Top News:
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
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Logic or gamble? Jeff Weaver takes the mound — SAN DIEGO — When the Cardinals acquired Jeff Weaver for minor-league bat Terry Evans three months ago today, they hoped to have obtained a more serviceable fifth starting pitcher than Sidney Ponson. — Today, a saga including rampant injuries …
Discussion:
El Lefty Malo
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards Notebook: DeWitt gives nod to La Russa — SAN DIEGO — Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt underscored the organization's satisfaction with manager Tony La Russa's performance this season, saying there was "never any thought given" to reviewing the skipper's status had the club not held on to win the National League Central title.
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
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
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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.
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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
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 …
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.
Associated Press:
Abuse charge dropped against Phillies pitcher — BOSTON (AP) - 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.
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Denise Lavoie / Associated Press:Wife of Phillies' Myers wants case dropped
Discussion:
The Catbird …
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 …
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
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
Associated Press:
Judge: Anderson must be freed — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal judge ordered Barry Bonds' personal trainer released from prison Thursday, saying a legal "snafu" had arisen. — U.S. District Judge William Alsup said Greg Anderson must be freed, because a federal appeals court hadn't affirmed …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Dodgers victims of wild double play — Mets retire Kent, Drew at home in same second-inning play — NEW YORK — Less than nine outs into its duration, the lasting image and memory from this National League Division Series between the Dodgers and Mets may have been created.
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David Leonhardt / New York Times:
Why C.E.O.'s Aren't Sitting in the Dugout — Just over a year ago, the man who held the purse strings at a private company outside San Francisco began negotiating a new employment contract with the executive who ran the day-to-day operations. — The company had recently turned around …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Metsfan / Mets Geek:
Weis, Mora, Pratt and ??? — Perhaps because they are so unexpected, surprise October performances by unlikely heroes seem even more prevalent than examples of the game's biggest stars shining on the postseason stage. Mets history is littered with such unlikely icons, with the predictable …
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats' Offseason Focus Is Soriano, New Manager — The Washington Nationals have identified their two most important offseason decisions — who to hire to replace ousted manager Frank Robinson, and whether to sign left fielder Alfonso Soriano. Team officials were apparently working on both fronts yesterday.
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …, William F. Yurasko, MLB.com, District of Baseball and Free Lance-Star
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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