Top News:
NY Daily News:
Willie pens the right moves — Willie Randolph always took offense to whispers that he had missed out on another managerial job because he had been unprepared in his interview - never more so than when he heard the Mets rejected him in favor of Art Howe four years ago for that reason.
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Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
With Bat and Emotions, Delgado Shines in Debut — Carlos Delgado and David Wright were walking through a hallway outside the Mets' clubhouse last night when Wright unintentionally summed up Game 1 of the National League division series: — "Man," he said, "you hit hard."
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Extra relief all the difference for Mets — NEW YORK - After counting their healthy bodies, the Mets chose to keep 12 pitchers, one more than normal for a postseason roster, while the Dodgers went with only 10. — It made a difference in the Mets' 6-5 victory Tuesday in Game 1 of the Division Series at Shea Stadium.
Discussion:
MLB.com
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:Maine Starts Game 1 for Mets, Then It's All Hands on Deck
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Ben Jacobs / Hardball Times:
ALDS: Twins vs. A's: Twins dive into big hole — The Oakland A's have absolutely played well in the first two games of their series against the Twins, and they certainly deserve to be ahead two games to none. But there's also no question that the Twins have helped the A's …
Discussion:
6-4-2
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Contra Costa Times:
Now comes the really hard part — MINNEAPOLIS - Here's an absolute certainty, one that's right there in the pecking order with death and taxes and lost fly balls in the White Bubble Dome: No team does postseason, inside-the-park home runs against a backdrop of homer hankies the way the A's do.
Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun Times:
Ripple effect could manage to reach Cubs — Changes on the field could stretch to changes off the field for the Cubs as baseball's managerial landscape continued to evolve Wednesday. — The latest firing took place in Texas, where the Rangers dismissed manager Buck Showalter after four years …
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Fred Mitchell / Chicago Tribune:In the homestretch? — Girardi is building house in Lake Forest
Discussion:
GROTA
Dallas Morning News:
Showalter move shows GM is in charge — ARLINGTON - On one of his better days as a baseball owner Wednesday, Tom Hicks was nowhere in sight. — Hicks, whose success as a hockey owner has not been duplicated in his nine years with the Rangers, took a step toward respectability in baseball …
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Dallas Star-Telegram:
Firing not a surprise to players — ARLINGTON - Mark DeRosa thought Buck Showalter might not be back as Rangers manager, whether by his choice or not, after he listened to Showalter address the team before their final game in Seattle on Sunday. — "I kind of got a vibe that it might …
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats looking at Girardi, Piniella — Search for Robinson's managerial successor begins — WASHINGTON — The Nationals have a long list of managerial candidates, but Joe Girardi and Lou Piniella top the list, according to two sources, one of whom said that the interview process could start as early as next week.
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Today — Division Series, Day One — The big story was the continuing tear of Frank Thomas, who hit two homers to account for the early lead and the insurance run in the ninth inning. What is most impressive about the two shots is how different the pitches were …
Basil / Federal Baseball:
gnihctiP, gnihctiP, gnihctiP — In baseball, no element is as precious as the out. When a pitcher records an out, he provides assistance to his team. When a pitcher fails to record an out, he at best provides no assistance to his team. At the risk of inspiring a dozen mitigating examples …
Dom Amore / Hartford Courant:
Randy Earns Wings For Detroit Flight — NEW YORK — Randy Johnson threw another session in the bullpen Wednesday, then left for Detroit. His scheduled start for the Yankees in Game 3 of the Division Series Friday is still a go. — "He threw 30-35 pitches and he's on his way," manager Joe Torre said.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Mike Penner / Los Angeles Times:
L.A.-N.Y. rivalry is for the ages — As the Dodgers and the New York Mets embark on a new episode in their far-reaching saga, what are the greatest moments in the history of the Los Angeles-New York sports rivalry? — It depends on which coast is your vantage point.
Amy K. Nelson / ESPN:
Padres a loose, confident bunch … SAN DIEGO — There are no crazy cowboys, Dominican midgets or Jack Daniels-slinging sessions before the first pitch. But step into the San Diego Padres' clubhouse and you might need to rub your eyes twice for a reminder that you're on the West Coast, and not in Fenway Park's 2004 locker room.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Ken O'Brien / Chicago Sun Times:
JackHammers hire female GM — Kelly Sufka is almost in a league of her own. — The Joliet JackHammers on Wednesday promoted Sufka to executive vice president and general manager, becoming possibly the second baseball team in the nation to name a woman to that role. — ''I want to keep raising the bar,'' she said.
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Bonds feeling great after surgery — Slugger says he's OK with not playing next year — SAN DIEGO — Giants slugger Barry Bonds had bone chips and a bone spur removed from his left elbow on Monday, he told MLB.com on Wednesday when reached by telephone at his home in Beverly Hills.
