Top News:
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Undaunted, Mets eye two wins at Shea — Players make no excuses for Game 5; remain focused — ST. LOUIS — Perhaps the Mets and their fans can find consolation in a brief history lesson. Twenty years ago this month ... sure, you know the rest. — Like those unforgettable '86 Mets of Straw and Doc …
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Newsday:
It's a no go for Trachsel — Willie puts him in pen, meaning he won't start possible Game 7 — ST. LOUIS — Not that it's any big secret at this point, but manager Willie Randolph made it official yesterday: Steve Trachsel is in the bullpen now, as Randolph said, "like everyone else."
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Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Preston is Cards' shark — Bites Mookie's old club — ST. LOUIS - The Mets spent the summer celebrating the 20th anniversary of their accomplishments in the fall of 1986. Now, thanks to Mookie Wilson's stepson, they're on the brink of elimination. — Preston Wilson's RBI double …
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Trades, free agents next on Cubs' list — Hendry must find players for Piniella — Jim Hendry hired the jockey, and you have to admire Lou Piniella's pedigree and personality, if not his judgment. — But now that Piniella has shown how desperate he was to get back into managing …
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Epstein's signature finally seals deal — Theo Epstein said it and Larry Lucchino seconded it — Epstein finally has a signed contract. — "We have an understanding that I guess was memorialized with a signature," said Epstein yesterday at a gathering at Fenway Park between print media …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Athletics coach first to interview for Rangers — Washington briefs Rangers on career filled with winning, defense — Ron Washington spent almost six hours interviewing with the Rangers hierarchy about the club's managerial opening Tuesday. — But it didn't take him nearly that long to get his message across.
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Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Latest technology enhances playoffs — New Gameday features, pitch tracking a boon to fans — ST. LOUIS — When Tom Glavine threw a pitch to Albert Pujols in the fourth inning on Tuesday night in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, it was hit over the wall in left and caused pandemonium at Busch Stadium.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
To die for? MLB fans can take team devotion to grave — PHILADELPHIA — In the heat of passion, many crazed baseball fans have said they would die for a championship. But are they willing to take that devotion to the grave? — With a new venture that will put Major League Baseball team logos …
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Notes: Reynolds ahead of the game — Rockies' first-round pick in 2006 displaying flashes of potential — DENVER — Right-handed pitcher Greg Reynolds is back in school at Stanford these days, pushing toward an economics degree, but for the past few months, he was acing the introductory section of his professional career.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Will Leitch / New York Times:
Birds of Pray — ON Oct. 3, the first day of baseball's playoffs, a columnist for The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Bob Rybarczyk, wrote that he was looking forward to the St. Louis Cardinals' impending postseason "much like a green-legged Civil War soldier watches the guy walking around with the saw."
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Tests show no elbow damage for Proctor — Right-hander had heard a clicking sound during September — NEW YORK — Scott Proctor visited a doctor in Tampa this week, concerned about a possible bone chip in his right elbow. — His fears were quelled Wednesday, as an MRI exam, X-rays and a CT scan revealed no damage to his arm.
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs prospects flourished in 2006 — Callups overshadowed successful years by other players — PHOENIX — As a whole, the Diamondbacks' Minor League system received plenty of attention in 2006, but while most of focus was on guys like Stephen Drew, Carlos Quentin, Alberto Callaspo and Justin Upton …
Greg / Faith and Fear in Flushing:
Faith in Flushing (Fear Strikes Out) — Great news! We've already done what we need to do tonight and tomorrow night 61* times in 2006. — 1. April 6 and 7. — 2. April 7 and 9. — 3. April 9 and 11. — 4. April 11 and 12. — 5. April 12 and 13. — 6. April 13 and 14.
Discussion:
Deadspin
Paul Lukas / ESPN:
Photo reveals double curse in '86 — If you want to imbue a discussion with an air of gravitas, you start by identifying the main character by his full name: George Herman Ruth. Dwight David Eisenhower. Homer Jay Simpson. — So consider the case of one William Joseph Buckner …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Eckstein goes to have tests — Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein was taken for an X-ray and a scan of his shoulder late Tuesday night before flying with the team to New York for tonight's Game 6 of the NL Championship Series. — Eckstein sprained his left shoulder while diving for a ground ball …
gather.com:
Transcript of Gather's October 'Ask the Author Live Chat' with Seth Mnookin, author of Feeding The Monster — I want to welcome Seth Mnookin to our Ask The Author series today to discuss his bestselling book Feeding The Monster, which was just released in hardcover this fall.
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
Salon:
King Kaufman's Sports Daily — Fox fires Steve Lyons for the wrong reason. Can we think of one for Thom Brennaman now? — Fox fired Steve Lyons for that? — Lyons spent 11 years uttering bad jokes and insight-free commentary on Fox's national baseball telecasts.
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Gomes' shoulder improving with rehab — Slugger optimistic as he heals from September surgery — ST. PETERSBURG — Watching Jonny Gomes play in 2006 hurt. — The right shoulder of the Devil Rays' slugger didn't feel right and everybody knew it. So you had to cringe whenever you watched him throw …
Discussion:
Roto Authority Fantasy …