Top News:
USA Today:
Notes: Zumaya nursing sore wrist — OAKLAND — Detroit Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya, considered a key to their bullpen, said Wednesday that he's worried about his availability for the rest of the American League Championship Series. — Zumaya was unable to pitch in Game 2, bothered by soreness in his right wrist.
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Management:
A Detroit Tiger Lesson in Competitive Aikido — "The more your predictable your behavior is, the higher the returns on significantly — changing your behavior" — Angus' Fourth Law of Competition — The Detroit Tigers have the reputation of being a team that's "aggressive" in their hitting style.
Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:
Gomez goes from waiver-wire fodder to Game 2 star
Gomez goes from waiver-wire fodder to Game 2 star
Discussion:
Royals Review
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Miller to catch for Brewers in '07 — Veteran exercised his player option and will play for Milwaukee — MILWAUKEE — Veteran catcher Damian Miller exercised his contract option on Thursday and will be back with the team in 2007. — Miller, who battled back and Achilles tendon injuries late …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
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Alan Schwarz / ESPN:
Recalling a now eerie conversation — You read about these things, you watch some hair-netted nitwit peer into Geraldo's camera and declare, "By golly, I was gonna go in that car with him" ... and you roll your eyes, numb to the tale's banality. Someone was always gonna go in that car with him.
Discussion:
Bad Altitude, Bronx Banter, The Beltway Boys, Capitol Punishment, Batgirl, mlb.mlb.com, The GYS Network and Hot Foot
MSNBC:
Two dead; no evidence of terrorism, officials say
Two dead; no evidence of terrorism, officials say
Discussion:
Alarming News, Baseball Crank, myplayoffbeard.com, Baseball Musings, Athletics Nation and Metsblog.com
Sports Illustrated:
Q&A: Gary Cohen — Longtime Mets broadcaster previews NLCS matchup — Gary Cohen was the radio voice of the Mets for 17 years before joining SNY's Cable TV broadcast booth this season. — SI.com: This is the first time since 1988 that the Mets have made it deeper into the postseason than the Yankees.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa may alter rotation — NEW YORK — The Cardinals' magical postseason tour continued Wednesday at Shea Stadium. Following a 90-minute bus ride through Manhattan, they didn't play. — When a downpour forced postponement of Game 1 of the National League Championship Series …
JD Arney / Red Reporter:
We're Screwed — When I heard Chambliss was fired, I thought well okay, Krivsky wants to bring in his own guy. Probably not a knock on Chambliss or anything. Surely Chambliss isn't taking the blame for the offensive nosedive at the end of the season. — Really, I should know better:
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
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Marc Lancaster / Cincinnati Post:
Reds' ax falls on Chambliss — Hitting coach told he won't be back — As Chris Chambliss drove down I-75 last week from Cincinnati to his home near Atlanta, he had every reason to believe he would be back as the Reds' hitting coach in 2007. — Then, his cell phone rang.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
A-Rod could enhance trade value by playing SS — Can Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez still play shortstop? — If so, it would increase the number of teams that would be interested in trading for him this off-season. — Equally important, the prospect of returning to short could help persuade Rodriguez to approve a trade.
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Clark Spencer / Miami Herald:
Marlins allowed to grow facial hair under Gonzalez, but can they? — Under Fredi Gonzalez, the Marlins are allowed to grow facial hair — but can they? — cspencer@MiamiHerald.com — Old manager Joe Girardi prohibited it. New manager Fredi Gonzalez is permitting it.
Discussion:
FishStripes
NY Daily News:
Homerism isn't in the Cards — Before the first pitch is thrown in tonight's NLCS opener, there is one guarantee that can be made. It's an age old certainty, which will begin registering with Mets fans before the first inning ends. — It happens every fall when fans of a team …
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Pedro already feeling better — Ace: I'll be back, improved in '07 — A giddy Pedro Martinez, his right shoulder still in a sling, predicted yesterday that he would return to the Mets during the second half of the 2007 season. He also predicted he would return a stronger pitcher.
Amanda Branam / MLB.com:
Padres make roster moves — Friars claim Hampson, release Bellhorn, Williamson, Alexander — SAN DIEGO — The Padres offseason started on Oct. 8, but shaping the 2007 roster has already begun. — On Thursday, San Diego claimed Justin Hampson off waivers from the Colorado Rockies …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Scouting the Cardinals — Cardinals scouting report from a scout for an NL Central team: — Who is the hitter you fear the most in a big situation? — Albert Pujols. He is the money bat. — Who is the pitcher you fear the most in a big situation? — Righthander Chris Carpenter.