Top News:
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Flat Albert — Rips Glavine, despite taking 0-fer — Albert Pujols was less than impressive in last night's NLCS opener. He was even less impressed with Mets starter Tom Glavine. — A peeved Pujols snapped at reporters following his -for-3 outing that included a costly baserunning blunder …
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Take Game 1 of N.L.C.S., 2-0 — It is all one continuous bad dream for Cardinals Manager Tony LaRussa. He sees it in October, in the playoffs, when he looks in the batter's box, sees Carlos Beltrán standing there and then watches Beltrán's bat send a baseball into the deepest reaches of a ballpark.
Bob Herzog / Newsday:
Pujols left hitless and unimpressed with Glavine — With an expression of scorn and words of disdain, Albert Pujols was defiant in defeat last night. — The Cardinals' slugger, who went 0-for-3 with a walk, flipped his chair into the leg of a reporter gathered at his locker, turned his back …
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:In Battle of Sluggers, Beltrán Draws First Blood
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Bochy enters Cubs mix — Padres manager may be front-runner — Cubs' general manager Jim Hendry has met with all five managerial candidates on his original list, but his final choice may be "none of the above." — In what could be a fast-moving chain of events, San Diego Padres manager Bruce Bochy …
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Ed Sherman / Chicago Tribune:
Piniella has Harrelson gushing — There are two managers who send Ken Harrelson to the land of superlatives: Ozzie Guillen and Lou Piniella. — Sure enough, Harrelson didn't hold back Thursday over the prospect of Piniella signing with the Cubs. — "We would have the two best managers in the same city," Harrelson said.
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
A likely new twist to Cubs' list — Padres' Bochy expected to join managerial derby — Just when it appeared the Cubs' managerial search was winding down, a new candidate is expected to land on general manager Jim Hendry's interview list — possibly by today.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
A meeting of the minds — Belichick hits it off with La Russa — NEW YORK — I was shelling peanuts and hardly paying attention as Tony La Russa delivered a rambling answer to a pregame question regarding the expanded format of today's baseball playoffs.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Notes: Marquis roots from sidelines — Carpenter to start Game 2; Cards' roster stays the same — NEW YORK — Jason Marquis acknowledged he felt "blindsided" and disappointed by the Cardinals' decision to leave him off their roster for the National League Championship Series …
Discussion:
CardNilly
Bruce Regal / Baseball Analysts:
Replacing the Wild Card: The "Challenge Round" — There seems to be a pretty general consensus among sabermetric folks that baseball's current system of post-season eligibility and play is seriously flawed. Rich Lederer's post here the other day is one indication, an on-going discussion …
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats' Kasten Denies Credibility of Soriano Report — Washington Nationals President Stan Kasten said yesterday that he didn't give credence to a wire report saying left fielder Alfonso Soriano, a free agent to be, turned down a five-year, $70 million offer to stay in Washington.
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
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Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Q&A with Rockies GM O'Dowd — Colorado's decision maker talks about future goals for the club — DENVER — On a recent afternoon, Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd acknowledged that he's keeping up with the playoffs. — But enjoying them? — "Not really," O'Dowd said …
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Contra Costa Times:
Starting Harden is not worth risk — DETROIT - Ask any baseball man what he hates most about his job, and he'll tell you it's a five-game series in Cleveland. But right after that, he'll tell you it's being second-guessed. — "Why did you bring in the left-hander?" "Why didn't you pinch-hit for the right-hander?"
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New York Post:
5 QUESTIONS FOR MICHAEL KAY — This week, NYP TV Sports' Andrew Marchand spoke with Michael Kay. Kay, 45, is the voice of the Yankees on YES and hosts his own 1050-ESPN radio show. — Q: You have been outspoken about Joe Torre. What was your biggest beef? — A: I don't think he did a bad job at all during the season.
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Randy Galloway / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Point is, the GM is in charge — For Jon Daniels, the free ride is over. — In a troubled season for the Rangers, the youngest general manager in the majors never had to walk point through the minefields and the media ambushes. — Buck Showalter was out there in front, taking the heat as the logical and easy target.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Tom may take 5th vs. St. Louis — The Mets asked Major League Baseball to let them resubmit their NLCS roster yesterday morning, after a Game 1 rainout resulted in games scheduled on five straight days. MLB stood firm with its 10 a.m. Wednesday deadline, despite the series' first pitch being delayed by 24 hours.
TwinCities.com:
Tender wrist likely won't stop Zumaya — The Tigers might have Joel Zumaya's heat even in the Midwest chill. — Detroit hopes the hard-throwing Zumaya will be ready for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series despite a tender wrist. — The rookie reliever injured …
