Top News:
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 …
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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?
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 …
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:Playoff Prospectus — Diary of a Mad White Guy
Discussion:
Hardball Times
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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Newsday:
Wallace Matthews — Two teams not good enough — He went from Grady Little to Gil Hodges in the time it took for the ball to travel from Scott Rolen's bat to Endy Chavez's glove. — That is the way things went for Willie Randolph last night. The Mets manager guessed absolutely wrong …
Discussion:
the metropolitans
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
For McCarver and Buck, More Chatter — If you're a public person long enough in sports or politics, someone will dislike you and may start a Web site to advance that belief. Tim McCarver is the star of at least two sites that make clear their feeling for him.
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Notes: Giambi has wrist surgery — Unit, Phillips also prepare for medical procedures — NEW YORK — Jason Giambi underwent surgery on Thursday to repair a torn tendon in his left wrist, and the Yankees are optimistic that the first baseman will be fully recovered by the start of Spring Training.
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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
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.
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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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
Murray Chass / New York Times:
New Labor Contract May Be Ready This Weekend — Negotiators for Major League Baseball and the players union, who have been meeting daily, are closing in on an agreement on a new labor contract and hope to have it finished by this weekend, a person with knowledge of the talks said yesterday.
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
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Cerrone out as Yankees p.r. director — Rick Cerrone, easily the longest-tenured Yankees public relations director ever employed by George Steinbrenner, Thursday was told his expiring contract will not be renewed. — Steinbrenner used to go through p.r. directors as often as managers, using 12 in his first 22 years.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Recovering Johnson staying positive — First baseman determined to be ready for Spring Training — NEW YORK — It's late Tuesday afternoon in Northern California, and one would never know by speaking to Nick Johnson on the telephone that he is recovering from a broken right leg.
