Short Hops: Let's save time, put Cubs in World Series right now

• Seattle president Chuck Armstrong, not speaking specifically on any candidate, said the plans are for the Mariners to reduce their list of GM candidates to a short list by month's end, zero in on a couple of guys in September (and ask permission from opposing clubs to speak with those guys if they're under contract) and interview in October.

• One reason maybe Hart is looking for a different gig: The industry is buzzing with speculation that Rangers president Nolan Ryan is planning to make sweeping changes in the organization this winter. Already, the Rangers have moved pitching coach Andy Hawkins from Triple-A to the major league team. One name to watch: Jay Miller, chief operating officer and president of the Double-A Round Rock Express, one of the minor league clubs owned by Ryan. Miller was named by Baseball America as the 2005 Minor League Executive of the Year and is well-regarded by Ryan and others in Texas.

• One scout's early prediction for the NL West winner next year: San Francisco. The reasons: The division is weak and the Giants already have good, young starters led by Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. "If they move out some of the old guys and sign just a couple of the right free agents, they could be right there again," the scout said.

• Cliff's Notes: Don't look now, but Cleveland had won 10 in a row through midweek, blown past Detroit and into third place in the AL Central and Cliff Lee is looking like the runaway leader in the AL Cy Young race. He's 19-2 with a league-leading 2.43 ERA, and Lee is on an historic pace: He's one of only eight pitchers since 1920 to win at least 19 of his first 21 decisions in a season, according to Stats LLC. The others: Roger Clemens, Yankees (20-1 in 2001); Greg Maddux, Braves (19-2, 1995); Ron Guidry, Yankees (19-2, 1978); Gaylord Perry, Giants (19-2, 1966); Whitey Ford, Yankees (19-2, 1961), Preacher Roe, Dodgers (19-2, 1951) and Lefty Grove, Phillies (19-2, 1931).

• These teams would be in first place in the NL West as of Thursday: Tampa Bay, Boston, New York Yankees, Toronto, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, Philadelphia, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee, St. Louis and, of course, Arizona. And the Florida Marlins would be tied with the Diamondbacks for first.

• Latest piece of evidence that Mike Scioscia is as fine a manager as there is in today's game: Despite the Angels' monstrous divisional lead (15 games and counting), his patience finally wore thin and he called a team meeting following last Thursday's ugly 2-1 loss to Minnesota. The point: Get out of cruise control, now. The Angels have won three of six since -- not stellar, but those initial signs of Cadillac-ing it have disappeared altogether.

• Sidney Ponson and Carl Pavano together in the Yankees' rotation? Why don't the Yanks set fire to their flag and desecrate Monument Park while they're at it?

• Yanks co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner to reporters the other night at Yankee Stadium, his first appearance there since opening day: "There is going to be a lot going on this offseason. I promise you that."

• They might be having difficulty out-running the Chicago Cubs, but the Milwaukee Brewers this week moved 20 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 1992 season, when they finished 92-70.