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Mercury News:
Pitching propels Tigers past Yankees — RAIN-DELAYED SERIES TIED 1-1 — NEW YORK - The last pitch from Detroit Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya whizzed by the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez at 101 mph, his swing a futile hack. — As the boos tumbled from above, Rodriguez leaned …
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Ira Podell / Associated Press:
A-Rod goes 0-for-4 with 3 Ks as Yankees drop Game 2 to Tigers — NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Rodriguez strode to the plate and the Yankee Stadium fans cheered as one, imploring him to deliver that elusive clutch hit. — Strike one. Strike two. Strike three. — Another missed chance for baseball's $25 million man.
Discussion:
FIRE JOE MORGAN
Fox Sports:
After Game 2, all signs point to Detroit — Ladies and gentlemen, we have a series. — The Tigers prevailed Thursday in what was, at its core, a must-win affair for the Motown Nine. Going down 2-0 against the demonstrably superior Yankees would've all but snuffed out their World Series aspirations.
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Heat of the Moment — NEW YORK - For all of the talk about Joel Zumaya's eye-popping fastball, it doesn't stand up to the power of his sneeze. — Really, that did pop his eye. Or a blood vessel in his right one, at least. Doctors call it a subconjunctival hemorrhage …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Glavine Pitches Like an Ace, Small Ball Does the Rest — José Reyes, who was 1 for 3 with a walk, after he hit a single in the sixth inning. Reyes also had two runs batted in. — As the Mets started confronting life without Pedro Martínez and Orlando Hernández, a 290-game winner lurked in the background.
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Not a Blue-Plate Special — Dodgers come back to tie after a strange double play, but Mets take advantage of Penny in a rare relief role and win the series opener. — NEW YORK — The Dodgers have one starter they trust to pitch deep into the game, and he did not.
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Scully Recalls the Daffy Days of Brooklyn — The play, in which two Los Angeles Dodgers were tagged out in succession yesterday by Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca after a single by Russell Martin, was perfectly set up for Vin Scully, working solo in the cramped visitors' radio booth at Shea Stadium.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers players aren't surprised — Players say they had a feeling Showalter's firing was coming — ARLINGTON - Hours after Buck Showalter was fired Wednesday morning, Rangers players spoke volumes about their relationship with him. They did it with what they didn't say.
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers' search might stay inside
Rangers' search might stay inside
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Q&A with Dejan Kovacevic — Q: Fred-dy! Fred-dy! — David Sculley of Sewickley — KOVACEVIC: Yeah, this just in: Freddy Sanchez is good. — Welcome, one and all, to the season-ending Q&A — a little longer than usual, so that it can be spread over several of the next few Fridays …
Discussion:
Honest Wagner
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Dan Martin / New York Post:
BOSS NOT IMPRESSED BY METS — An ornery George Steinbrenner stormed out of Yankee Stadium shortly after the Yankees game against the Tigers was postponed last night and promptly knocked the league and his team's crosstown rivals. — Steinbrenner was asked if he was happy the Mets won …
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Bill Simmons / ESPN:
The diary: Dodgers-Mets — Note: For the first time in five years, I get to kick back and watch the baseball playoffs. In October 2002, I was switching jobs and moving from Boston to L.A. In October 2003, I was working 14 hours a day for Kimmel's show. In October 2004, the Red Sox overpowered everything else.
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Sports Illustrated:
Bowden knows how to pick 'em - baseball players, that is — TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden once helped turn a would-be major leaguer into a Heisman Trophy winner. — Bowden isn't likely to get that chance with a certain other baseball player - Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer.
Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:
Popgun Padres down to last gasp — Offense again MIA as Friars fall 2-0; head to St. Louis trying to avoid sweep — SAN DIEGO - Getting out of September intact was the hard part for the St. Louis Cardinals, who clinched a division title while stuck in reverse. — And the San Diego Padres?
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Brewers claim Balfour from Reds — Righty spent 2005 and much of '06 recovering from surgery — SAN DIEGO — The Brewers have begun stocking arms for 2007, claiming right-hander Grant Balfour off waivers from Cincinnati on Thursday. — Balfour, who turns 29 in December …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Associated Press:
After wife's request, charge dropped vs. Phils' Myers — BOSTON — An abuse charge against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers was dismissed Thursday after his wife said she did not want her husband prosecuted for hitting her in the face during an argument near Fenway Park.
Discussion:
Beerleaguer
David Kravets / Associated Press:
Judge: Bonds' trainer to be freed from prison — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge ordered Barry Bonds' personal trainer released from prison Thursday, blaming a legal "snafu." — U.S. District Judge William Alsup said Greg Anderson must be freed because a federal appeals court …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Joe Esse / MLB.com:
New TBS comedy visits Wrigley Field — "My Boys" will feature a sports writer who covers the Cubs — CHICAGO — A new TV series about a sports reporter from Chicago shot its final show of the season at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, and the cast was thrilled to be able to step on the field.
Discussion:
GROTA
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates take Santos, Edwards off 40-man roster — Sanchez unanimous winner of local Clemente Award — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — The Pirates today began their offseason paring of the 40-man roster by removing starter Victor Santos and utilityman Mike Edwards.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout