Top News:
ESPN:
Calf injury could keep El Duque from Game 1 start — NEW YORK — Already missing Pedro Martinez, the New York Mets suddenly might have to replace pitcher Orlando Hernandez in Game 1 of the playoffs because of a calf injury, too. — El Duque felt discomfort in his right calf while he was jogging …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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Newsday:
El Duque injures calf in practice — Orlando Hernandez is doubtful to start Game 1 of the National League Division Series for the Mets on Wednesday after injuring his calf today while running in the outfield. — "I was sprinting in the outfield," Hernandez told Newsday. "And I pulled my right calf.
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
Adam Rubin / NY Mets Blog:
El Duque Injures Calf, Questionable for Game 1 — Orlando Hernandez injured a calf muscle during today's team workout and is questionable for his scheduled Game 1 start tomorrow against the Dodgers at Shea.
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.
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Associated Press:
As expected, Marlins fire Girardi after one year — MIAMI — Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi was fired Tuesday, a move that had been expected after his rift with owner Jeffrey Loria boiled over in an on-field confrontation two months ago. — Girardi lost his job even though he's considered …
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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 …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, Keep Your Sox On In Brooklyn, The LoHud Yankees Blog and Singapore Sox Fan
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Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:
MVP? Just make it Many Valuable Players — A case can be made for several Padres as the team's top player — The question was posed to manager Bruce Bochy during his team's final homestand: — Who is the Padres' Most Valuable Player this season? — The manager of the NL West champions pondered …
Discussion:
Sports Scope
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Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
For Mets, the Perfect Villain — There could be no better team cast as the villain in the Mets' season than the Los Angeles Dodgers. Historical precedent, from their theft of Brooklyn's birthright to the nauseating sanctimoniousness of the Lasorda/Hershisher axis that brought down the 1988 Mets, works against them.
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David Lennon / Los Angeles Times:
Mets Seem to Think It Will Be All Right — Left-handers have given them problems, so the Dodgers' plan to start Kuo shouldn't come as a surprise. But apparently, it's news to New York. — NEW YORK — The New York Mets seemed almost indifferent when asked about their potential playoff foes on the final day of the regular season.
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Fans of Yankees and Mets Cast a Wary Eye at the Other Side — If a 15th Subway Series is nigh, it is time to study anew the passions of Mets and Yankees fans. Or, to demonstrate scrupulous objectivity, let us also refer to them as Yankees and Mets fans. — There is, evidence shows …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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T.J. Quinn / NY Daily News:
Second course — Apple back on track for another Subway ride — The last sounds before pandemonium were a hard pock of wood on leather, half a stadium gasping, the other half screaming, and then the faint pop of white leather falling into black leather. — Mike Piazza's swat in Game 5 …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Birds take gamble with Reyes — On his way to the ballpark Sunday morning, rookie Anthony Reyes had no idea he was about to be part of a calculated wager by manager Tony La Russa that would set up the club's pitching for the postseason. — Or chance bankrupting it for a few days.
Associated Press:
Indians pick up options on Westbrook, Blake — CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians quickly took care of some business following a disappointing season by exercising contract options for 2007 on steady starter Jake Westbrook and utilityman Casey Blake on Tuesday.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Playoff Health Report, Divisional Series — Why are these called the "Division Series?" I've never gotten a good answer. They don't decide divisions. Those are now all decided and six winners, plus two wild cards, head into the playoffs with questions.
Big Daddy Drew / Kissing Suzy Kolber:
The Eagles Fan's Guide To Projectile Weaponry — As you well know, it's TO Week in Philly, as Dr. Kevorkian's latest muse joins the Cowboys to take on the Eagles on Sunday. And while we at KSK certainly don't endorse something as tasteless as throwing objects onto the field, we're certainly looking forward to exactly that occurring.
