Top News:
Chicago Tribune:
MacPhail resigns as Cubs president — John McDonough will serve as interim president — Andy MacPhail resigned as president of the Cubs on Sunday. — MacPhail will remain with the team to ensure a smooth transition to a new president and to complete his assignment representing Major League Baseball …
RELATED ITEMS:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Baker: 'I'm gone, I won't be back' — Dusty Baker regards Monday's long-anticipated, will-he-stay-or-will-he-go meeting with Jim Hendry as anticlimactic. — "I'm gone. I won't be back," Baker said Sunday after the Cubs completed a last-place season with an 8-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Clemens comes under steroid scrutiny — Somewhere, Barry Bonds is smirking. — Roger Clemens' late-career surge bears similarities to Bonds'. But while Bonds' alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs has been well-documented, Clemens largely has escaped scrutiny …
RELATED ITEMS:
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Cloud Over Clemens's Finale; He and Pettitte Deny Report — Roger Clemens might have worn a major league uniform with the Houston Astros for the last time Sunday, the end to a glorious 22-year career. But instead of discussing his endless milestones and moments, Clemens was responding …
Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
Steroids Ruin a Perfect Day — It was baseball's perfect day. The Twins capped one of the more memorable and unlikely comebacks we've seen in years, taking the AL title when the Tigers lost to the Royals — the worst team in baseball. The Dodgers and Padres went into the final …
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Cabrera falls just shy of batting title — · Miguel Cabrera can now appreciate why former Marlins leadoff hitter Juan Pierre was in the dugout 30 minutes before most games. — In a last-ditch effort to bolster Cabrera's bid for a batting title, manager Joe Girardi moved his No. 3 hitter into the top spot Sunday.
Discussion:
FishStripes
RELATED ITEMS:
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Sources: Girardi to be let go on Tuesday — Braves' Gonzalez would be leading candidate to take over — MIAMI — The season finale came and went Sunday afternoon for the Marlins, and there was still no definitive word on Joe Girardi's managerial future. — Following an emotional finish …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Dodgers-Mets: Quick hits — Reasons the Dodgers will win: — 1. Faith. They believe in themselves after a season of comebacks, both in the standings and on some individual magical nights. Just the right veteran core — Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent, Rafael Furcal, Kenny Lofton — to show the way.
RELATED ITEMS:
Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:
Nats' Robinson Bids a Fond Farewell — Frank Robinson first donned a major league uniform on April 17, 1956, a skinny 20-year-old rookie outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds. Among baseball men of a certain age and mien, the act of putting on that uniform is a cherished rite, never to be taken for granted.
RELATED ITEMS:
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
Don't Be Surprised if 'Rocket' Escapes the Bonds Treatment — SAN FRANCISCO — The news that the drug hounds have finally been unleashed on Roger Clemens sent me to the guy who knows something about being chased. — So, I asked Barry Bonds, do you think Clemens will have his heels nipped …
Associated Press:
Mauer wins AL batting title on final day — NEW YORK — Joe Mauer became the first catcher to win the American League batting title, going 2-for-4 for the Minnesota Twins on the final day of the regular season to hold off the New York Yankees' Derek Jeter. — Mauer doubled and singled …
RELATED ITEMS:
Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Red Sox tab Papelbon as starter — BOSTON (AP) — Jonathan Papelbon will be a starter, Trot Nixon might be an opponent and Theo Epstein is a realist. — Injuries and poor play in the second half of the season kept the Boston Red Sox out of the playoffs for the first time in Epstein's four years as general manager.
RELATED ITEMS:
Chris Constancio / Hardball Times:
Seven Reasons to Follow Baseball in Hawaii — Baseball prospects are returning to Hawaii this month. The Hawaii Winter Baseball League has been inactive since a five-year stint in the 1990's brought together major league prospects like Jason Giambi and Derrek Lee with young Japanese players like Ichiro Suzuki and Tadahito Iguchi.
Mike Bauman / MLB.com:
Yankees-Tigers: Position analysis — Jorge Posada is one of the longtime foundations of the Yankees' success. — But Ivan Rodriguez still sets the standard defensively, and his offensive skills, though not what they were five years ago, are still formidable and worthy of a No. 3 hitter.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Gonzo, Counsell overwhelmed by fans — Departing D-Backs cheered at every point in season finale — PHOENIX — They came and cheered. And then they did it some more. And when they were done with that, they cheered again. — A regular-season record paid crowd of 48,946 shoehorned their way into Chase Field on Sunday.
Michael Bauman / MLB.com:
Tigers-Yankees: Rotation analysis — New York Yankees — The Game 1 starter has emerged as the Yankees' biggest winner. He's a groundball machine when his heavy sinker is working. With velocity in the mid-90s and an effective slider, he can be very pitch efficient when his command is on.
Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Salmon can't get it done in swan song — Fans show appreciation for Mr. Angel, despite tough day — ANAHEIM — It was Tim Salmon's day, but the Angels provided the storyline and it did not have a happy ending. — In a year they not only had the talent to repeat, but the experience …
Discussion:
6-4-2