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.
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
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 …
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Fred Mitchell / Chicago Tribune:
In the homestretch? — Girardi is building house in Lake Forest
In the homestretch? — Girardi is building house in Lake Forest
Discussion:
GROTA
NY Daily News:
Fans hustle in vain bid for double play — Before the last out of the Mets' playoff victory yesterday, Jeremy Copas raced from Shea Stadium to Yankee Stadium - all for nothing, it turned out, thanks to Mother Nature. — He left the Queens ballpark at 6:15 p.m., taking a No. 7 train …
Discussion:
Sports Scope
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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
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.
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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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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
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NY Daily News:
ESPN beyond 'Redemption' — The anxiety level was high. Seventh inning. Nomar Garciaparra at the plate facing Guillermo Mota. Mets 4, Dodgers 2. Two outs. Bases loaded. — Gary Thorne, ESPN's play-by-play man, called it one of "those key" moments in a playoff game and perhaps the entire Dodgers-Mets division series.
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 …
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.
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
Andrew Baggarly / Mercury News:
Giants not likely to revisit Baker — Should the Giants come calling about their managerial vacancy, Dusty Baker is willing to forgive and forget, his business manager said Tuesday. — ``Dusty has an open mind,'' Steve Skelly said of Baker, whose contract was not renewed by the Chicago Cubs.
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 …
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.