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.
Brooklyn Met Fan:
USS Maine Impenetrable & Leads Mets to Game 7!!! — Johnny Maine bent but he flat out refused to break in the biggest game of his life! Johnny M shut the Cardinals out into the 6th limiting them to merely 2 hits. The kid faced his biggest test immediately as he found himself in a top off the first bases loaded jam.
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'
Bernie Miklasz / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:Redbirds learn about mean streets of New York
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
ABC 7 Eyewitness News:
Neyer: Oliver Perez is the worst Game 7 starter ever — After reviewing the data, Rob Neyer came to this inescapable conclusion: Oliver Perez is almost certainly the worst pitcher who's ever started a Game 7. — Oliver Perez, huh? — One can hardly blame Willie Randolph.
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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
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:
The Wayne Fontes Experience
David Lennon / Newsday:Good, but can be better — Minaya's happy with direction …
Discussion:
the metropolitans
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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Sports Illustrated:Sweet science — Turning around Cubs will be tall order for Piniella
Discussion:
Philliesflow
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 …
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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.
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
LCS is no stranger to Game 7s — Mets and Cardinals take to Shea with NL pennant on line — NEW YORK — All things considered, the Tigers are perfectly happy to be in the World Series by virtue of a four-game sweep of the A's in the American League Championship Series.
Discussion:
Sports Scope
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Ben Walker / Associated Press:
Poll: Half of baseball fans hope Bonds falls short of Aaron's record — Half of baseball fans are rooting against Barry Bonds in his bid to break Hank Aaron's career home run record. That said, it's getting tough to find anyone rooting for the sport at all these days.
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ESPN:
Aaron doesn't plan to be there if Bonds hits No. 755 — Don't expect Hank Aaron to be in the stands if Barry Bonds matches his record 755 home runs. — "First, I don't like to fly," Aaron told the Oakland Tribune this week. "And if I come, there's going to be some controversy.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
MLB.com:
Major League Baseball extends Pepsi partnership and welcomes Frito-Lay as "Official Snack Chip" — Agreements with Major League Baseball Properties and MLB Advanced Media through 2010 — Major League Baseball Properties (MLBP), Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) …
