Top News:
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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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
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 …
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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."
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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Bill Finley / New York Times:
Ailing Back Puts Johnson's Postseason in Peril
Ailing Back Puts Johnson's Postseason in Peril
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
MLB.com:
Nationals call news conference — Manager Robinson reportedly will not return in 2007 — WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals set up a news conference before Saturday's home game, and the Associated Press is reporting they were expected to announce Frank Robinson will not return as manager in 2007.
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets squeeze past Nationals — Club continues its success in one-run contests this season — WASHINGTON — Define these Mets any way you choose — division winners, postseason participants, National League Division Series favorites, injury-diminished champions or New York's other team.
Discussion:
Metsquire
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Ignore Negatives and Hope They Go Away
Mets Ignore Negatives and Hope They Go Away
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing
Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Manager sees bright future after pitcher's 1-hitter — BOSTON (AP) — One day after Daniel Cabrera ended his inconsistent season with a near no-hitter, Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo predicted a bright future for the 25-year-old right-hander — again. — "He's got a real good note to go home …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
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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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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 …
Andrew Baggarly / Contra Costa Times:
Sabean says Bonds has to take a pay cut to stay — Giants notes — SAN FRANCISCO - While Giants general manager Brian Sabean didn't pound his fist on the table, he essentially declared that Barry Bonds must take a sizable pay cut to remain with the team in 2007.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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 …
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Champagne arrival inspires fiery Olsen — MIAMI GARDENS — Marlins pitcher Scott Olsen arrived at Dolphin Stadium on Friday just in time to see bottles of champagne being wheeled into the ballpark, just in case the Phillies win the wild card this weekend. — "I hate the Phillies …
Discussion:
FishStripes
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.