Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
With this title, La Russa changes his legacy — ST. LOUIS - It's about the players. It's always about the players, except when it's about the manager, too. — The Cardinals' Tony La Russa, who is as controversial as he is successful, rarely avoids scrutiny. But this time, he is the focus for all the right reasons.
Discussion:
6-4-2
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Overdue hardware for Cards — We wrapped up 2004 just a few steps from here, at the old Busch Stadium, and talk about history. — Down went the Curse of the Bambino. Some four generations of Red Sox fans, victorious after 86 years, exhaled. — Last year, amazingly, we managed to top that …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Cardinals Paint Crown Red — The fans here are patient. They are adoring and savvy and upbeat, too, but mostly patient. They waited nearly a quarter-century for Friday night, through steamy summers and frustrating autumns. They waited until a wind-whipped, frigid night in the heartland …
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Action Wasn't Always on Camera — Watching Fox Sports cover the World Series, I sometimes wanted to say, "Just show me the field, the whole field and nothing but the field." — That's where the action is. That's why I tuned in. — Fox didn't ignore the field but it was too often distracted by …
Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
Sheff suitors just tune out Sheff — ST. LOUIS - Gary Sheffield's harsh comments about a potential trade apparently haven't dissuaded teams from inquiring about the Yankees slugger. The Astros and Indians, according to sources, recently have made it known they would be interested …
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Associated Press:
Agent says Bonds will file for free agency quickly — SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds plans to file for free agency the first day he can, and no negotiations have taken place with the Giants about keeping the slugger in San Francisco. — With the St. Louis Cardinals winning the World Series on Friday …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Ex-Giants trainer goes to Dodgers — With no relation to BALCO's Conte and strong ties to Colletti, he takes over team's medical programs. — Stan Conte, who resigned less than two weeks ago as the San Francisco Giants' trainer, was hired by the Dodgers on Friday in an expanded position …
Nate Silver / Baseball Prospectus:
World Series Prospectus — Game Five — Statistical analysts like my colleagues at Baseball Prospectus tend to downplay the nature of streakiness in baseball. A 95-win team on Tuesday is a 95-win team on Wednesday, and a .300 hitter today is a .300 hitter tomorrow. Sure, any result is possible in a short series.
Discussion:
Mack Avenue Tigers
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Mike Freeman / CBS SportsLine.com:One of these teams doesn't belong here — that'd be you, Tigers
Discussion:
Cutoff Man
Fred Goodall / Associated Press:
Former major league pitcher Joe Niekro dead at 61 — TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Former major league pitcher Joe Niekro, Houston's career victory leader, died Friday, Astros president Tal Smith said. He was 61. — The two-time 20-game winner suffered a brain aneurysm Thursday and was taken …
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Joe Niekro passes away at 61 — Brother of Hall of Famer Phil won 221 games in 22 seasons — Joe Niekro recognized the pitch as soon as it left his brother's hand. After all, it was the pitch that their dad taught them when they were just kids growing up together in Ohio.
Mark Herrmann / Newsday:
Mookie's at home in sea of red — ST. LOUIS — That was a very familiar figure in the Cardinals' dugout before Game 4 in some very unfamiliar gear. Mookie Wilson was wearing a Cardinals sweatshirt and ski cap, nearly 20 years to the day since he established himself as a Met forever.
Discussion:
The Eddie Kranepool Society
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Jim Street / Minor League Baseball:
Pitchers rule day in Rising Stars Showcase — Heavy-hitting AFL quieted by some of game's top pitching prospects — SURPRISE, Ariz. — All it takes is a short memory to recall the days when the Arizona Fall League was considered a hitters' haven. — Last season comes to mind.
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Ray Sánchez / Newsday:
Cano wants to play — Robinson Cano caught Game 4 of the World Series on television the other night, but he wasn't exactly fascinated. — "I'm not interested," he said Friday. "I'd rather spend time with my family than watch the games. We should be playing in the World Series right now."
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Sox wait for Crede's surgery decision — Front office hopes for decision on his back surgery soon — Ken Williams spent most of October finalizing budgets for 2007. Now the White Sox general manager and his staff are awaiting word on whether standout third baseman Joe Crede will undergo back surgery.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Who's next in '07? Maybe the Mets — Mets would be eighth different Series champion in eight years — Seven new, different World Series champions in a dizzying, dazzling row. — That's what the bold, new century has brought us, starting with the dynastic New York Yankees …
Denver Post:
Give Eckstein credit where credit's due — St. Louis - David Eckstein is great for the Cardinals, but bad for baseball. — Because of Eckstein, too many teams believe every player like him - read "undersized" - will be the exception to the rule. — The Rockies felt that way about Aaron Miles …
