Top News:
Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
Zito readies money pitch — OAKLAND - New York baseball fans might want to try a little experiment when they tune into tonight's Game 1 of the ALCS between the A's and Tigers. Watch Oakland lefthander Barry Zito and try to envision him in Mets threads or Yankees pinstripes.
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Blez / Athletics Nation:
ALCS Series Preview: Oakland A's vs. Detroit Tigers — So the A's were decided underdogs in the series against the Twins. They will play that role once again against the Tigers, at least according to the MSM. We know this because anyone who gives the Yankees the Zed from Pulp Fiction treatment …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Tigers are free-swingers, and it pays — Hitters might not fit into 'Moneyball,' but they're effective — OAKLAND — The Tigers apparently never got the memo about the "Moneyball" offense, and how effective it is to work walks and jack up the opponent's pitch count.
Josh Dubow / Associated Press:
Rogers held back until Game 3 despite success in Oakland
Rogers held back until Game 3 despite success in Oakland
Discussion:
The Catbird …
Chicago Sun Times:
Girardi gets warm welcome — Hendry pleased with interview at Wrigley; Padres' Bochy could be dark-horse candidate — Less than a week after he was fired by the Florida Marlins, Joe Girardi was back home Monday, making the rounds at Wrigley Field during an extensive interview with the Cubs for their vacant managerial job.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Piniella hints he's out of running — Veteran manager says Nats' rebuilding state not for him — WASHINGTON — Lou Piniella hinted on Monday that he may no longer be a candidate to replace Frank Robinson as manager of the Nationals. — Piniella, 63, had an interview with the Nationals …
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Girardi interviews for Cubs' skipper job — Former Chicago catcher dismissed by Marlins last week — Former Marlins manager Joe Girardi interviewed for the vacant Cubs managerial job on Monday, a spokesperson for the club said. — Girardi met with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry.
Discussion:
GROTA
Gene Wojciechowski / ESPN:
Yankees' 'sad failure' is George's doing … The Boss? George Steinbrenner is The Boss like Mariah Carey is Mrs. Derek Jeter. Those days are long gone, like the last glow of a cigarette butt. — Only Steinbrenner, the imperialistic owner of the New York Yankees, can issue a statement chiding …
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
If It's the Hard Way, It's the Mets' Way — Go back in time, to 2000, the last time the Mets played in the National League Championship Series, and examine their recipe for postseason success. — A competent, though modest, lineup. A meager bullpen. A modicum of team speed.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Ticket cost on the rise next season — Though the worst team in the National League West, the Rockies' improvement produced their first season-ticket price increase since 2000. — Season-ticket holders were informed of the raise through a letter written by team president Keli McGregor.
Discussion:
Bad Altitude
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Cardinals-Mets: Position analysis — CATCHER EDGE: METS — Paul Lo Duca is reputed as a winner, and he finally won, defeating his old team, the Dodgers, in the first round. Here's the chance for a grinder who handles a bat well and handles a pitching staff even better.
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Who will lead off in 2007? — Beat reporter Mark Bowman answers Braves fans' questions — With the Braves needing a leadoff hitter who can play left field, what are the odds they could acquire Carl Crawford? — It certainly seems the Braves' biggest offseason need is to locate …
Associated Press:
Twins hope Liriano can heal in Florida without surgery — MINNEAPOLIS — Francisco Liriano is off to Florida, and the Minnesota Twins are hoping his left elbow will heal there during the offseason. — The Twins will send Liriano to their spring training and minor league facility in Fort Myers …
Discussion:
AaronGleeman.com
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Devil Rays announce '07 ticket prices — Average ticket price will increase by less than one dollar — ST. PETERSBURG — Devil Rays ticket prices for the 2007 season were released on Monday. — The average ticket price for individual game tickets will increase less than $1, from $22.35 in 2006 to $23.19 in 2007.
Discussion:
DRays Bay
Maury Brown / Baseball Prospectus:
Breaking Down the 2006 Season by Marginal Payroll/Marginal Wins — There's something sweetly seductive about the stealthy nature of a Major League Baseball team that seems completely outgunned, yet at the end of the season, has overpowered teams that seemed stacked with more weapons than two, maybe three teams combined.
Discussion:
On Baseball and the Reds