"After weeks of absolutely nada, zilch, nothing, the Astros' sale has apparently gone from 0-to-60 quietly and quickly. Or maybe they've been talking all along and just didn't tell us.

If you believe what you read — and, of course, it's all fact, right? — either MLB has offered Jim Crane a $50 million concession to move to the American League or Crane himself has told MLB that's what it would take to break a 50-year tie with the National League.

That one wasn't on my list of possibilities last month, but $50 million seems like a cheap ransom for the next 50-year run…in the junior league. Nonetheless, the "ballpark" seems to be set for the end game of the sale of the team to Crane and the ultimate move to the American League West."