Top News:
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
The World Series? Are You Serious? — NEW YORK Stand up and salute the St. Louis Cardinals. Mere cheers aren't enough to celebrate the worst team ever to reach the World Series. After all, doesn't the least amount of talent, most injuries and largest adversity surmounted imply biggest heart?
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Molina's heroics give Cardinals an unlikely pennant … NEW YORK — It was Game 7 Night in the third week of October. So this was how it was supposed to work. — If Jeff Suppan could be a modern-day Bob Gibson, why couldn't Oliver Perez pitch like Sandy Koufax for one electrifying Game 7 evening?
ESPN:
IT'S GAME 7 OF THE NLCS ... RIGHT NOW ON FOX! — I have few rules in life, but this is one of them: Any time the worst Game 7 in the history of baseball is being played, I'm keeping a running diary. Here's what transpired: — 5:00 p.m. (PT) — My buddy Gus (a die-hard Mets fan) calls just to say, "I'm a nervous wreck."
Discussion:
AwfulAnnouncing
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Are Called Out; Cards Head to World Series — Yadier Molina singling in the second inning. He hit a game-winning two-run homer in the ninth to send the Cardinals to the World Series. More Photos > — The Mets' glorious swath through the National League ended abruptly last night …
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Diary of a Mad White Guy — 6:56 p.m. CDT: I'm finally sitting down to get ready for this. If Chicago traffic is any measurement of game interest, nobody here is going to watch this game. I really have no idea where they are all going, as they are going to miss our first Game Seven of the postseason …
Murray Chass / New York Times:
It Was Offense, Not Pitching, That Cost Mets in the End — If the Mets had hitting versions of pitchers Oliver Pérez and John Maine, they would probably be in the World Series against the Detroit Tigers tomorrow. — As much as injuries had decimated the Mets' corps of starting pitchers …
NY Daily News:
Great game is lousy TV — Fans caught looking as Fox saps drama — Until last night, the postseason had not presented the kind of story lines that make for scintillating television. Then a solid gold classic dropped in Fox's lap. — Unfortunately, the telecast did not exactly match …
Discussion:
Always Amazin'
NY Daily News:
HR makes fall guy of Heilman — Loss is blast from Octobers past — He had been there a long time now, a big guy out of Notre Dame who had thrown the pitch that Yadier Molina hit over the left-field wall to give the Cardinals enough runs to go to the World Series, thrown the pitch …
Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
Cerrone's job is Yanked — Bombers ax longtime VP — The Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs 13 days ago and while several substantial events have taken place since then (notably Joe Torre's employment status being clarified and the tragic death of Cory Lidle) …
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Fox Sports:
New baseball labor deal could come soon — Major League Baseball and its players' union are close to reaching an agreement on a new labor contract. A deal could come as soon as this weekend, according to a report in The New York Times. — The Big Apple newspaper published the report citing …
Discussion:
Tribe Report
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Baseball America:
Supernatural: Santana Proves Unittable — MINNEAPOLIS—Johan Santana was so good this season he was telling opponents what was coming—and they still couldn't hit him. — Before the Twins played the Cubs on June 23, Santana chatted with former Twins teammates Henry Blanco and Jacque Jones …
Discussion:
Philliesflow
Rob Neyer / ESPN:
Mets going with worst Game 7 starter ever … Oliver Perez, huh? — One can hardly blame Willie Randolph. If he didn't pitch Oliver Perez, he'd have to pitch Darren Oliver, who hasn't started a game in more than two years. If he didn't pitch Darren Oliver, he'd have to pitch Steve Trachsel …
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Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Postseason Insider, Oct. 20 — NEW YORK - Texas owner Thomas Hicks might be advised to take a step back from operation of the team. Without his tinkering, one can only wonder what might have been for the franchise. — He was the guy who orchestrated the major overpayment to lure Alex Rodriguez.
Discussion:
SportsJustice
Andrew Baggarly / Contra Costa Times:
Black one of four Giants finalists — GM Sabean interviews Angels pitching coach for team's managerial post — The Giants appear to have settled on the central candidates to replace manager Felipe Alou, and there are some common threads between the four men. They have major-league bench experience.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
John Brattain / Hardball Times:
Oh My God He Killed Kenny — Every so often I see red. — I saw red today. Sadly, it was from a writer I ordinarily enjoy. — Here's the offense, from Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci: … Granted, Kenny Lofton's post season performance leaves much to be desired.
Jeff Albert / Baseball Analysts:
Zoomlander: Starting, Relieving and Throwing Hard — When it comes to general sports, I am a fan of watching people perform at the highest levels. This means, for example, that I got into it last week watching a women's college volleyball match because one player from Hawai'i …
Discussion:
The Detroit Tiger Weblog
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Williams concerned about Uribe's safety — White Sox GM seeks assistance from MLB — While Juan Uribe maintains he's a potential extortion victim, White Sox general manager Ken Williams is seeking measures to ensure his shortstop's safety. — Williams said Wednesday he suggested to Kevin Hallinan …
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