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
Discussion:
Royals Review
Jim Banks / MLB.com:
ALCS Game 3 start time moved up — Friday's contest in Detroit scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET — Due to the rainout of Game 1 in the National League Championship Series on Wednesday, Game 3 of the American League Championship Series in Detroit has been moved to a 4:30 p.m. ET start on Friday.
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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
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Now Kinney hunts for a pennant — NEW YORK — On a night where there weren't many feel-good stories in baseball, starting with the tragic death of New York Yankees righthander Cory Lidle and descending to a comparatively insignificant rainout of Game 1 in the National League Championship Series …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals dismiss Soriano report — Rijo: Not privy to latest negotiations between club, outfielder — NEW YORK — Nationals president Stan Kasten and Jose Rijo, the team's assistant to general manager Jim Bowden, denied a report that quoted Rijo saying that left fielder Alfonso Soriano turned …
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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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Scott / CardNilly:
Second Verse, Same as the First — No great new insights here on today's game — go check out yesterday's post if you want that sort of analysis. And today is mainly links to other folks who have written intelligent stuff, rather than reinventing the wheel myself... First, about Cory Lidle.
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
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 …
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
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
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
Jonah Keri / ESPN:
The replacement killers — A team with one of the worst offenses in playoff history loses the league MVP to injury as it enters the World Series. It's facing one of the most talented ballclubs ever assembled. With its biggest threat on the shelf, the team subs in a 33-year-old bench-warmer …
Discussion:
The Futility Infielder
Andrew Baggarly / Mercury News:
Piniella unlikely to wait for offer from Giants — NATIONALS, CUBS IN HUNT FOR HIM? — The Giants are lagging behind the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals in their search for a manager, and a source close to prime candidate Lou Piniella said he wouldn't wait around to consider all offers.
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.
