Top News:
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Rolen surprised, irked by being left on bench — NEW YORK — A slow-growing fissure between Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and his Gold Glove third baseman threatened to rupture Friday when Scott Rolen was benched in favor of Scott Spiezio in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series at Shea Stadium.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Johnette Howard / Newsday:
Cranky slugger takes his cuts at everyone — Listen, you may think it's easy to be The Best Hitter in Baseball. But it ain't all trophies and free batting gloves and nice tables at swell restaurants, pal. Think again. You've got the media crowding you in the clubhouse the minute …
Wayne Drehs / ESPN:
Chavez: 'We've run into a better team' … DETROIT — They stand in the quiet locker room and tell you this series isn't over. They tell you they came here to win and that they're not just going to provide a doormat for the Tigers to march their way to their first World Series in 22 years.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, Mack Avenue Tigers, Baseball Musings and Cutoff Man
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Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
'Gambler' wins again — Rogers, Tigers on verge of Series — DETROIT - The Detroit Tigers are just one win from the World Series, and they have Kenny Rogers to thank for that. — One week after beating the Yankees in what to that point was the most clutch game of his career …
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Rogers tosses another gem vs. A's — Lefty blanks A's over 7 1/3 innings; Tigers on cusp of Series — DETROIT — Before Kenny Rogers can be haunted by his postseason history, he'd have to give up a postseason run first. — He isn't the typical clutch postseason performer.
Discussion:
The Baseball Desert
Jim Reeves / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Timing appears right for Hillman, Rangers — Maybe it's my sense of justice, or a feeling that I'd just like to know what would have happened, if... If the Rangers' sense of timing had been a little better back in October of 2002. If Trey Hillman hadn't signed that contract to manage …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Dallas Morning News:
The capper? Rogers, Tigers move within win of Series — DETROIT - Over the course of his final month running the Rangers, Buck Showalter's favorite phrase became: "You've got to know your own." — If these playoffs say anything to the Rangers, they echo Showalter's words.
WCBS-TV:
A-Rod OK After Plane Skids Off Calif. Runway — Agent Scott Boras Confirms; No Injuries Reported — (CBS/AP) BURBANK, Calif. A private jet, carrying Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and six others, overran a runway at Bob Hope Airport on Friday and was brought to a halt by an arresting system.
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NY Daily News:
Scare for A-Rod: Jet skids to halt — Private plane runs off Calif. runway — Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez got a horrible scare yesterday when a private jet he was aboard skidded off a runway outside Los Angeles - just two days after the crash of Cory Lidle's doomed plane.
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:
Managerial cake walk: Piniella to Cubs? Girardi to Nats? — Veteran Lou Piniella appears to have emerged as the Chicago Cubs top choice, though the Cubs are expected to seek permission from San Diego to interview Padres skipper Bruce Bochy as they winnow their list and try to name a manager …
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Associated Press:
Selig says there's little chance for best-of-7 in first round — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — DETROIT — While the first round of the playoffs is likely to stay a best-of-5 series, wild-card teams might find a tougher road next season, commissioner Bud Selig said Friday.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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Sports Illustrated:
Man On A Mission — Tom Glavine may have a right to disagree, but Albert Pujols' performance in Game 2 of the NLCS was very good. Very good, indeed. With one stupefying at-bat, Pujols turned the game around and perhaps this entire series. — The reigning NL MVP was still searching …
Boston Globe:
Farrell now warming up for Red Sox — Eight-year big leaguer expected to be named new pitching coach — John Farrell, a 44-year-old New Jersey native who pitched parts of eight seasons in the big leagues and for one season was Terry Francona's teammate in Cleveland, is expected to be named Red Sox pitching coach.
Sports Illustrated:
Yankees fire advance scouts — Cashman says Taylor, Cottier will be replaced — Joe Torre's job was spared, but the Yankees have fired their two long-time advance scouts, Wade Taylor and Chuck Cottier. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed the firings but said the decision …
Benjamin Hill / MLB.com:
A grand start for Casto in AFL — Nationals prospect goes 3-for-3 with grand slam in victory — Kory Casto has had a tremendously successful 2006 season, as the 24-year-old outfielder hit .272 with 24 doubles, 20 home runs, 80 RBIs and 84 runs scored for the Harrisburg Senators of the Double-A Eastern League.
Discussion:
District of Baseball
