Top News:
The Big Lead:
Schilling: “The Yankees suck this year ... now they got Tom going down, so New York is excited.” — How desperate is Curt Schilling to remain relevant? The ornery blogger hasn't thrown a pitch this season for the Red Sox, but he went on WEEI radio this morning to opine on Tom Brady's injury, as if his voice matters:
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Justin Terranova / New York Post:
SCHILLING RIPS NEW YORK FANS — AGAIN — FACT ‘YANKEES S**K’ MAKES US ‘BITTER AND MAD’ — Before today's interview with WEEI radio in Boston, Curt Schilling walked the streets of New York polling fans to gage their feelings on Tom Brady's season-ending injury. — Well, probably not.
Tom Curran / NBCSports.com: NFL:
Brady says Pats not out: ‘I still like our chances’ — New England QB out for season, but teammates scoff at idea of no playoffs — FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The e-mail popped in at 5 p.m. — “It will all be OK. I'm excited to see what our team is made of ... I still like our chances,” wrote Tom Brady.
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Pudge, Hunter fight in Yankees loss to Angels — ANAHEIM, Calif. - One veteran Yankee wondered aloud before Monday's game against the Angels if players had given up on the season. — But at least one player showed some fight - literally - in the Yankees' lopsided 12-1 loss to the Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim last night.
Discussion:
Ken Davidoff's baseball …
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Pujols considering elbow surgery — Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, riding what he calls his best wave of offense in a couple of years, raised the specter of his elbow injury Monday, saying in a televised interview that he's considering offseason surgery.
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John Romano / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays have lost fighting spirit — BOSTON — Understand, there is no shame in being caught from behind by the Red Sox. — Boston has the bigger payroll and the greater pedigree, and most of the world has probably assumed the defending World Series champions would eventually end up on top of the American League East.
Discussion:
TBO Devil Rays, Rays Index, SOX & Dawgs, The Joy of Sox, SportsJustice and It is about the money, stupid
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Bill Chastain / MLB.com:Rays see lead in AL East dwindle
Discussion:
Boston Globe, SOX1FAN, Outs Per Swing, TBO Devil Rays, St. Petersburg Times and The Joy of Sox
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Of Smoltz and other offseason matters.... While some people are busying making more out of John Smoltz's recent comments to Atlanta magazine than the comments warranted, I thought I'd share with you a couple of recent conversations I had with GM Frank Wren that I found revealing.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Jay Busbee / Atlanta Magazine:
Smoltz airs the possibility he'll play elsewhere in 2009 — In interviews, it's always the question you toss off that gets you the most interesting responses. Over the weekend, I was wrapping up an interview with John Smoltz for the upcoming Braves book (The Quiet Dynasty, on sale spring 2009.
Nicole Bode / NY Daily News:
Mets relief pitcher Ambiorix Burgos arrested for beating up girlfriend — Mets minor league reliever Ambiorix Burgos has been charged with pummeling his girlfriend at a hotel near Shea Stadium, authorities said. — The 6'3", 244-pound pitcher was arrested around 11 p.m. Monday …
Jason / Faith and Fear in Flushing:
The Story of Billy the Kid — Well, as Greg already told you, now it's official: Billy Wagner is facing Tommy John surgery. — This sad news doesn't change much about how I feel about this unlikely September and potential October: I never thought we'd get this far, and finding ourselves …
Discussion:
New York Post, The Mets Are Better Than Sex, MetsBlog.com, Diamond Hoggers and Ya Gotta Believe
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Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
At Current Pace, MLB Will Not Have Fifth Consecutive Attendance Record — Major League Baseball has enjoyed four straight seasons of record paid attendance, but at the current pace, the league will be coming in just below last year's record figure. — As of Saturday, Sept. 6 …
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington, MLB FanHouse, ShysterBall, Lone Star Ball and Baseball Musings
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
With Boras in the picture, Alvarez's career put on hold … If and when Pedro Alvarez signs with the Pirates, he will automatically become the most hated player among fans since Dave Parker allowed himself to get woefully out of shape in the early 1980s and became the target of battery throwers …
Jim Molony / Inside Pitch:
Mets join list of teams eyeing K-Rod — With Billy Wagner sidelined for perhaps all of 2009 due to elbow surgery, expect the Mets to be major players in the bidding for Francisco Rodriguez this winter when the premier closer hits free agency. — The Angels want the 26-year-old right-hander …
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Hoffman wants to return to Padres — Closer feels positive after Saturday meeting with GM Towers — SAN DIEGO — In case there was any uncertainty about the matter, Trevor Hoffman said on Monday night that he wants to return to the Padres next season and perhaps for a few more seasons after that.
Josh Kalk / Hardball Times:
Is CC Sabathia's arm falling off? — CC Sabathia has been on a tear since joining the Brewers just before the All-Star break. Okay, you knew that already. Brewers manager Ned Yost has worked Sabathia hard with a 130-pitch game, two other games over 120 pitches and all but two games over 100 pitches in a Brewers uniform.
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
REYES AGAIN BATTLIN' SEPT. BLUES — Is Jose Reyes headed for another September swoon? — The past week certainly had the makings of a repeat of his final-month flameout last season, when the shortstop's .205 average was a primary reason for the Mets' historic collapse.
Gerry Fraley / Rocky Mountain News:
Rockies' ties to Hampton coming to end — Tonight's series opener at Atlanta brings a touch of melancholy for the Rockies. They can walk across Turner Field and personally wish a longtime employee happy birthday and farewell. — Mike Hampton. — The conclusion of this season marks …
