Top News:
Los Angeles Times:
Clemens, Others Implicated in Banned Drug Case — The star pitcher and five other players used performance-enhancers, says the document, allegedly quoting a former teammate. — Roger Clemens, one of professional baseball's most durable and successful pitchers, is among six players allegedly linked …
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Report: Grimsley implicates six — Clemens, Pettitte, Tejada among names in affidavit — SAN FRANCISCO — The Astros' Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, plus Miguel Tejada, Brian Roberts and Jay Gibbons of the Orioles, were all named by Jason Grimsley as players who had used performance-enhancing drugs …
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Baltimore Sun:
Dark revelations again put cloud over O's organization — Ever since Rafael Palmeiro packed his bats and syringes and left town, the Orioles have opened their shutters every morning waiting for that ominous dark cloud to disappear. We know now that it hasn't.
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Pen will tell story — Unit's mound session today will let him know if his bad back can go — Randy Johnson will climb atop the bullpen mound at Yankee Stadium this morning and test his aching back. Only then will he begin to know if he can do the same thing on a real mound in the playoffs.
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Giambi Injury Puts Sheffield at First Base for Playoffs
Giambi Injury Puts Sheffield at First Base for Playoffs
Discussion:
NY Daily News
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yankees' Roster Is Set; Status of Johnson Isn't
Yankees' Roster Is Set; Status of Johnson Isn't
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
Gil LeBreton / Dallas Star-Telegram:
No need to fire Buck; he'll resign — In Seattle today, Buck Showalter will manage his final game with the Rangers. — That's not a scoop, nor is it an announcement. — Owner Tom Hicks, in fact, told the [Randy] Galloway and Co. radio audience on ESPN/103.3 FM on Friday that the manager's fate remains "open-ended."
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Associated Press:
Padres-Diamondbacks Preview — Even after clinching their second consecutive playoff berth for the first time in franchise history, the San Diego Padres still have some work to do in the regular season. — San Diego looks to secure its second straight NL West title and gain home-field advantage …
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Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Padres aim to capture division in finale — San Diego (87-74) at Arizona (76-85), 1:40 p.m. PT — Arizona sends its Cy Young Award candidate, Brandon Webb, out against San Diego's Woody Williams in the regular-season finale at Chase Field. — A Padres win Sunday would lock …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
GM sees errors of his trades — Epstein mapping plans for '07 Sox — Of all the questions swirling around the Red Sox this offseason, from the future address of outfielder Manny Ramírez, to the role of pitcher Jonathan Papelbon, to the keep-him-or-not debate over shortstop Alex Gonzalez …
Discussion:
El Guapo's Ghost Rambles …
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: McClatchy expected to stay in place — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Kevin McClatchy leaving? — Not anytime soon, apparently. — At some point in the week ahead, the Pirates' managing general partner, whose contract expires this year, will make an announcement regarding his status.
Discussion:
The Parrot
Hal McCoy / Dayton Daily News:
LaRue wants out if he can't start — PITTSBURGH — Jason LaRue wants it known, "I'm no cancer in the clubhouse, not a complainer, and I never have been," and proves it by saying, "David Ross has had a great year." — But — there is always a but — if the Cincinnati Reds believe that Ross …
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Murray Chass / New York Times:
The Brains Behind the Low-Budget Hits — In 1980, the Mets hired Terry Ryan as their Midwest scouting supervisor and selected Billy Beane in the first round of the amateur draft. They had no way of knowing that Ryan and Beane would grow up to become two of the best, most aggressive …
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Under the radar — Twins' Mauer, Pirates' Sanchez unlikely batting title candidates — "There's nothing wrong with me," he said. "I feel fine." — Just in case, setup man Justin Duchscherer has gone 9-for-11 in save tries. — Class act — Alan Trammell, the longtime Detroit shortstop …
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Howard taking MVP swings — Like a lot of people who have seen Ryan Howard swing, Clint Barmes remembers the terror that flashed though his mind the first time he saw him take a cut. — Howard was at Southwest Missouri State on his upward path to stardom. Barmes was a budding star at Indiana State.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Have stats, will travel — Soriano going places after a huge season — In another time and under a different set of circumstances, Alfonso Soriano would be the face of the Washington Nationals for the long haul. But they are still two years from opening a new ballpark …