Top News:
Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
A-Rod & Yanks just looking — Series swings as Tigers strike — The last pitch whizzed by Alex Rodriguez at 101 mph, his swing a futile hack. As the boos began to tumble down from above, Rodriguez leaned over and said a few words to home plate umpire Laz Diaz before trudging slowly out toward third base.
Discussion:
El Lefty Malo
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Sports Illustrated:
Lost Opportunity For A-Rod — As if we Derek Jeter-loving media types didn't have enough time to genuflect on his transcendent Game 1 performance, we were blessed with another half-day to recall his heroics thanks to last night's rainout. In Game 2, however, Captain Clutch didn't get it done.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Lost in Shadows, Yanks Now Turn to Johnson — Alex Rodriguez, striking out to end the eighth, was 0 for 4. He struck out three times and left three runners on base. — All of his career, Randy Johnson has been a beacon to his teams. He helped save a franchise in Seattle and helped build one in Arizona.
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Struggling in October, Rodriguez Finds It's All a Blur — Alex Rodriguez swung and missed, feebly, at Joel Zumaya's 101-mile-an-hour fastball and then behaved like a 7-year-old who had to put away his toys before dinner. He neatly placed his batting gloves and elbow guard inside his helmet and gave them to a batboy.
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
Dan Martin / New York Post:
BOSS CALLS OUT ALEX — Alex Rodriguez's lack of success has once again drawn the ire of The Boss. — After Rodriguez suffered through a hapless 0-for-4 afternoon in the Yankees' 4-3 loss to the Tigers to even the ALDS, 1-1, George Steinbrenner knocked his high-priced star.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Glavine earns 13th career postseason win … NEW YORK — He's the last ace standing. — No more Pedro. No more El Duque. And nobody has spotted Tom Seaver lately, either, come to think of it. — But Tom Glavine goes on and on. — He hasn't come down with that runaway Flushing affliction, Mad Calf Disease.
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NY Daily News:
Time stops, not Franco — This is how the Mets know all is right again. Julio Franco, a few days removed from blowing out the candles on his 48th birthday cake, huffed and puffed his way down the first base line, and by the time he reached the bag, time had stood still.
Discussion:
Cliff Floyd's Playoff Blog
Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:NLDS: Dodgers vs. Mets: Game of Attrition
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Time for Hendry to take off kid gloves — Cubs' GM must stop being Mr. Nice Guy if he's serious about rebuilding, writes Phil Rogers — Hey, look there. — The Los Angeles Dodgers badly overpaid to sign shortstop Rafael Furcal last winter, but the shame didn't seem to affect them too badly.
Discussion:
Behind the Ivy
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Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Kranitz could be nice throw-in deal — If Joe Girardi becomes the next manager of the Cubs, there could be an attractive bonus. Respected pitching coach Rick Kranitz, who spent the previous 22 years with the Cubs before joining Girardi's Florida Marlins staff last season, might tag along.
Discussion:
GROTA
Kansas City Star:
Dodgers-Mets Notebook: Garciaparra hurt — Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra left Thursday night's game in the sixth inning after reinjuring his left quadriceps. — His status for game three Saturday was uncertain. — Garciaparra strained his quadriceps Sept. 15 during a game against San Diego …
Discussion:
Always Amazin'
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Associated Press:
Twins' hopes resting on Radke's shoulders — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Ron Gardenhire figured he had seen Brad Radke's final major league pitch six weeks ago when his player's injured right arm could barely throw 80 mph. — Radke had a torn labrum and stress fracture in his shoulder …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Jim Baker / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Matchups — October Musings — By now, every baseball fan older than the age of six (and a few of the more precocious kindergartners) is asking the same thing: why isn't Joel Zumaya closing for the Tigers? Or at the very least, why wasn't he allowed to finish off the Yankees yesterday?
Discussion:
Cincinnati Reds Blog
Erik Boland / Newsday:
Odd time to look ahead for Lugo — Dodgers infielder is entertaining thought of playing with Mets — Credit Julio Lugo for answering the question honestly. Dock him for the timing. — Lugo, who received the start at third base for the Dodgers last night, was asked before the game about speculation …
Sports Illustrated:
Walk this way — Ever-patient Boggs looks back on birth of a dynasty … SI.com: In Sports Illustrated's 1986 Baseball Preview Issue, you sat down for a lengthy chat with Don Mattingly and Ted Williams. Do you have any memories of the conversation you had that day? — Wade Boggs: Every bit of it.
George King / New York Post:
WINNING EARNED DOUBLE-A MANAGER THE BOOT — The Yankees' Double-A Trenton manager, Bill Masse, says he has been fired for a reason that doesn't exist. — Minor league head Mark Newman told Masse on Tuesday that he would not be coming back for a seventh season as a manager in the organization following …
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Kranitz may stay if he chooses — Joe Girardi is gone, but the Marlins want the pitching coach he brought to stay. — New manager Fredi Gonzalez spoke with Rick Kranitz on Wednesday, and indications are the Marlins want him back. First-base coach Perry Hill and hitting coach Jim Presley are strong holdover candidates.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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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 …
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