We're Gonna Party Like It's 1999. Tonight's wc-clinching lineup:

Damon CF
Mueller 3B
Nomar SS
Ramirez LF
Ortiz DH
Millar 1B
Varitek C
Kapler RF
Jackson 2B
Lowe P

Jayson Stark says Shannon Stewart, Miguel Tejada and Eric Chavez are stronger MVP candidates than Alex Rodriguez, though Stark admits A-Rod "may be the most talented player ... may have the prettiest overall numbers ... may look like a fabulous MVP candidate if you crunch those trendy OPS and Runs Above Replacement Value analyses." Yeah, once you push aside what Rodriguez actually does on the field, well, he's not that good, is he? Stark is usually smarter than this. ... Travis Nelson taps Halladay as the AL Cy Young winner. ... Does Atlanta have a stronger lineup than Boston? Tom Tippett investigates. ... Stats!

Wesley Clark was told in November 2001 that the Bush administration's plan for invading Iraq had been part of a broader five-year military campaign in seven countries [Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Iran, Somalia and Sudan]. ... A Baghdad blog well worth many hours of your time: Riverbend. Also good, though sporadic: Dear Raed. ... The US government has asked a judge to dismiss all charges against terrorism suspect Zacarias Moussaoui, hoping that would hasten an appeal challenging Moussaoui's right to question three captives who he says could testify he was not a conspirator in the 9/11 attacks. Not that a dismissal would free Moussaoui. If all else fails, the US would simply move him to a military court where the idea of due process is a little more (ahem) flexible. ... And can things get any more transparent?