Top News:
Jack Curry / New York Times:
In Perry's Book, a Brown Smudge Is Not a Black Mark — Gaylord Perry, that master of doctoring a baseball who was just as much a master of making batters think he was doctoring it, has no doubt about what Kenny Rogers smeared across the palm of his left hand in the World Series.
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Associated Press:
La Russa on Rogers: 'I don't believe it was dirt' — ST. LOUIS — Tony La Russa kept talking about Kenny Rogers, his words from the interview room booming all around Busch Stadium, courtesy of the PA system. One by one, the Detroit Tigers stopped their workout to listen.
Joe Hamrahi / Baseball Digest Daily Blog:Did Kenny Rogers Cheat? Umpire Coordinator Steve Palermo Fields Questions
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6-4-2
MLB.com:
Cubs name Alan Trammell bench coach — The Chicago Cubs today announced that six-time American League All-Star shortstop Alan Trammell has agreed to a two-year deal to be the Cubs bench coach and infield instructor. — Trammell, 48, spent his 20-year Major League career with the Detroit Tigers …
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs name Trammell bench coach — Former Major League All-Star will be Piniella's right-hand man — CHICAGO — Former Tigers manager and six-time American League All-Star shortstop Alan Trammell was named on Monday as the bench coach and infield instructor for new Cubs manager Lou Piniella.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Four Mets undergo successful surgeries — Floyd, Hernandez set to be operated on Wednesday — NEW YORK — They turned into the Met-icals on Monday. Four days after their elimination from the postseason, the Mets began offseason repairs. — Four players underwent surgery …
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The Eddie Kranepool Society
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Sports Illustrated:
Rogers better at Comerica, but is the success legit? — DETROIT — The conspiracy theory is as follows. Kenny Rogers is scuffing his pitches. But he only bothers to do so when he pitches at Comerica Park. That's why Jim Leyland has engineered his rotation throughout the postseason to ensure that Rogers pitches at home.
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Nate Silver / Baseball Prospectus:
World Series Prospectus — Game Two — The conspiracy theory is as follows: Kenny Rogers is scuffing his pitches, but he only bothers to do so when he pitches at Comerica Park. That's why Jim Leyland has engineered his rotation throughout the postseason to ensure that Rogers pitches at home.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Monday Morning Ten Pack 10/23/06 — 1B Mike Carp, North Shore Honu (Hawaii Winter League, Mets) — Carp had a very good year in the High-A Florida State League, batting .287/.379/.450 for St. Lucie. Not eye-popping numbers, but after considering the league, scout appreciation for his size …
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ESPN:
Philies sign lefty Moyer, 43, to two-year extension — Jamie Moyer will be 44 when the 2007 season starts, but the Phillies are banking that he has two more strong seasons remaining in his left arm. — Philadelphia signed Moyer to a two-year, $10.5 million extension Monday.
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Top Candidate Withdraws — Citing Family, Girardi Won't Seek Nats' Job — Former Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi, considered for weeks the favorite to become the next manager of the Washington Nationals, took his name out of consideration for the job yesterday, saying it was a decision based …
Paul Lukas / ESPN:
The cap that killed the Cardinals? — Pine tar, gum, shoe polish, "a big clump of dirt" — whatever Kenny Rogers had out there Sunday night, Uni Watch thinks everyone's looking for it in the wrong place. Instead of poring over still shots of Rogers' hand, take a look at his cap.
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
World Series ratings hit record low for opener, rebound for Game 2 — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Television ratings for the World Series hit a record low for the opener, then rebounded for Game 2. — The St. Louis Cardinals' 7-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night received …
Joseph Goldstein / New York Sun:
What's in a Name? For James Bell, It's A Baseball Lawsuit — Ballplayer James "Cool Papa" Bell received his nickname early in his career in the Negro League and carried it until his death in 1991. To this day streets in Mississippi, the state of his birth, and Missouri, the state of his death, bear the Hall of Famer's moniker.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Randolph Is Excited About the Progress the Mets Made — Healing has come in small doses for Willie Randolph. A shopping jaunt with his wife, Gretchen. An excursion to some farms in northern New Jersey. A day of watching football. — And the bottom of the fourth inning of Game 2 of the World Series.
Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Will Bucs snag Teixeira? — Beat writer Ed Eagle answers Pirates fans' questions — Is there any truth to the rumor about the Bucs getting Mark Teixeira in a trade for Paul Maholm and Mike Gonzalez? This would add a lot of offense to the team, and we'd have a good fielding first baseman as well.
Discussion:
Where have you gone …
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
World Series Notebook: Does Matsuzaka want to join Ichiro? — Yankees expected to battle Mariners for star pitcher — DETROIT — The World Series, as always, is a celebration of the two teams that outlasted the other 28 to make it into the second half of October.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Francona hospitalized with infection — Red Sox manager will be unable to manage All-Stars in Japan — BOSTON — Just three days after accepting an invitation to manage a Major League All-Star team on a tour of Japan, Red Sox manager Terry Francona had to withdraw because of an infection …
