Top News:
NY Daily News:
Out with old, in with Lou — The Boss must show Joe the door & hire Piniella — George Steinbrenner does not make his pitching any younger, or better, by firing Joe Torre. He does not turn Alex Rodriguez into Mr. October, instead of the guy who just puts the O's in October.
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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 …
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 …
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 …
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Omar keeps the faith — GM: Willie, Mets ready — With the Joe Torre debate raging, Willie Randolph hardly has been the most talked-about manager in New York in the last few days. With Lou Piniella also prominently in that mix, the Mets' skipper might not even be in the top two.
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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.
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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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
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
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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.
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Will the Rox give center attention? — Beat reporter Thomas Harding answers fans questions … What are the chances next year of Jeff Baker and Brad Hawpe both starting in the outfield along with Matt Holliday? Is either one capable of filling the center-field need?
Discussion:
Purple Row
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 …