Three things have remained constant since 1990: The Simpsons, Carson Daly being a douche, and Bobby Cox managing the Braves. One of those things came to an end yesterday. Nope, The Simpsons are still on the air. I was surprised, too.

With the Giants 3-2 victory last night to advance to the NLCS, Bobby Cox ended his 25 year career, the last 20 of which was at the helm of the Atlanta Braves. Bobby’s career ends with 3 NL Manager of the Year awards, 1 AL Manager of the Year award, 2 World Series championships, and the record for most ejections in the history of the game. I’m not sure the last one is so much of an accomplishment as it is a tradition of being a pain in the ass. Cox is fourth on the managerial win list, composing a career record of 2504-2001.

Following the game, the Giants showed class by bringing their celebration to a halt to honor Cox as he acknowledged the standing ovation from the crowd.

Brian McCann waited on second base for a sign, and when the umpires came out of their little replay cave, he got it–the twirly finger signal for a home run. McCann hit the first-ever walkoff shot to come under the scrutiny of instant replay, which triggered an odd comparison with Little League baseball. The princes of pubescence have had their own replay system in place for their Little League World Series: one that seems ridiculously practical and efficient.

Each coach can challenge any one call – that’s ONE call – and the umpire goes to a replay screen behind the grandstands underneath home plate to take a look at the play. It’s a pretty quick process, and if the coach is right, the play is reversed, and the coach keeps the right to challenge another play later if he or she chooses. If the umpire’s original call was correct, then the coach is out of challenges. –Scott Kendrick/About.com

Having said all of that, the Little League doesn’t belong on TV. Children should be seen on “America’s Got Talent” and not heard. Ever. If Whitney Houston could see the state of children today, she’d be spinning in her grave. What’s that? She’s still alive? Are you sure?

ASYLUM POLL: Should MLB expand instant replay?

Chipper Jones has played over 2,000 games in the bigs, all with the Atlanta Braves. But that appears to be all over now. Jones, who turned 38 in April, tore his ACL and is out for the year, and possibly forever.

The future Hall of Fame third baseman was injured while making an awesome cross-the-field play in Houston on Tuesday. It’s the same knee that Chipper tore up during his rookie season in 1994.–Big League Stew.

I have a hard time feeling sorry for a guy that enjoyed a major league career that spanned 18 years. His contract runs through 2012, but the R-word has been floating over Jones quite a bit this season. Jones’ career average of .306 is pretty GD good; one has to wonder what else he could possibly do at this level. Besides plow another waitress from Hooters. Oh, I’m sorry. Is your family still not laughing at that yet?

It’s a tale as old as time – boy meets girl, boy courts girl, boy takes girl to Houston Astros game, boy turns hat sideways, batter hits foul ball, boy moves out of way, ball hits girl. Ah, summer romance, it was in the air Monday night at Minute Maid Park in Houston, where the Astros pummeled the Atlanta Braves 10-4. The Braves were more a victim of sloppy play, as three errors briefly chopped Atlanta’s lead in the National League East to a game and a half (presently back at 2.5 games). But the real Roger Dorn action came from a dashing Astros fan when a foul ball threatened his fairest damsel.

Video after the jump.

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"Did somebody say Cake?"

The next great porn name was born after this cake was inadvertently delivered for a party for Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, who I guess is still alive.

Cox was being honored for his 50 years in baseball. [U.S.] Senators Johnny Isakson and Jay Rockefeller hosted a ceremony, inviting the Braves’ manager, as well as players and officials. But the cake, which was to read, “Thanks for 50 great years Bobby Cox” had an unfortunate and profane misspelling of his last name. –Jeff Schultz/AJC.

Isn’t that HILARIOUS?! Honestly, this was pretty disappointing. I was hoping for something a little more…phallic-looking. Maybe a Louisville Slugger with a baseball on either side. And Alex Rodriguez on one end of it with his mouth open. Come on, cake people. Do I have to think of everything?

There’s almost no news value to this at all, but seeing Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur going fetal in the presence of a fly ball is just so enjoyably bizarre. You know, outfielders have done nothing but catch the ball for so long in this game, it’s great to see somebody trying a different approach. I’m sure the sabermetricians are scratching their heads over how to quantify it. Though if they can work the acronym into something like PUSS, I could totally get down with that. via.