Top News:
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Maine pushes NLCS to the limit — Rookie throws 5 1/3 scoreless innings to force decisive Game 7 — NEW YORK — For Mets fans, there is nothing quite so romantic as a Game 6 in October. — That flame that reached so many hearts in 1986 with a double dose of Game 6 magic was ignited again …
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Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
NY Mets 4, St. Louis 2 — Tony La Russa: Game 7 will be memorable — Willie Randolph: We'll give it everything we've got — Mets' Game 6 stars: Maine, Reyes & Lo Duca — NEW YORK (AP) — Even before Game 6, the New York Mets were briefed on travel plans to Detroit for the World Series opener.
Associated Press:
History on Tigers' side as wait for Series foe rolls on — NEW YORK — As if the Detroit Tigers don't have enough going for them, consider this: The last six teams that started the World Series with five or more days of rest all went on to win. — While the Tigers took an NFL-like week off …
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Living on High Wire to Stay Alive — Baseball is such a wonderfully unpredictable game. I tell you the Mets' chances of staying alive in their league playoff series against St. Louis depend on their rookie pitcher, John Maine, and you say no way, no chance.
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
A-ROD RUMOR MILL IS JUST GETTING STARTED — This is where the Cubs re-enter the discussion. It is near impossible to see realistically how Chicago can blow the Yanks away. The ESPN report indicated a deal for Rodriguez could include Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Which would be one neat trick.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats' List of Managerial Candidates Appears to Be Growing — The Washington Nationals' search for a manager is likely to continue into November because there are still potential managers involved in the playoffs with whom the team would like to speak, according to sources with knowledge of the search.
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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."
USA Today:
Granderson in demand by family, Tigers fans — DETROIT — Detroit Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson, walking downtown for lunch, can't take more than three full strides before his cellphone starts vibrating again. — He shuts it off, cringing at the volume of messages that'll be waiting.
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 …
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Notes: Miller on the mound? — Detail-oriented Wednesday workout; Casey, Zumaya improve — DETROIT — The last time Andrew Miller was in the Tigers clubhouse, he was finishing out his first taste of the Major Leagues a few months after being drafted. His fate on the postseason roster …
Sports Illustrated:
Not Easy Being Green — It's been a tough series for Shawn Green. He hasn't done much at the plate, producing only one extra-base hit and one RBI in five games. Last night, he failed to come through with a clutch hit with runners on second and third base in a 4-2 game in the eighth inning.
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Notes: Red Sox mum on '07 plans — Team keeping quiet about what it plans to do to fill holes — BOSTON — Perhaps, as ace Curt Schilling predicted a month ago, the Red Sox will open the vault this winter and pay less attention to payroll and the collective bargaining tax.
Discussion:
Fenway Fables
USA Today:
Tigers closer Jones unique with pitches, personality — DETROIT — Todd Jones isn't a typical closer. He has no knockout pitch and his 28 strikeouts are second fewest for closers with 30-plus saves in almost four decades. — Instead of blaring heavy metal or rap, Comerica Park plays Last One Standing …
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Q&A with Marlins' Fredi Gonzalez — New Florida manager discusses becoming the skipper … MLB.com: Since you got the job, have you received a lot of calls from people you haven't heard from in a while? — F.G.: I've had a lot of great phone calls. A lot of baseball people have called and congratulated me.
Discussion:
FishStripes