Top News:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nationals Could Try to Hire Girardi — Joe Girardi, fired yesterday as the manager of the Florida Marlins despite a season in which he became a leading candidate for the National League's manager of the year award, could become a prime target of the Washington Nationals, sources close to the situation said yesterday.
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Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Now it's official: Girardi a candidate — Nationals showing interest as well in ex-Marlins skipper — Seconds after the Florida Marlins fired Joe Girardi on Tuesday, the Cubs had a new name topping their wish list to replace Dusty Baker as manager. — ''Joe will be a candidate …
ESPN:
Showalter won't manage Rangers in 2007 — The Texas Rangers parted ways with manager Buck Showalter, Dallas media outlets reported Wednesday. — The Rangers did not make the postseason in his four years at the helm. Texas lost the finale 3-2 Sunday at Seattle to finish 80-82 …
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Showalter dismissed by Rangers — Decision comes after annual meeting with owner Hicks — Buck Showalter is out as manager of the Rangers, a club source confirmed Wednesday morning. — Bench coach Don Wakamatsu is likely the leading candidate to replace him, although hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo could get consideration as well.
Discussion:
Sports Scope
Dallas Morning News:
Season ends, but good memories live on — Well, it had to end sometime. — Mercifully for us, it ended Sunday because the Rangers' season seemed to be getting worse the longer the season wore on. It was a hard finish to a frustrating season. — Since we've been over and over and over the weaknesses …
NY Daily News:
Detroit's slip showing — Bumble is key to stumble — When you've arrived at this do-or-die juncture of the baseball season, as Jim Leyland did with his Detroit Tigers last night, only to face a Murderers' Row type of lineup that has not been seen since the 1920s, you have little choice …
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
5-star effort by Yankee captain — NEW YORK — Think David Ortiz would like to have some of those comments back? You know . . . when he said Derek Jeter was not his idea of MVP material? — Ballots have already been cast (that's the rule with the Most Valuable Player award), but Jeter made his case once again last night.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Ray Sánchez / Newsday:
Always a gamer, Hernandez says, 'I think I can do it' — Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, who has enjoyed so many memorable Octobers, had his injured right calf in a bucket of ice on the eve of his latest postseason start. — "Hopefully I can pitch," he told Newsday last night. "My plan is to go out there.
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
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ESPN:
El Duque off Mets' roster; Maine to start Game 1 — First Pedro Martinez, now Orlando Hernandez. — The Mets lost a second starting pitcher as the postseason starts as El Duque was left off the roster with a torn calf muscle. John Maine will get the start for New York in Game 1 Wednesday afternoon against the Dodgers.
Newsday:
Wallace Matthews — An idea that never gets old: Stockpile pitching — This is what happens when you hire old men to do young men's jobs. — You pitch 132 innings, little more than half a season, and for no discernible reason, things start to break down.
Chicago Tribune:
Ask Mark Gonzales — The Tribune's White Sox writer files his final batch of answers to reader e-mail — With the end of a disappointing White Sox season, what types of changes do you see for the future? What do you think the Sox chances of possibly looking into a Freddy Garcia and Joe Crede for A-Rod deal?
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
State of the Mariners: Young M's must play like veterans in 2007 — We turn today to legendary Mariners fan Jimi Hendrix as we examine the sunken ship that was Seattle baseball in 2006. — In the words of the late, great guitarist, the Mariners' season was like watching "the sunrise from the bottom of the sea."
Billy Wagner / New York Post:
GAME 1 IS A MUST WIN! — Billy Wagner, the Mets' fire-balling lefty closer, offers his exclusive insights to Post readers throughout the Amazin's post-season run. — AM I excited to be in New York on a winner? Does a one-legged duck swim in circles? — This town is the greatest.
Los Angeles Times:
He is gripped by an ex-Dodger fear factor — I Have a couple of concerns here, although I don't believe any of them are big enough to keep our guys from winning the World Series. — First, they have to get out of this dump still healthy. Shea Stadium is two years younger than Dodger Stadium …
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Analysis: Creativity, confidence keys heading into 2007 — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — On the penultimate day of spring training, in the visitors' clubhouse at Fort Myers, Fla., shortstop Jack Wilson put forth the most accurate prediction of the year regarding the Pirates …
