM Est.

Could today be the day? Bobby Cox was ejected from his second straight game yesterday, and is now just one ejection away from tying John McGraw's record of 131. Where's all the pomp and circumstance for this one? Why isn't Bud Selig in Atlanta right now preparing to honor Cox? Shouldn't some of John McGraw's relatives be at Turner Field for this? This is history we're talking about here, not some dumb ass home run record!

Baltimore Orioles (22-27) vs. Oakland Athletics (24-24)-1:35PM Est.

Is there a light coming over the horizon for the Orioles? A big reason the team is five games under .500 is the fact that Miguel Tejada has sucked this season. In the first 45 games, Tejada only managed to hit two home runs. Well, he must have found himself a big old bottle of B12 because he's homered twice in the past three games, and is heating up. I don't know if he'll be joined in the lineup today by Melvin Mora, but one thing's for sure: Melvin Mora better know whether he'll be in the lineup. If not, we might have a tantrum of epic proportions on our hands.

*Okay, everybody except Orlando Cabrera

Bobby Cox, in his march towards history, is now a mere one ejection away from tying John McGraw's all time record after getting tossed by Ron Kulpa while arguing a fair/foul call.

When I think of managers who constantly and famously berate umpires such as Earl Weaver and Billy Martin, I can't imagine that umpires always thought highly of them. But blue certainly has a deep respect for Cox (either that or they're just being polite for the media):

"I've never had a problem with Bobby," Kulpa said. "This is my ninth year and this is the first time that I've ever ejected him. I don't think any umpire is out there looking to get Bobby. Bobby respects us and we have a lot of respect for him."

So that puts Cox one behind John McGraw, and 127 ahead of John Smoltz, who earned his third career thumb just minutes after Cox's. Smoltz accused Kulpa of having some rabbit ears.

"I didn't say anything that warranted getting thrown out, not one bit," Smoltz said. "I told him he missed the call, and the next thing you know, I'm getting thrown out. It's pretty weak. But maybe he's having a bad day."

An umpire having a bad day? Come on, Smoltzie, that never happens.

Smoltz has to learn to get his money's worth on these ejections like his manager. Cox knows what he's doing in that regard, and that's why he finds himself on the cusp of history. And for whoever starts that pool to try to predict who the umpire who ejects Cox to tie the record, give me Angel Hernandez. Just a guess.

Previously on The Fanhouse:
Bobby Cox Chases History

In a season where we will be engrossed with 756 (Barry Bonds), 600 (Sammy Sosa), 300 (Tom Glavine) and one (the Mets first no-hitter if it ever happens), there's another milestone number out there that is largely going unnoticed: 132. That is the number of ejections it would take to grab the all-time record away from John McGraw.

Proving that it takes some sort of longevity to be able to take a bunch of early showers, Bobby Cox is only four away from magic number 132.

Do we stop the game? Recognize this moment on the scoreboard? Give the man a trophy - of a bronze thumb, perhaps? "I think all of the umpires should get together and give him something," John Smoltz said.

"He should get at least a plaque or a certificate," said the former Brave, Greg Maddux. "Maybe something with his name, the date, the umpire."

Chipper Jones is a conspiracy theorist, in regards to Bobby Cox's secret to getting ejected:

Chipper Jones estimates Cox gets thrown out on purpose "30 to 40 percent of the time." Cox's estimate: "Never." There's an argument he'll lose.

Then...

"I think Bobby's one of those guys who sends his fine money in before the season starts," Jones said. "Then he gets the ejections on credit."

Chipper's probably been watching Hoosiers too often, where Gene Hackman purposely gets himself ejected from a game so that Dennis Hopper can take over and win the game, regain his confidence, and stay on the wagon (that last part didn't work). You can't just get ejected on purpose, unless he decides to curse out the umps while handing out the lineup card just to break the record and get it over with so that nobody will write about it anymore. In any event, no matter how dubious this achievement may be, it is an achievement ... and we should congratulate Cox. Besides, how many of you would like to have a job where you curse out the authority figures and get to come back the next day?