Top News:
Marcus Hayes / Philly.com:
Soriano targeted; Pat's pact edible? — LIKE EVERYONE else in the Phillies family, president David Montgomery gnashes his teeth when he thinks of the St. Louis Cardinals hoisting the Commissioner's Trophy. — Maybe signing Alfonso Soriano, who filed for free agency yesterday …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Howard will be a huge draw in Tokyo — Phillies first baseman hopes to stage power display — PHOENIX — Ryan Howard is already more popular than the cheesesteaks and the hoagies in Philly. And on a national level, he has ascended to must-watch status as rapidly as possible …
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Valentin, Tucker file for free agency — Seven Mets have declared since process began Saturday — NEW YORK — Two more Mets, Jose Valentin and Michael Tucker, filed for free agency Sunday, the second day of the 15-day filing period, increasing to seven the number of Mets who have availed themselves to the process.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers set to talk to final candidates — The Rangers have scheduled face-to-face interviews with their final two managerial candidates: Nippon Ham Fighters (Japan) manager Trey Hillman on Tuesday and Rangers bench coach Don Wakamatsu on Wednesday. — There had been some uncertainty …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Hillman, Rangers to sit down Tuesday — Manager of Japanese champion plans to meet with two other teams — The Rangers will get a chance to sit down face-to-face with candidate Trey Hillman this week. — But they won't be the only ones. — Hillman, who finished managing Hokkaido Nippon Ham …
Todd C. Frankel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
500,000 honor the champs — It sounded like one long stadium curtain call. It looked like a horizonless sea of Cardinal red, as if every available Redbird shirt and hat had been pressed into service. — No more games to be played. But the 2006 season for the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals …
Discussion:
Deadspin
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Great ending tainted by mediocre build-up
Great ending tainted by mediocre build-up
Discussion:
Keep Your Sox On In Brooklyn
Jack Magruder / East Valley Tribune:
S.F., Texas show interest in Gonzo — Luis Gonzalez took over left field from Brent Brede after being acquired by the Diamondbacks in 1999. Is Barry Bonds next? — Gonzalez was a free agent for only hours Saturday before San Francisco and Texas came calling, major league sources confirmed Sunday …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Bochy meets with touring All-Stars — Giants skipper puts on San Francisco uniform for first time — PHOENIX — When was the last time a Major League manager put on his new uniform for the first time in front of an All-Star team? Perhaps never, and that describes what a whirlwind week …
Discussion:
Philliesflow
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Chris Constancio / Hardball Times:
Ten Notable Arizona Fall League Performances — Today, I will break down five oustanding performances and five disappointing performances by top prospects in the Arizona Fall League. It's difficult to generate any meaningful conclusions about a player's development only three weeks after opening day …
Murray Chass / New York Times:
World Series Leaves Lessons to Consider — What we learned from the World Series: Pitchers can throw a baseball 60 feet 6 inches with great precision, but add a few feet, and they're recklessly inaccurate. — Four times Detroit pitchers failed to throw to first and third bases accurately …
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Win at all costs? — Teams seeking upgrades will pay a hefty price — Baseball free agency is upon us, and as always, the players have a message for the owners. It's a familiar one, roughly equivalent to the holiday notion that it is better to give than receive.
Mike Petraglia / MLB.com:
Nixon, Kapler file for free agency — Pair of gritty, oft-injured outfielders join Mirabelli on market — BOSTON — After making a Boston career of tough, gritty play in the outfield, Trot Nixon filed for free agency Sunday. — Nixon, along with teammate Gabe Kapler …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Sox need 'tweaking' to win — 'Tweaking' Sox means beefing up bullpen, top and bottom of order — It's time to find out what "a little bit of tweaking" means to the White Sox. — Less than a month after general manager Ken Williams outlined his off-season mission with that comment …
Discussion:
Purple Row