Top News:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Perez will go 4th — Mets may only carry 11 pitchers — Oliver Perez is expected to start Game 4, Willie Randolph announced yesterday. The southpaw will follow Tom Glavine, John Maine (Game 2) and Steve Trachsel (Game 3) in the NLCS rotation. — The Mets had considered adding Dave Williams …
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Torre Keeps Job, but Stays on the Hot Seat — The curtain has dropped on the annual fall passion play in the Bronx. The roles were different this time, but the ending was the same as always. Joe Torre is still the manager of the Yankees. — After last October's first-round playoff elimination …
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Associated Press:
Yankees' Johnson, Giambi likely to have surgery — NEW YORK — As if the Yankees didn't have enough to announce, general manager Brian Cashman said Randy Johnson probably will have surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back and Jason Giambi likely will have an operation to repair a torn tendon in his left wrist.
Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
Surgery ahead for Unit's back — Randy Johnson almost certainly will have back surgery in the coming weeks to repair a herniated disk, and it's possible that he may not be ready to start spring training on time, GM Brian Cashman said yesterday. — Still, the Big Unit is expected to be ready for Opening Day.
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
Kurt / Mack Avenue Tigers:
ALCS Game 1: Tigers win, but will it be costly? — The Tigers got on Barry Zito early for five runs and knocked him out in the fourth inning. Nate Robertson pitched five innings of shutout baseball. They weren't the most uneventful of innings, but the runs column still read 0 when Fernando Rodney came into the game.
Discussion:
The Pastime
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ESPN:
Despite injury, Floyd on Mets' roster for NLCS — NEW YORK — Cliff Floyd remained on the New York Mets' roster for the NL championship series despite a strained left Achilles tendon. — The Mets did make one change Wednesday from the first round, dropping left-handed reliever Royce Ring and adding infielder Anderson Hernandez.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets set for Arch enemy — Out to deck Cards in NLCS after suffering St. Louis blues in '05 — During one of last season's lowest moments, as the Mets neared the end of a 2-8 early September road trip that knocked them out of the wild-card race, Willie Randolph put his arm around David Wright …
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Piniella likes 'challenge' of Cubs job — North Siders top his list; Rangers, Giants interested — OAKLAND, Calif. — If the Cubs want veteran manager Lou Piniella, the feeling appears to be mutual — especially with the New York Yankees no longer an option for 2007.
Discussion:
GROTA
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
A-Rod could be back on radar — When Alex Rodriguez first was said to be available three years ago, the Cubs privately discussed bringing him from Texas to Wrigley Field. — It turned out to be all whispers and no action. Rodriguez still had $179 million and seven years remaining on his contract …
Discussion:
The Catbird …
Providence Journal:
Red Sox Notebook: Arroyo's strategizing his return to the Red Sox — Bronson Arroyo may be in Cincinnati, but his heart is still in Boston. — In fact, he may already be planning his return. — "I still miss playing in that uniform, especially when I turn on the TV and they are 10 games …
Discussion:
The Catbird …
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Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
Reyes vs. Molina: A Game Within Games — If the National League Championship Series is reduced to a 90-foot race, the Mets should win by five-hundredths of a second. — This is the amount of time that José Reyes is working with when he tries to steal second base against Yadier Molina.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Marcus Hayes / Philly.com:
Howard chosen player of the year by peers voting in TSN balloting — The writers might disagree, but Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is the players' choice. — The Sporting News announced yesterday that Howard, in his first full season, won the publication's major league player of the year award as voted by players.
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NY Daily News:
Mets can't wait to rule — Today N.Y., tomorrow the world — The Yankee season finally ended yesterday, three days after Game 4 in Detroit. The Yankees are officially over and so is George Steinbrenner, who got talked into un-firing Joe Torre by a lot of people who worked much harder …
Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Angels trio to join All-Star trip to Japan — The rosters are mostly set for the upcoming All-Star series in Japan and three Angels will be making the trip. — Right-handed pitchers John Lackey and Scot Shields, and super utility player Chone Figgins will participate in the 2006 Japan All-Star Series …
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Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
White Sox Have New Start Time: 7-Eleven — It is not easy to conjure $500,000 out of the ether, but the Chicago White Sox have discovered a way. Their financial trick was really quite simple. — They changed their evening game times at U.S. Cellular Field.
Mark Herrmann / Newsday:
Chavez enjoying all the attention — People in Venezuela are very excited about Endy Chavez these days, which is understandable because that is home for him. The upset is that people are more excited about him in New York, which has become more of a home than he had expected.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Baltimore Sun:
Time is now for Orioles to make bid for A-Rod — In case you haven't noticed, New York has soured on Alex Rodriguez, and I think it's probably fair to say that A-Rod isn't humming Frank Sinatra right now, either. — So, start spreading the news. A-Rod might be available, and there is a team near you that could use his services.
