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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NY Daily News:
Seven sets up a Shea heyday — One for ages, thanks to kid on the mound — The Mets get Game 7 tonight, only the second old Shea has ever seen. There is a game at old Shea against the Cardinals tonight because in one of the most important games the Mets have ever played, a kid named John Maine …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Beat Cards to Set the Stage for a Game 7 — Mets postseason lore is thick with unforgettable performances and signature moments. Most are of the individual variety — think of Tommie Agee, Ron Swoboda, Mookie Wilson — that propelled them to the ultimate team goal of a world championship.
Discussion:
Metsquire
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 …
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.
Bernie Miklasz / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:Redbirds learn about mean streets of New York
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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
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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.
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'
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Mets entrust Perez with Game 7 start — Hurler receives unlikely nod after season as underdog — NEW YORK — Call it the most unlikely scenario of the year for the Mets: Oliver Perez was tabbed by manager Willie Randolph to pitch the climactic Game 7 of the National League Championship Series …
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.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Rothschild takes blame for poor results — But sees better days ahead in return as Cubs pitching coach — The hiring of manager Lou Piniella on Tuesday overshadowed Larry Rothschild's return to the Cubs for two more seasons. — But as Piniella pointed out repeatedly …
Sports Illustrated:Sweet science — Turning around Cubs will be tall order for Piniella
Discussion:
Philliesflow
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:'There are no curses' — Piniella confident he'll succeed where most have failed
Discussion:
MLB.com
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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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 …
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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 …
Scott / CardNilly:
NLCS Preview: Game 6 — Big Macs trump Endy shirts. — I went to the same McDonald's, got the same thing, and even sat in the same place. You don't question the mojo — you just go with it. Seemed to work. — Interestingly, this particular McD's location was all out of Big Mac boxes …
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 …
