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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Associated Press:
Hernandez hurt, may not go for Mets — NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Mets are running out of healthy pitchers at the worst possible time. — Already missing Pedro Martinez, the NL East champions suddenly might have to replace scheduled starter Orlando Hernandez in Game 1 of the playoffs because of a calf injury, too.
Discussion:
The Catbird …
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.
Adam Rubin / NY Mets Blog:
Willie Speaks About Duque's Calf — Here's Willie Randolph's Q&A with national reporters today, starting with the announcement of Orlando Hernandez's injury and followed by a discussion of who might be tomorrow's Game 1 starter if El Duque is unavailable: — WILLIE RANDOLPH: Wow, lot of folks in here.
Discussion:
Zisk Online
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.
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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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
BATTLE'S ON IF TIGERS CAN FIND EARLY FORM — Which Tigers team shows up in the postseason? The one that soared to 40 games over .500 (76-36) behind stellar pitching, defense and power, or the one that lost 31 of its final 50, including five in a row to close the year to fall into the wild card and this matchup against the Yankees?
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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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Sports Illustrated:
BALCO chemist subpoenaed — Steroid creator Arnold to appear before grand jury — Patrick Arnold, the Illinois chemist who created the designer steroid at the center of the BALCO scandal, has been subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury investigating San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds, a source close to Arnold told SI.com.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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 …
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Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Fans of Yankees and Mets Cast a Wary Eye at the Other Side
Fans of Yankees and Mets Cast a Wary Eye at the Other Side
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Former Phils organist Richardson dies — Fixture's passing comes after 35-year tenure with club — PHILADELPHIA — To the 73 million who passed through Connie Mack Stadium, Veterans Stadium and Citizens Bank Park since 1970, he was known as the guy behind the organ.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks' Rodriguez Is Dropped to the Sixth Spot — As Alex Rodriguez embarks on another postseason tonight, he will hit sixth in the Yankees' lineup, the lowest spot he has hit from in more than 10 years. — Manager Joe Torre said he could not go wrong arranging so many powerful hitters in any order.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
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
Associated Press:
Man files complaint against Rogers — DETROIT (AP) - Detroit police were interviewing witnesses to find out what happened between Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers and a man who filed a complaint against him after an incident near Comerica Park. — Rogers was driving out of a parking structure near …
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.