Top News:
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
A shot heard 'round Bronx — Randy takes epidural for back — The Yankees are taking a last shot - literally - at getting Randy Johnson ready to pitch in the postseason. Johnson, the 43-year-old lefthander whose back has been bothering him for weeks, had an epidural yesterday …
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Bring back Buck? Rangers not sure — SEATTLE - Rangers owner Tom Hicks said in a phone interview Friday afternoon that there is a decision to be made on Buck Showalter's future as the team's manager. Hicks reiterated that point later Friday on the [Randy] Galloway & Company radio show on ESPN/103.3 FM.
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Hicks, Daniels, Showalter to discuss manager's future — SEATTLE - Rangers owner Tom Hicks took to the airwaves for the second time in a month Friday. The last time, the focus became the players' role in a disappointing season. On Friday, however, the focus became the manager's role.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Notes: Showalter, Hicks to meet — Rangers manager is signed through 2009 season — SEATTLE — Rangers owner Tom Hicks will meet with manager Buck Showalter and general manager Jon Daniels on Tuesday. — Showalter's status as manager will likely be reviewed at that meeting …
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Loewen takes mound at Fenway Park — Baltimore (69-91) at Boston (85-75), 7:05 p.m. ET — Two more games remain on Baltimore's schedule, and both of them are in Fenway Park. The Orioles will play their penultimate game Saturday night, and they'll try to break the 70-win barrier for the fourth straight year.
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Wakefield hopes to finish season strong — Baltimore (69-91) at Boston (85-75), 7:05 p.m. ET — Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield hopes to snap an unfortunate trend Saturday night when he makes his final start of the season. The Red Sox are 14-2 against the Orioles in 2006, and the only two defeats came when Wakefield pitched.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Rest Means More Than West Title — SAN FRANCISCO — If the Dodgers clinch a postseason berth today, they will scratch scheduled starter Derek Lowe on Sunday and rest most of their regulars, even if the National League West title remains at stake. — "The important thing is to get into the playoffs," Manager Grady Little said.
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Associated Press:
Padres-Diamondbacks Preview — The San Diego Padres are putting playoff tickets on sale for their fans Saturday morning. They're still looking to book their own tickets to the postseason. — The Padres try again to clinch a postseason berth Saturday afternoon when they continue a four …
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Padres tab Wells to secure playoff spot — San Diego (86-74) at Arizona (76-84), 1:10 p.m. PT — The Padres are hoping to get a vintage late-season David Wells performance out of their esteemed southpaw on Saturday at Chase Field when he faces Arizona right-hander Juan Cruz.
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Ignore Negatives and Hope They Go Away — The television stationed above John Maine was spouting gloom and doom. No Pedro Martínez? No ace? No chance. And so on. Maine glanced up, rolled his eyes and dismissed the talk by spitting a stream of tobacco juice before focusing on a chess match in front of him.
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Sure sign that Mets are tired of Milledge's antics — WASHINGTON - KNOW YOUR PLACE, ROOK! — The hand-scrawled message hung above Lastings Milledge's locker after Friday's 4-3 victory over the Nationals. At the bottom of the two sheets of paper was written, "Your Teammates."
Chicago Tribune:
Ask Paul Sullivan — The Tribune's Cubs writer files this season's final installment of answers to reader e-mail — I found your recent article "Cubs' roster needs radical surgery" very interesting. My question is that you talk like Kerry Wood is a free agent who'll command a high-dollar contract in order to be signed.
Gary Washburn / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners Notebook: Matthews a fine fit for Safeco — Rangers outfielder entering free agency off All-Star season — Years as a once top prospect-turned-journeyman has Gary Matthews Jr. rather mellow about his impending free agency. — The Texas Rangers center fielder …
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
More Players Are Taking the Train to the Game — To Heath Bell, the term "subway series" describes his life this season. That's how he goes home after a night's work at Shea Stadium. — An hour and a half after the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on a muggy night this season …
Josh Suchon / Contra Costa Times:
Zito gets call in A's playoff opener — Loaiza is tabbed as the Game 2 starter, with Harden or Haren to follow in Game 3 — ANAHEIM - From Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter in the 1970s, to Dave Stewart every time in the late '80s and early '90s, to Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson this decade …
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
New York Blues — There are other injuries in baseball, but in this final weekend of the regular season, there are just two that matter. It's not East Coast bias; it's two playoff teams that have lost their aces in the final weekend. Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez brought their teams this far …