Top News:
Bob Herzog / Greenwich Time:
Th-uhh-uhh Yankees Win! — Of course the season turned in Boston. Where else? It's been a Yankees-Red Sox story line throughout the Joe Torre Era and it has become more intensified since 2003, when Boston clearly closed the gap between the two AL East powers.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
Inside the Matchups - Yankees vs. Tigers — A year ago we asked a major-league scout for his division series prediction and he gave us Angels in five - hitting it exactly right. So this season, we went back to the same scout for his analysis and - fortunately for Yankees fans …
Brian Borawski / Hardball Times:
ALDS Preivew: Tigers-Yankees — The 2006 Detroit Tigers led all of baseball with a 3.84 ERA. The 2006 New York Yankees led all of baseball with 5.74 runs scored per game. The Tigers had a slightly above-average offense (5.07 runs per game vs. 4.97 league average), while the Yankees …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yankee Lineup Leaves Tigers Little Room for Error — Todd Jones threw 45 pitches Sunday, all in vain. He retreated to the Detroit Tigers' clubhouse at Comerica Park and took off his spikes. All around him were T-shirts and caps, placed neatly at each locker, billing the Tigers as champions of the American League Central.
Rich Draper / MLB.com:
Healthy Peavy ready for Game 1 start — Padres ace hopes to atone for injury-marred outing last year — SAN DIEGO — When Padres pitcher Jake Peavy walked up the podium steps Monday to discuss his feelings about starting Game 1 of the National League Division Series vs. the St. Louis Cardinals …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
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San Diego Union-Tribune:
Four ways to pitch to Pujols - ball, ball, ball, ball — You want to know how to pitch to Albert Pujols? It's easy. You don't. — You put him on. You issue an intentional walk. You let Pujols pass Go and collect $200 if that's what it takes to keep the ball in the ballpark.
Keith Law / ESPN:
Cards' hitters an undisciplined lot … In three games last week at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals lost the first two to the Padres and only won the third because Cla Meredith threw a fastball intended to run in on Albert Pujols out over the plate ... and Pujols hit it into Illinois.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs part ways with Baker — Manager not offered extension following 2006 campaign — CHICAGO — Dusty Baker didn't take any questions on Monday after the Cubs announced they were not renewing his contract. There was nothing left to be said. — Baker is gone after four seasons in Chicago …
Discussion:
Red Hot Mama
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Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:He can manage up storm — Piniella has credentials to thrive …
Discussion:
CubsNet.com
Aaron / AaronGleeman.com:
ALDS Preview: Twins-A's — TEAM W L WIN% RS RA ExW-L 2HALF — Oakland 93 69 .574 771 727 86-76 48-26 — Minnesota 96 66 .593 801 683 94-68 49-27 — OFFENSE RS/G AVG OBP SLG 2B HR BB SO
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Jim Molony / MLB.com:
It should be a tough day for hitters — Santana faces off against Zito in battle of Cy Young winners — MINNEAPOLIS — For a playoff matchup that was literally thrown together at the eleventh hour, Oakland and Minnesota found a way to super Cy-ize the opener.
Discussion:
The Baseball Desert
Kevin Baxter / Miami Herald:
Gonzalez likely to replace Girardi — Braves coach Fredi Gonzalez played youth baseball in Little Havana. He likely will return today as Marlins manager. — kbaxter@MiamiHerald.com — ATLANTA - For as long as he can remember, Fredi Gonzalez has been driven by one simple goal: to honor his parents' sacrifice.
Discussion:
The Sports Frog
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Jackson, Wallace out — Red Sox part ways with pair of coaches — The Red Sox, in the wake of their third-place finish, severed ties with pitching coach Dave Wallace and hitting coach Ron ``Papa Jack" Jackson yesterday, and only two members of Terry Francona's coaching staff …
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Mike Shalin / MLB.com:
Notes: Francona faces 'bag day' — Clubhouse nearly empty after Boston's season ends — BOSTON — Manager Terry Francona was talking on Sunday about how "cold" the Red Sox clubhouse is when he comes in to work out during the offseason, the room filled with boxes and other assorted stuff …
Discussion:
The Baseball Desert
ESPN:
Prosecutor, Grimsley's attorney: Story inaccurate — The federal prosecutor overseeing an investigation of steroids in baseball and the attorney for former pitcher Jason Grimsley questioned a news report indicating five players, including Roger Clemens, had used illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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Hartford Courant:
Breaking Down The Series — Catcher — Jorge Posada, Yankees vs. Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers — Posada was rejuvenated by coach Tony Pena, throwing out 37.3 percent of base stealers, his best percentage since 1998. Offensively, he had one of his best years, and this time came on strong at the end …
MLB.com:
Giants decide not to renew Felipe Alou's contract — SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants have decided to not renew manager Felipe Alou's contract for the 2007 season, team Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sabean announced today. The club has extended an offer …
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Mark Polishuk / MLB.com:
Sanchez named NL Rookie of the Month — Florida right-hander went 5-1 with a no-hitter during September — MIAMI — The most memorable month of Anibal Sanchez's brief Major League career became even more noteworthy on Monday, when the Florida Marlins right-hander was named National League Rookie of the Month for September.
Discussion:
FishStripes
