Top News:
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 …
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
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Bob Herzog / Newsday:
No Pedro? Time for Plan B — Martinez has tear in left calf and is finished for playoffs, so El Duque gets the call in Game 1 — ATLANTA - The other calf dropped on Pedro Martinez yesterday, ending a season of stress, strain and pain for the 34-year-old righthander.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Mets may be second-guessing Zito decision — Sorry, the Mets shouldn't be shocked that right-hander Pedro Martinez is out for the postseason. If anything, they should be grateful that the fragile Martinez is their only rotation casualty. — Left-hander Tom Glavine is 40. Right-hander Steve Trachsel is 35.
Discussion:
Always Amazin'
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Pedro's done for playoffs — Tear in left calf ends his season — ATLANTA - The Mets already had resigned themselves to losing Pedro Martinez for the division series. Then came a jolting announcement during last night's game: The ace is lost for the entire postseason.
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins won't promote rookies — MIAMI GARDENS — Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla might be leading candidates for the National League Rookie of the Year award, but the Marlins don't plan to campaign on their behalf like the San Francisco Giants are doing with right-hander Matt Cain.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Clark Spencer / Miami Herald:
Treanor ejected in loss — Matt Treanor was tossed in the first inning and the Marlins went on to assure themselves of their first losing season since 2002. — cspencer@MiamiHerald.com — He contends he didn't swear, and he swears he didn't turn around to eyeball home plate umpire Larry Young …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Jeff Seidel / MLB.com:
D.C. faithful entertained during delay — Fans who waited treated to music, other ballgames — WASHINGTON — The crowd cheered when Nationals starter Mike O'Connor threw a ball high and outside to Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins on the game's first pitch on Thursday night.
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Howard Fendrich / Associated Press:Robinson 'at ease' after meeting with GM
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Lackey, K-Rod team up to shut down A's — Starter nabs 13th win while closer ties Angels' saves mark — ANAHEIM — The class of '02 got together for a bit of a pitching clinic Thursday night. — John Lackey and Francisco Rodriguez, who both came up with the Angels during the 2002 season …
Discussion:
6-4-2
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Baltimore Sun:
Bring on Bad News Barry! O's don't fear divas, controversy — What a relief! The agent for Barry Bonds has reassured us that Bad News Barry will return to play at least one more season, barring - I suppose - jail time, which means that he probably will break Hank Aaron's all-time home run record.
NY Daily News:
Floyd has shot to play opener — ATLANTA - Cliff Floyd traveled to Manhattan yesterday to get a cortisone shot in his troublesome left ankle. Willie Randolph indicated Floyd would be available for Game 1 of the division series. Players generally need to wait 48 hours after receiving cortisone …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Facing free agency, Nixon reflects on his stay — Like Bill Haselman , then the catcher behind the plate, now the Red Sox first base coach, Trot Nixon was wearing a Red Sox uniform Sept. 18, 1996. You might have missed him, on the end of the bench during that night's game in Detroit, as Roger Clemens pitched.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Jon Cooper / MLB.com:
El Duque emerges as Mets' new ace — With Martinez out, Hernandez tunes up for Game 1 start — ATLANTA — On a night that any hope of having Pedro Martinez for the playoffs was officially extinguished, the Mets showed their hope of making a long postseason run is still burning brightly.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Twins' Owner Sounding More Like Steinbrenner — Carl Pohlad, the 91-year-old billionaire owner of the Minnesota Twins, is not an obvious candidate to engage in trash talking. But Pohlad was apparently feeling feisty about Minnesota's chances in the postseason when he challenged the Yankees.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Gagne Wishes He Could Help — DENVER — He cheers for his team. He diligently performs his rehabilitation exercises. But with the Dodgers short of reliable arms in the bullpen, the highest-paid pitcher on the team is not available for the playoff push. — And that is what frustrates …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Baker may enjoy the last laugh — Manager could have options, including Nationals, Giants — The managerial merry-go-round hasn't begun running, but reports that Washington Nationals manager Frank Robinson is on his way out could be good news for Dusty Baker and bad news for Jim Hendry.
