Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Reyes ignites New York with leadoff homer … NEW YORK — It shouldn't be possible for one October swing of the bat to change a game, change the course of postseason events, change the fate of so many lives. — It shouldn't be possible. But it happens. Ask Kirk Gibson. Ask Scott Podsednik.
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Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
Spring Throw-In Blossoms Into a Bona Fide Starter in Fall — John Maine's support group held another meeting at Shea Stadium yesterday, featuring pep talks, massages and standing ovations. — Maine was greeted at the mound by Paul Lo Duca, Carlos Delgado and the pitching coach Rick Peterson, ready with their inspirational words.
NY Daily News:
Perez is last man standing — Oliver gets Willie's call — Oliver Perez will be starting tonight for the Mets on three days' rest. That isn't a problem, he says, and he's probably right. The big gulp in this Game 7 - winner goes to Detroit, loser goes 'Oh, no' - is that Oliver Perez is starting tonight.
Discussion:
Sports Scope
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 …
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Call to Perez the playoffs' worst-case scenario — NEW YORK — Willie Randolph made the announcement after the game: "Oliver Perez is pitching, and because I like him." — Thus it becomes official: Perez, whose 3-13 record and 6.55 ERA makes him statistically the worst pitcher ever to draw …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Johnette Howard / Newsday:
Reyes starts things with a bang — This could've gone down as the night Shea went dark for the winter. Once again it was no time for the Mets to worry about who's not hitting or who's injured or how many of the kid stars they were counting on had ever experienced the postseason until this month.
Discussion:
Always Amazin'
David Lennon / Newsday:
Good, but can be better — Minaya's happy with direction, but believes there's still work ahead — With the Mets facing the possibility of elimination in last night's Game 6, general manager Omar Minaya was asked about some of the issues his team will be facing this offseason.
Discussion:
the metropolitans
Bernie Miklasz / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:Redbirds learn about mean streets of New York
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun Times:
Lou next to step up to the fate — It's a familiar line, but Cubs say Piniella is 'all about winning' — Except for the ivy and Wrigley Field, the past is over for the Cubs in the eyes of the team's new guiding hands. — The message from general manager Jim Hendry and new manager Lou Piniella …
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Chicago Tribune:
1. "The Cubs have a lot of talent." — Not only is this wrong, it is the substance you find on a matador's shoes. Every team has some talent. You can't become a major-leaguer without having some talent. Tampa Bay had several players of above-average talent.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:Rothschild takes blame for poor results
Discussion:
The View From The Bleachers
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Agent: Matthews will explore his options — Center fielder expected to be hot commodity on free agent market — If the Rangers want to re-sign center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., they will have to get in the line. — It is expected to be a long line. — Matthews' representative …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers to meet with second candidate — The Rangers are moving on to No. 2 of five planned interviews for their managerial opening, as John Russell is scheduled to interview today. — Russell, 45, managed the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple A affiliate, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, this season.
Dallas Morning News:
Deal with it: Matthews a big catch — Price may be high, but keeping center fielder with Rangers a must — Jon Daniels has been in this business long enough to realize the price for free agents never goes down. — Ever. — So finalizing a deal with Gary Matthews Jr. should be at the top …
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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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.
Josh Suchon / Contra Costa Times:
Busy offseason doesn't appear in store for A's — Other than replacing Zito, handling players' contracts is primary focus — OAKLAND - Even with the search for a new manager, comparatively speaking, this shouldn't be a super busy offseason for the A's. It's not like they're trading away …
