Top News:
Newsday:
Wallace Matthews — Manage to win despite Randolph — Going into their first playoff game in six years, the Mets had plenty to worry about. — They had a rotation as thin as Chris Woodward's hair, an emergency starter on the mound and two eager but callow kids, Jose Reyes and David Wright …
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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."
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.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
City offers rare playoff double — NEW YORK, NEW YORK — Curse the Yankees and Mets all you want; you've got to love any city that can serve as host for two baseball playoff games in the same day/night. In this spirit, I love New York. — The Yankees and Tigers will play Game 2 …
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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
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 …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Fred Mitchell / Chicago Tribune:In the homestretch? — Girardi is building house in Lake Forest
Discussion:
GROTA
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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Jim Caple / ESPN:
Hunter has no explanation for miscue … MINNEAPOLIS — Fortunately for most of us, when we make costly, embarrassing mistakes, they aren't shown on national television. Over and over and over again. In slow motion. With a broadcaster explaining in detail exactly how we screwed up.
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
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.
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 …
Associated Press:
Bonds' trainer may get out of prison — SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court has ordered Barry Bonds' personal trainer to be released from prison Thursday unless a lower court again holds him in contempt for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating the Giants slugger for perjury.
Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Verlander: Tigers thrown curve — Says Yanks had more info — Detroit starter Justin Verlander heard about the first rain delay via ESPN. Then, after he had completed stretching, playing catch and running in the Stadium outfield 20 minutes before 10 o'clock, a Yankee grounds crew member informed …
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
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.
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
Little Decides to Use Penny, and Dodgers Pay the Price — NEW YORK — It was nuts. It was chaos. It was completely avoidable. — I'm not talking about J.D. Drew's decision to tailgate Jeff Kent into home plate in the second inning. — I'm talking about Grady Little decision to drive Brad Penny off a cliff in the seventh.
