Top News:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Trachsel Does Little but Place the Mets in a Big Pitching Bind — The ball stayed aloft for several seconds after smacking off Steve Trachsel's upper thigh, and in the time it took for it to plummet to the ground, beyond the infield, another injury had sucked the life out of an already strained pitching staff.
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Never had a chance — Trachsel digs a hole and Suppan buries Mets' sluggish offense in it — ST. LOUIS — Steve Trachsel left last night's game shortly after taking Preston Wilson's second-inning grounder off his right thigh, but the pain from his bruised leg was nothing compared to what Trachsel did to the Mets in NLCS Game 3.
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Cardinals 5, Mets 0 — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jeff Suppan just about did it all for St. Louis, hitting a rare home run and pitching a tidy masterpiece that gave the Cardinals control in the NL championship series against the suddenly staggering New York Mets. — Scott Spiezio hit another key triple …
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Trachsel awful and injured as Mets start to run short on starters — ST. LOUIS (AP) — First, Steve Trachsel was awful. Then, he got hurt. — Now it's up to Oliver Perez — yes, Oliver Perez — to keep the New York Mets in the NL championship series. — Trachsel lasted just three outs …
Fox Sports:
Game 2 win gives Cards a fighting chance — In many senses, Friday night's encounter was a must-win for the St. Louis Cardinals, and that's exactly what they did. — FOX Bite — Videos — So clutch for Cards — Still, if you'd been told that Cards ace Chris Carpenter would blow up on this night …
Discussion:
CardNilly
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
All-around game lands Polanco MVP — Strong defense complements .529 ALCS average to seal honor — DETROIT — He's listed in the media guide as 5-foot-10, a measurement that is probably a bit generous when it comes to Placido Polanco's actual height. — No one, however …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Ordonez sends Tigers to sweep, Series — Walk-off homer lifts Detroit to first Fall Classic since 1984 — DETROIT — The Detroit renaissance is just about complete. — The team that sat at the historic bottom of the American League three years ago with an AL-record 119 losses has scratched, clawed, and pitched its way to the top.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Larry Lage / Associated Press:
Monroe's bat helps Tigers take 3-0 lead in ALCS
Monroe's bat helps Tigers take 3-0 lead in ALCS
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Bochy person of interest, but no longer Cubs' focus — Towers admits others courting Pads manager — NEW YORK - Padres General Manager Kevin Towers said he and CEO Sandy Alderson told manager Bruce Bochy on Wednesday that other clubs have interest in hiring Bochy and that Bochy is free to talk to them.
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
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Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:
Managerial cake walk: Piniella to Cubs? Girardi to Nats?
Managerial cake walk: Piniella to Cubs? Girardi to Nats?
Discussion:
The Sports Frog
Associated Press:
Fox fires Lyons for racially insensitive comment — DETROIT — Fox baseball broadcaster Steve Lyons has been fired for making a racially insensitive comment directed at colleague Lou Piniella's Hispanic heritage on the air during Game 3 of the American League championship series.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Amy K. Nelson / ESPN:
La Russa rips media for report of Pujols ripping Glavine … After going -for-3 in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday night, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols told the media that Mets starter Tom Glavine "wasn't that good," despite the 40-year-old left-hander …
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Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Raines out as Sox coach — Leading the White Sox to their first World Series title in 88 years last season also brought manager Ozzie Guillen more responsibility. — Back in spring training, general manager Ken Williams handed the future decisions of the coaching staff to Guillen …
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Cincinnati Post:
To trade or not to trade — Dunn, that is — Adam Dunn arrived in Cincinnati on a meteor. At the age of 21, he had started the 2001 season in Chattanooga and burned a hole in the Southern League, shot over to Louisville and rocked the International League - between the two, he batted .334 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors