Top News:
Howard Fendrich / Associated Press:
Robinson 'at ease' after meeting with GM — WASHINGTON —If Frank Robinson's words didn't explicitly reveal that he'll be done as the Washington Nationals' manager at the end of this season, the tears filling his eyes Thursday sure seemed to get the message across.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Robinson won't return to Nationals — Washington not expected to renew manager's contract — WASHINGTON — Nationals president Stan Kasten and general manager Jim Bowden met separately with Frank Robinson on Thursday afternoon to discuss the manager's future.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Source: Robinson won't return in 2007 — Nationals manager won't be retained after end of regular season — WASHINGTON — The Nationals are planning to tell manager Frank Robinson on Thursday that he will be not return to the club in 2007, a baseball source said after Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats Prepare to Part Ways With Robinson — The Washington Nationals are preparing to tell Frank Robinson that he will not be asked back as manager next season, sources said yesterday. — Team President Stan Kasten declined to comment on the decision last night.
Discussion:
Deadspin, Washington Times, William F. Yurasko, DCSportsChick, Capitol Punishment and Ben Maller's Sports …
Associated Press:
Mets lose Martinez for playoffs due to torn leg tendon — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — ATLANTA — Pedro Martinez is out for the postseason after an exam Thursday showed the New York Mets ace has a torn tendon in his left calf muscle. — The Mets, who won their first NL East title since 1988 …
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Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Mariners to retain Bavasi, Hargrove — General manager and manager will be back for the '07 season — SEATTLE — In an open letter to season-ticket holders Thursday, the Mariners confirmed general manager Bill Bavasi and manager Mike Hargrove will return for the 2007 season.
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DMZ / U.S.S. Mariner:
Mariners to season ticket holders: Bavasi, Hargrove to return — With commentary. Short version: Lincoln/Armstrong says "Bill Bavasi will continue to lead our baseball operations and Mike Hargrove will continue to manage the team." — The full letter, with extra snarky comments, after the break.
David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:Mariners Notebook: Soriano wants to be a starter
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Associated Press:
Hodges, Santo head Veterans Committee ballot — COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Gil Hodges, Ron Santo, Tony Oliva and Jim Kaat are among the 27 players on next year's Veterans Committee ballot for the Hall of Fame announced Thursday. — Umpire Doug Harvey, former Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley …
Discussion:
The Griddle
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
The Yankees' Game 1 Pitcher? Wang. The Lineup? All Stars. — There were 20 uniformed players on the field at Yankee Stadium for the national anthem last night. Eleven were All-Stars from the Staten Island team that played in the Little League World Series last month.
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Loney has career day in Coors slugfest — Rookie ties single-game franchise record with nine RBIs — DENVER — Rookie James Loney tied Gil Hodges' 56-year-old franchise single-game record with nine RBIs on Thursday as the Dodgers completed a series sweep with a classic 19-11 Coors Field slugfest victory over the Rockies.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Seaver remains Mets' biggest hero — 'The Franchise' wins Hometown Hero Award by vote of fans — Long before NFL negotiations created the franchise player, the Mets had The Franchise. And The Franchise was a player, a pitcher of such prowess and distinction that he exceeded the boundaries …
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Garciaparra Gets a Break Today — DENVER — Nomar Garciaparra started Wednesday at first base for the Dodgers, after leaving Tuesday's game because of a strained oblique muscle. He also is playing with a strained quadriceps muscle, and he grimaced noticeably upon reaching first after a single in the first inning.
Associated Press:
Astros keep rolling, blank Pirates to extend winning streak to nine — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — PITTSBURGH — They needed nearly five hours to win the night before. This time, they waited for 3½ hours just to play. Time is running out on the Houston Astros, but it's not stopping them from winning.
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Tekulve had hand in Torres' ascent — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Kent Tekulve soon could lose his claim to the Pirates' record for pitching appearances, but he still will be able to take some credit for it. — Three years ago at spring training …
Discussion:
The Parrot
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Padres turn to ace for final series — San Diego (85-73) at Arizona (75-83), 6:40 p.m. PT — The familiar cliche applies. The marathon really is a sprint now. It all comes down to the final series in Arizona, just as Padres manager Bruce Bochy has been forecasting seemingly since the opening week of the season.
David Roth / Slate:
The Secret Lives of Baseball Card Writers — I WORKED FOR TOPPS AND LIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT. — As a child, when I had what might be called a serious baseball card habit, I looked forward to a new year of Topps baseball cards in a way I looked forward to nothing else.
DCist:
Fenty's First Challenge — the Stadium — Mayor-to-be Adrian Fenty is probably marveling at the sheer irony of the situation — a project he voted against may become his first challenge as the District's chief executive. — As the Post reported last weekend, the development plans …
