Top News:
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Steinbrenner says he'll call the shots from now on — If Johan Santana was a free agent this year, you can bet Hank Steinbrenner would not have taken ‘no’ for an answer. — The Yankees only have a bittersweet 16 games remaining in their lost 2008 season, but their course for '09 is about to begin.
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Hank riding to the rescue of the Yankees — This should provide comfort to Yankee fans. — “I'm going to be reviewing the entire organization,” Hank Steinbrenner told the AP in Tampa today. “We're going to do everything we can to win next year. We're not going to wait. Do everything we can that makes sense.
New York Post:
NUMBER OF REASONS AMAZIN' COLLAPSE WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN — SEVENTEEN. — There's the number. Ruminate over it. Stew over it. Agonize over it one more time. Seventeen: It used to be such a happy number in Mets' lore. That was Keith Hernandez's number, the first old number that should be retired in the new ballpark.
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Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Tickets for Final Games At Yankee Stadium Running As High As $18,300 — It seems that more than a few people wish to send off Yankee Stadium, or if not, profit on the secondary ticket market. — After 26 World Championships and more than 7,000 baseball games, the final countdown …
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Juan Gonzalez / NY Daily News:
Yanks land deal ain't fair ball — In January 2007, the city assessed land under the new Yankee Stadium at 10 times the market value of virtually all other land in the South Bronx neighborhood. — The assessment - not including the new ballpark - worked out to a fair market value of $275 per square foot.
Discussion:
ShysterBall
Jeremy Sandler / Posted Sports:
Jays Notebook: Boston flight a “drag” for several Toronto rookies, Carlson clowns around — Practical jokes meant a lack of practical travel wear for Toronto Blue Jays rookies as they made their way to Boston on Thursday night. — In a time-honoured tradition of baseball hazing …
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Rick Gano / Associated Press:Marcum, Blue Jays Beat White Sox Again
Discussion:
Boston Globe, SOX & Dawgs, Red Sox Monster, Batter's Box Interactive … and South Side Sox
Mike Puma / New York Post:
WAGNER: I'VE PLAYED MY LAST DAY AS MET — The competitor in Billy Wagner would love to say he'll return late next season and help the Mets win a championship. But Wagner isn't about to make a hollow guarantee. He knows he's done with the Mets. — A day after Tommy John surgery …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Dominant Angels may already have eye on adding Sabathia … As if the Angels' pitching rotation isn't stellar enough, several baseball people say they believe that they may try to pull off the coup of the winter by signing CC Sabathia, the perfect Brewer and best free-agent pitcher in at least a decade.
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Fading Rockies could be bold in offseason — A year ago Sunday, the Rockies began their great run, which concluded with sweeps of Philadelphia in the National League Division Series and Arizona in the NL Championship Series, giving the Rockies 20 wins in 21 games and the first pennant in franchise history.
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Mike Puma / New York Post:
BERNIE TO ATTEND STADIUM CLOSING CEREMONY — Before construction crews literally bring down the house, the return of a Yankees icon figures to serve the same purpose. — Bernie Williams told The Post last night he plans to be at Yankee Stadium as part of the pregame festivities on Sept. 21 …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, My Pinstripes, Bronx Banter, matsuifan.com and Sliding Into Home
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Phils gain on East, Wild Card leaders — Moyer notches 14th victory; Howard belts 43rd home run — PHILADELPHIA — Jamie Moyer demanded the ball and Ryan Howard made one vanish. — With that, the Phillies made progress on the National League Wild Card side of a two-pronged playoff attack …
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John Klima / Daily Breeze:
Commentary: Ramirez will hurt more than he helps — Manny Ramirez is the worst baseball player I have ever seen. — I am not kidding. — A ticket-selling novelty slogan is a great excuse for a player you do not want to settle your fate with his legs, arm, glove or mind.
Discussion:
6-4-2
The Numbers Guy:
Alex Rodriguez, Clutch Hitter — Does clutch hitting exist, and if so, does Alex Rodriguez excel at it? — The answers for most New York Yankees beat writers are apparently yes and no, respectively. Since Mr. Rodriguez's arrival in the Bronx in 2004, his struggles in crucial game situations …
Neil Best / Newsday:
YES network OK with criticism over Yanks — 'Disgraceful? “An embarrassment?” — The Yankees? On the YES Network? — If any evidence beyond the standings is necessary that this Yankees September is unlike any other this millennium, Michael Kay supplied it Monday night when he hammered the Bronx Duds.
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Beltre appears set for surgery — M's third baseman likely to have left thumb and shoulder fixed — ANAHEIM, Calif. — All signs point to Adrian Beltre needing to take himself off the field for thumb and shoulder surgery in the next few days. — Beltre doesn't have to be told this.
St. Petersburg Times:
Do new parks bring wins? — ST. PETERSBURG — Say what you want about Tropicana Field, but it's mid-September and the upstart Tampa Bay Rays lead the American League East. — Not the hallowed Yankees, with their $209-million payroll. — Not the $133-million Red Sox, with their annoying “nation.”
Discussion:
ShysterBall
