Top News:
Associated Press:
Torre will not be fired, has Steinbrenner's support — NEW YORK — Joe Torre will remain as manager of the New York Yankees, finally getting the word from owner George Steinbrenner after the team's surprise elimination from the playoffs Saturday. — Torre spoke with Steinbrenner …
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Murray Chass / New York Times:
Yankees' Rotation, Old and Ineffective, Needs an Overhaul — Nothing against Mike Mussina, but he is the symbol of the Yankees' failure to win the World Series the last six years. If George Steinbrenner is seeking a scapegoat, make it Mussina. — Mussina joined the Yankees as a free agent six years ago.
ESPN:
In-demand Piniella rules out Nationals job — Lou Piniella will not entertain offers to manage the Washington Nationals, saying the job of guiding that rebuilding team should go to a younger skipper. — Piniella met with Washington general manager Jim Bowden, but ruled himself out as a candidate …
Discussion:
GROTA
George King / New York Post:
HE'S JOE-ING NOWHERE — SOURCE: BOSS WILL KEEP TORRE — EXCLUSIVE After two days of soul searching, George Steinbrenner isn't going to fire Joe Torre, The Post has learned. — According to several sources, The Boss has decided firing Torre isn't the cure for the subterranean problems …
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Torre will continue as Yanks manager — Steinbrenner informs skipper he'll be back for 2007 season — NEW YORK — The Joe Torre saga came to a conclusion on Tuesday, as the manager announced that he will return for a 12th season with the Yankees. — Torre revealed the news …
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners analysis: What would it take? — Mariners could bring back A-Rod for as little as $2.4 million, and Beltre — There was a time, as recently as 2000, when it seemed Alex Rodriguez might never play baseball except as a Seattle Mariner. — There was a time, as recently as this season …
Associated Press:
Twins pick up $12 million option on Hunter for '07 — MINNEAPOLIS — Torii Hunter will be back with the Minnesota Twins for at least one more year. — The Twins said Tuesday they picked up Hunter's $12 million option. — Hunter, 31, a five-time Gold Glove winner in center field, was a big part of the Twins' AL Central title.
Discussion:
Nick & Nick's Twins Blog, A Large Regular, 6-4-2, High and Tight, MLB Trade Rumors and Camden Chat
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Associated Press:
Twins pick up Hunter's $12M option — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Torii Hunter will be back with the Minnesota Twins for at least one more year. Beyond that, it's tough to tell. — The Twins picked up their 2007 option on Hunter's contract Tuesday, and his $12 million salary will be the largest single-season sum in team history.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
StarTribune.com:
Twins pick up Hunter's $12 million option — The Twins have picked up the $12 million option on Torii Hunter's contract for 2007, which will tie a club record for a one-year salary. — Hunter, and his agent, Larry Reynolds, were notifed of the move Tuesday morning.
ESPN:
Floyd's availability uncertain; Mets set NLCS rotation — NEW YORK — Cliff Floyd limped into the Mets' clubhouse Tuesday with a protective boot on his injured left foot and made his best case to remain on the team's roster in the NL Championship Series. — He left the rest up to manager Willie Randolph.
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
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Adam Rubin / NY Mets Blog:
Transcript: Willie on Cliff, Carlos, Etc. — Q. Can you just update us on Cliff's status and when and if you've made a decision. — WILLIE RANDOLPH: He had a nice little workout, swung the bat well in BP, and we're going to just wait until tomorrow to decide when he comes in.
Discussion:
The Eddie Kranepool Society
Sal Baxamusa / Hardball Times:
ALCS Preview: Tigers vs. A's — Oakland Athletics: An unconventional team built by a genius architect that can't do jack squat in the playoffs because they value silicon over leather. — Detroit Tigers: An inspiring story of a team that turned around a losing franchise …
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Baseball America:
Harrington Signs Deal With The Cubs — After six years, five draft selections and three independent league teams, Matt Harrington is finally headed to affiliated baseball. — Harrington, the seventh overall pick in the 2000 draft, signed a minor league contract with the Cubs …
Associated Press:
Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB — Highly regarded pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was given permission by the Seibu Lions on Tuesday to pursue a career in the major leagues. — Matsuzaka, who has drawn interest from several major league teams including the New York Yankees …
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
Cardinals' Eckstein Perfects the Art of Small-Ball Guile — David Eckstein laying down a squeeze bunt in the sixth inning Sunday night. Eckstein's bunt scored Scott Spiezio from third in the Cardinals' 6-2 victory. — To prepare fully for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Mets …
Christina Kahrl / Baseball Prospectus:
Playoff Prospectus — ALCS Preview — Okay, so it's Cinderella with some serious mojo versus the Moneyball-Meets-John Jaha Memorial Edition A's, and everyone's fascinated because it's another delightfully Yankee- and Red Sox-free American League Championship Series involving real ballclubs …
Discussion:
Mack Avenue Tigers
Jeff Brohel / Metsquire:
Tired of waiting — So, I tried to watch Monday Night Football last night, I really did. I had my Goldfish, my cantaloupe, my cheese and my mystery meat all set up for the game. Alas, it was not a Mets playoff game, and thus my interest soon waned, I became a touch sleepy and the next thing …
Mark Irwin / The Sun:
Nazty — VILE ... Croatia fans make human swastika — CROATIA could be kicked out of Euro 2008 if fans abuse England's black players tomorrow. — Soccer chiefs fear trouble after 200 of their supporters formed a human swastika at a friendly in Italy. — UEFA's William Gaillard warned: "We won't tolerate racism.
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
On Fox, Sour Notes From a Pair of Veteran Voices — It was difficult not to see that the left-hander Tyler Johnson had come in to relieve for the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday night. — His name is on the back of his uniform. Fox flashed up a graphic. To paraphrase the old umpire Jim Honochick …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Richard / SportsJustice:
You're wrong about A-Rod (and you're bald, too) — Friends, I come to you today with a heavy heart. No use hiding my feelings. You've hurt me too much already. I understand that sometimes we disagree on things. That's one of the reasons blogs exist.
Discussion:
FIRE JOE MORGAN
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
After whiffing on picks, let's keep swinging — Oh-and-four. Oh-and-freakin'-four. That's how well I did picking the winners of the Division Series. — I got one thing right: I said the postseason would be unpredictable. It sure was, for moi. But seriously, I doubt many people picked …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
