Top News:
Jim Street / MLB.com:
For 12th time, Pudge honored for his 'D' — American League Gold Glove winners include seven repeats — A battery that helped power the Detroit Tigers into the American League playoffs for the first time in 19 years came equipped with a golden touch. — Left-handed starter Kenny Rogers …
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ESPN:
Dirty dozen for Pudge; sixth for Chavez, Hunter, Ichiro — Detroit Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez captured his record 12th Rawlings Gold Glove Award, highlighting the list of American League winners announced Thursday. — Rodriguez, who won for the first time since 2004 …
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Boss: Jeter good as Gold — Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter won his third consecutive Gold Glove yesterday and minutes after the award was announced, George Steinbrenner said it was only the beginning of the honors Jeter deserves for his 2006 season. — "I hope he wins the MVP," …
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Jeter wins third straight Gold Glove — Yankees shortstop receives 57th such honor in club history — NEW YORK — Derek Jeter added another piece of hardware to his trophy case on Thursday, capturing his third consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award. — "The Gold Glove Award means a great deal to me," Jeter said in a statement.
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Let the bidding for Matsuzaka begin — Japanese pitcher's negotiating rights formally posted by Lions — The clock has begun ticking on Daisuke Matsuzaka, the pitching sensation who was formally "posted" by his Japan League club on Thursday afternoon. — The Seibu Lions' move officially …
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Let the bidding begin — Seattle backs off Matsuzaka battle; Yanks, Mets in race — TOKYO — Shortly after the Seibu Lions announced here on Wednesday their intention to post Daisuke Matsuzaka, the competitive landscape for the bidding war was beginning to take shape half a world away.
Newsday:
Wallace Matthews — Omar, Sori's your guy — Sometimes the solution to a seemingly complex problem is so simple, so obvious, you can't believe someone hasn't thought of it already. And you figure there must be some logical reason why it can't be done. — In this case, the problem …
Discussion:
William F. Yurasko
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James Rainey / Los Angeles Times:
Tribune draws unexciting bids for firm, seeks offers for units — After receiving a handful of unimpressive bids for the company, Tribune Co. is soliciting offers for individual properties in its portfolio, which include the Los Angeles Times, KTLA-TV Channel 5 and the Chicago Cubs.
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Dye, Lackey lead MLB past Japan — TOKYO — Two bursts of power — one from the right arm of John Lackey and the other from the bat of Jermaine Dye — carried Major League Baseball to a well-executed and methodical 3-2 victory over Nippon Professional Baseball in Game 1 of the Japan All-Star Series.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Sox's Shines fired in Venezuela; Anderson exits — New coach out as La Guaira skipper; outfielder ailing — Promoted to third-base coach of the White Sox just last week, Razor Shines has been fired as manager of La Guaira of the Venezuelan Winter League.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Agent: No change of heart for Girardi — News report prompts fresh denial about job interest — WASHINGTON — Agent Steve Mandel denied a report on Thursday that his client, Joe Girardi, is considering putting himself back in the mix as a managerial candidate with the Nationals.
Discussion:
District of Baseball
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Selig Sees a Billion Reasons to Open a Season in China — As Commissioner Bud Selig stood on the field at Japan's Tokyo Dome in 2004, he spoke excitedly about the importance of continuing to expand Major League Baseball internationally. Selig was not specific, but geographically speaking, he was peeking even farther west.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Mike Carminati / Baseball Prospectus:
Is the Best of Five the Worst of Series? — I can't write five words but that I change seven. —Dorothy "Don't Call Me Dave" Parker — Even though they comprise just a quarter of the playoff teams each year, we have not had a World Series without a wild card since 2001.
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Flannery seeks adventure — Why would Tim Flannery leave the security of the Padres broadcasting booth for the uncertainty of a third-base coaching job with the Giants? — "For adventure and excitement," Flannery said yesterday after confirming that he has agreed to join Bruce Bochy's Giants staff.
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