Top News:
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:
New York Mets are feeling better about this September — NEW YORK - By 6:30 p.m. the mood at Shea had gone from gray to charcoal. A loss in the first game of a doubleheader, followed by the news that Billy Wagner was likely lost for the season, stirred up all the old reason for September doubt.
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Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Mets: Wagner probably out for season — NEW YORK (AP)—Billy Wagner is expected to miss the rest of the season, leaving the New York Mets without their All-Star closer as they try to maintain a slim lead in the NL East. — Wagner has been sidelined since Aug. 3 because of a tender pitching elbow.
Discussion:
ShysterBall
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Johan, Delgado keep Mets alone in first — Ace's solid effort backed by slugger's two homers, four RBIs — NEW YORK — Eighteen innings and roughly half a day after they arrived at Shea Stadium, the Mets left learning little they didn't already know. They are still a flawed contender …
Discussion:
Mets Geek
New York Post:
TWO UP, BUT TROUBLE LOOMS — THE Mets finished yesterday where they began it, two games ahead of the Phillies. That is not standing still. Because two more games were taken off the schedule it is advantage to the team in front. Meet the first-place Mets.
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Harper: Santana comes up aces in his biggest start yet — The Phillies were threatening to sweep the Mets and make this feel eerily like September 2007, when Jerry Manuel was asked between games of Sunday's doubleheader what type of pressure Johan Santana would face as he took the mound Sunday night.
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
David Singh / MLB.com:
Rays edged by Blue Jays in finale — Tampa Bay remains positive despite having lead trimmed — TORONTO — Before the Rays embarked on their current nine-game road trip to Toronto, Boston and New York, they identified it as one of the club's most important treks of the season.
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Charlie / Bucs Dugout:
Pirates Tie Major Sport Record for Most Consecutive Losing Seasons — As with many historic events, this one resulted from a remarkable convergence of factors—spectacularly incompetent management; tight-fisted, complacent ownership; a generally pretty ambivalent fanbase …
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Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Bernie Williams Goes to Washington — The Yankees know what it is like to wait for Bernie Williams. So does President Bush. — On Sunday, Williams traveled to Washington to be a base coach for children playing T-ball on the White House lawn. President Bush, the former owner of the Texas Rangers …
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
30 teams, 30 theme songs — Well, the season is winding down once again. By this time, we have a good idea of what each team is capable, and what their hopes (if any) are for the rest of the regular season and beyond. We know which teams have floundered, surprised, or merely trudged along.
Chris Smith / New York Magazine:
Après George le Déluge — As the tyrant fades away and his team fades with him, it has now become all too apparent that the Boss was really the straw that stirred the drink. — For the Yankees, it might have been a celebration, or it might have been a wake.
Tennessean.com:
Young still has maturity issues — What's this? — Went to a football game on Sunday and a soap opera broke out. — Welcome to Titans '08. If the game is dull, just focus on the sideline. That's where the real drama unfolds. — It took only one game — a victory over Jacksonville …
David Lennon / Newsday:
Mets' Wagner (elbow) likely out for season — It appears that Billy Wagner's comeback attempt is likely over. — In what was supposed to be his final hurdle, Wagner was forced to cut yesterday's mound session short after feeling “discomfort” in his left elbow and the injured closer is expected to see a team doctor today.
It is about the money, stupid:
IIATMS Exclusive: Paul DePodesta — I've been lucky enough to be able to get a few minutes of San Diego Padres Assistant General Manager Paul DePodesta's time. I had emailed Paul before I visited San Diego and while he was busy at the time (with things like trading Greg Maddux!), he was generous enough to take some questions from me.
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