Top News:
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Rain prompts postponement of Game 4 — Forecasts predicting more precipitation for Thursday's makeup — ST. LOUIS — Game 4 of the World Series at Busch Stadium was rained out Wednesday, pushing the next two games of the Series back at least a day. — But chances of getting in Games 4 and 5 any time soon aren't good.
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Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Game 4 of World Series postponed by rain — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Pitchers dominated the first three games of the World Series and the rain took over. — Game 4 was postponed Wednesday night because of rain and will be made up Thursday at 8:27 p.m. EDT, potentially sending the World Series into scheduling chaos.
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball
Joe Lapointe / New York Times:
Cardinals' Suppan Pitching and Politicking — Jeff Suppan is scheduled to pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the World Series tonight at Busch Stadium. But his time on the mound will not be his only appearance on baseball fans' television screens.
Discussion:
Sports Scope
Associated Press:
Rain delays start of Game 4 of Series — ST. LOUIS (AP) - Rain, rain go away. — In a postseason that has already seen its share of foul weather, rain has delayed the start of Game 4 of the World Series in St. Louis, where the Cardinals host the Detroit Tigers. — Officials are hopeful that the game will be played tonight.
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Jeter: No need to clear air with A-Rod — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Derek Jeter expects Alex Rodriguez to remain with the Yankees next season, saying there was no need to discuss A-Rod's dismal performance during New York's first-round loss to the Detroit Tigers. — Back from his first European vacation …
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Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Jeter adds Aaron Award to honors — Shortstop becomes first Yankee to earn annual accolade — NEW YORK — The Hank Aaron Award is named after baseball's all-time home run king, but this year's American League recipient took a different approach during his spectacular season.
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Howard garners NL Hank Aaron Award — Phillies slugger honored as league's best offensive player — PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard's smooth left-handed power stroke drew favorable comparisons to Willie Stargell this season. — Howard can now be mentioned in the same sentence with another Hall of Famer, Hank Aaron.
Discussion:
The700Level.com
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Howard, Jeter win Hank Aaron Award — Players honored for their big offensive contributions of 2006 — ST. LOUIS — Ryan Howard of the Phillies and Derek Jeter of the Yankees were honored with the Hank Aaron Award presented by CENTURY 21 in a ceremony before Wednesday's Game 4 of the World Series …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Tigers could figure in bidding for Matsuzaka — ST. LOUIS - Imagine a future Tigers' rotation headed by right-hander Justin Verlander, 23, and Japanese right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, 26. — It's not as improbable as you might think. — The Tigers are intrigued by Matsuzaka …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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NY Daily News:
Bombers planning to pick up & ship out Sheff — ST. LOUIS - The biggest buzz among the few general managers attending the World Series is the silent auction the Yankees have apparently already begun for Gary Sheffield. It turns out that Yankee GM Brian Cashman had always intended to pick …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Beerleaguer, Pride of the Yankees, Lone Star Ball, Can't Stop The Bleeding and YanksBlog.com
USA Today:
Notes: Sheffield upset — New York Yankees slugger Gary Sheffield, informed Wednesday that the Yankees will pick up his $13 million option in 2007, was angry by the decision, hoping instead the Yankees would let him go. — ""This will not work, this will not work at all," Sheffield told USA TODAY. "
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Girardi headed for television — Joe Girardi will not be a part of the Yankees' 2007 coaching staff, but he still could end up at Yankee Stadium in a different capacity next year. — Girardi, recently fired after a year as Marlins manager, chose to stay off the field next year to be a broadcaster, .perhaps for the YES Network.
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Jack Curry / New York Times:Girardi Doesn't Want to Uproot His Family to Be a Manager Again
Discussion:
NY Daily News
Baseball America:
New Agreement Includes Draft, Rule 5 Changes — ST. LOUIS — Overshadowed by more wide-ranging issues and the sheer euphoria of an agreement between Major League Baseball and the Players Association being reached with no rancor or threats of a work stoppage, the structure …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, 6-4-2, the metropolitans, Pending Pinstripes, Metsquire and The Cub Reporter
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Amy K. Nelson / ESPN:
Zumaya brain-locks in key spot … ST. LOUIS — The soul of the song makes "Voodoo Child" one of Joel Zumaya's favorites. Each time the Tigers right-handed rookie charges out of the bullpen, the Jimi Hendrix tune whistles through the speakers. — But that's at home. In Detroit.
Discussion:
Sweaty Men Endeavors
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Gene Wojciechowski / ESPN:Everyone's underdog is now everyone's favorite
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo! Sports, CardNilly, Fungoes, Fox Sports and Cutoff Man
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Bochy meets with Giants GM for chat — Candidates for manager include Angels' Black — As expected, Padres manager Bruce Bochy, one of four candidates for the San Francisco managerial job, recently chatted with the Giants. According to multiple sources, Bochy and Giants General Manager Brian Sabean met in the Bay Area.
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Gordon Wittenmyer / TwinCities.com:
Liriano quits rehab — Injured Twins pitcher 'doesn't feel right,' Ryan says — ST. LOUIS — Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano, the injured left-hander the team hopes will be a major part of next year's starting rotation, quit his rehabilitation program over the weekend …
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Marc Normandin / Baseball Prospectus:
Player Profile — Carlos Guillen — Thanks to a 2006 season that has seen Detroit reach the World Series for the first time since 1984, Carlos Guillen has finally received a little bit of the press he's more than earned over the course of his career with the Tigers.
Joe Lapointe / New York Times:
Controversy Is in the Palm of His Hand — In his radio broadcast Monday on the Detroit station WJR, the Detroit Free Press sports columnist Mitch Albom made light of suggestions that Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers had a strange, dark substance on his hand early in Game 2 of the World Series.
Billfer / The Detroit Tiger Weblog:
World Series Game 3: Aftermath — It's not so much the loss that is troubling. I actually expected Detroit to lose this game just based on the pitching match-up. It's that once again they looked so incredibly bad in losing. — Here's the list of Tiger highlights:
