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 …
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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.
Melissa Isaacson / Chicago Tribune:
MacPhail broken by bad breaks — Colleagues describe MacPhail as competent but beset by a hard-to-figure run of ill luck — Andy MacPhail is not a man who would ever be described as down on his luck, even today. But those who respect MacPhail and what he accomplished before he came …
Keith Law / ESPN:
Mets vulnerable against lefties … The matchup the Mets didn't want has come to pass. The Dodgers bring the NL's other great offense to town, with a lefty who no-hit the Mets for five innings the last time they saw him in the rotation. The Dodgers, on the other hand, probably were hoping to face St. Louis instead of New York.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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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.
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 …
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
One Quest Fails; a Bigger One Begins — Derek Jeter tapped his chest with his glove. Why was Andy Cannizaro, a rookie wearing No. 63, jogging toward shortstop just before the top of the ninth inning yesterday? — "Me?" Jeter said to Cannizaro, and then he understood.
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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.
Discussion:
MLB.com, District of Baseball, William F. Yurasko, Ben Maller's Sports … and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Mike Penner / Los Angeles Times:
A cone of silence may be best bet — If the New York Mets know their baseball history, they will stick to "The playoffs are a crapshoot" and "Anything can happen in a short series" and "Their pitching staff is impressive" when assessing their upcoming division series against the Dodgers.
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
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Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Weeks staying at second — Improved defensive play provides hope for future — thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com — St. Louis - Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Sunday that there were no plans to move Rickie Weeks off second base for the 2007 season.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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 …
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
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Tough loss ends season … Chicago - For those whose attention might have wandered to pucks and pigskins, the Rockies provided a Cliffs Notes version of their season Sunday. — There was intrigue laced with disappointment. Rookie Ubaldo Jimenez, once on the same career path as Jeff Francis …
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.
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Twenty questions as playoffs loom — Veteran players, home-field advantage likely to influence results — 1. Will there be another Subway Series? — If the oddsmakers are right, there will be, as both the Yankees and the Mets have the best records in the American League and National League …
