Top News:
Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:
Gritty little Eckstein comes up big for Cards — ST. LOUIS — Forget catching a Tiger by the tail. How about catching a David Eckstein by the tail? — That has been one of the most difficult tasks for opponents for years, and it was never in evidence like it was in Game 4 of the World Series.
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Cardinals shortstop leading the charge … ST. LOUIS — David Eckstein is so small, frail and innocent-looking, Madonna might try to adopt him any day now. — Then you see him gritting his teeth through the aches and pains, fouling off tough pitches and laying out for balls in the hole …
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Bochy takes job as Giants manager — Padres assembling list of candidates — Manager Bruce Bochy and the San Francisco Giants agreed last night on a three-year contract, leaving the Padres without a manager for the first time since 1994. — Bochy, the Padres' all-time leader in wins …
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Metstradamus / The Musings and Prophecies …:
Divine Plan? — Are you there, God? It's me, Metstradamus. — Twenty years ago tonight, the Mets won their last World Series championship thanks in part to Mets icon Mookie Wilson and his ground ball though the legs of Bill Buckner. — Twenty years to the day later …
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Associated Press:
Opening the Flood-gates — Just like in '68 Series, a slip in the outfield proves big — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Curt Flood and Curtis Granderson will be forever linked for their World Series flops on the outfield grass in St. Louis. — In 1968, Flood took a tumble at old Busch Stadium …
Discussion:
Sports Scope
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Mike Berardino / Sun-Sentinel:
Cards no sure thing with 3-1 lead in Series
Cards no sure thing with 3-1 lead in Series
Discussion:
AOL Sports World Series Blog
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Yanks waiting on Sheffield decision — The Yankees have not yet officially picked up Gary Sheffield's $13 million 2007 option, although they "probably will" in due time, a person familiar with the situation told Newsday. — Multiple reports this morning, stemming from a story …
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
FACE IT, YOU JUST CAN'T KEEP SHEFF SATISFIED — All you need to know about Gary Sheffield is that he was furious in spring training that the Yankees would not pick up his 2007 option and now he is furious that they are planning to pick up the $13 million option.
MLB.com:
Cubs add three to Major League coaching staff — The Chicago Cubs today announced that the club has added Mike Quade as third base coach, Matt Sinatro as first base coach and Lester Strode as bullpen coach. — Quade, 49, will also serve as the club's outfield and base running instructor.
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
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Mark Hale / New York Post:
SOURCE: METS NOT GUNNING FOR BIG 3 — Two big names - Barry Zito and Alfonso Soriano - will be free agents this fall, and a third big name, Manny Ramirez, could available in a trade. But right now, according to a source familiar with the situation, the Mets are not interested in pursuing any of them.
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Uribe said to be in the clear soon in homeland shooting — Sources close to Juan Uribe said Thursday that the White Sox shortstop is expected to be cleared by the end of the weekend in a shooting investigation. — Uribe has maintained his innocence since he first was named in the shooting …
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
PETTITTE MIGHT BE AN OPTION — Scott Boras recently made the case for having veteran, top-notch, left-handed starting pitching to thrive in the postseason, and noted the New York teams, the Yanks particularly, could use such a creature. — His angle was clear.
Discussion:
Replacement Level …
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Newsday:
Donnie next to Joe — Both as bench coach in '07 and top candidate to be Torre's successor — Guessing Joe Torre's successor has long been a parlor game for Yankees fans. But never in Torre's 11 years as Yankees manager has a plan for succession seemed as clear as it does now.
John Brattain / Hardball Times:
Credit Where It's Due — Black is white, up is down, cats chase dogs, boy bands play instruments, David Samson and I are going out for a beer, Paris Hilton is judged on merit and Britney Spears on her music. — Why not? I'm about to do the unthinkable (doubtless my editors are thinking …
Jonathan Mayo / Minor League Baseball:
Devil Rays lose bright prospect — Canoe accident claims life of Minor Leaguer Erik Walker — The days of searching and dwindling hopes finally came to an end on Thursday morning, when Devil Ray Erik Walker's body was found. He was 23 years old. — Walker, who just turned 23 on Oct. 15 …
Rocky Mountain News:
Ringolsby: Selig properly followed his basic instinct — ST. LOUIS - Back in the days when George Steinbrenner made it a part of every October to fire his manager - and, of course, steal headlines from the World Series - Major League Baseball instituted a rule that no major announcements could be made during the Series.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Plan aims to tame wild cards — St. Louis - When the general managers meet in Naples, Fla., in two weeks, there will be a lively discussion about taming the wild card. — Commissioner Bud Selig has broached the idea of making it more difficult for wild cards to win the World Series.
Discussion:
Purple Row