Top News:
New York Post:
ROCKET'S SAD STARE — ACE CLEMENS ‘HEARTBROKEN’ BY VIDEO SNUB — By F. CARTER SMITH in Piney Point Village, Texas, and ERIC LENKOWITZ in NY — Estranged former Yankee Roger Clemens was “heartbroken” when his former team left him out of Sunday night's Stadium-farewell festivities …
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Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Yanks say Torre, Clemens snubs not intentional — The absence of any mention of longtime manager Joe Torre, winner of four World Series titles with the Yankees; and of former pitcher Roger Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner; caught the attention of many fans watching Sunday's Yankee Stadium finale.
Associated Press:
Yankee Stadium thieves arrested … NEW YORK (AP) — New York City police say they arrested more than a dozen people for stealing pieces of Yankee Stadium during the 85-year-old ballpark's final game. — Police say 18 fans were charged with possessing stolen property.
Discussion:
Hardball
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets lose ground after loss to Cubs — New York 2 1/2 games behind Philly after Niese struggles — NEW YORK — At this juncture of the Mets' uneven 2008 season, optimism may be hard to come by. They aren't playing well, their bullpen is struggling, and they are compromised at second base …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Steve Buckley / Boston Herald:
Signs point to Red Sox retiring Johnny Pesky's number — The Red Sox [team stats] are about to break with their longstanding policy regarding the retirement of uniform numbers. And it appears that longtime club fixture Johnny Pesky will be the first beneficiary.
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Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Sox to retire Pesky's number — A team source confirmed to the Globe that the Red Sox will retire Johnny Pesky's No. 6 this weekend, during the final series of the year with the New York Yankees. The official announcement could come as early as today. The Boston Herald first reported …
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Bill Dwyre / Los Angeles Times:
In L.A., Dodger blue turns Angel red invisible — How come no one's talking about that other local team, the one that glided into baseball's playoffs and isn't still trying to get in? Chalk it up to marketing, Manny and a craftily low-key manager. — The best team in baseball isn't even the biggest story in its own city.
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Vladimir Guerrero faces off-season decision on knee
Vladimir Guerrero faces off-season decision on knee
Discussion:
Angelblog
Kat Oâ'Brien / Newsday:
Hal says Yankees want Cashman back as GM — Yankees co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner says he has informed general manager Brian Cashman that the team wants him back next year. (Newsday / Paul J. Bereswill) — The Yankees want Brian Cashman back as their general manager next year …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, MLB Rumors, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, River Ave. Blues, WasWatching.com, Sliding Into Home and iYankees
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Interview - Tracy Ringolsby - Writer, Rocky Mountain News — Ask about Tracy Ringolsby, and you're liable to get different answers from different people. — To those that simply skim the Rocky Mountain News, he may be, “The guy in the cowboy hat.” Ask another and you might get …
Tom Jones / St. Petersburg Times:
Fox's Zelasko apologizes for referring to ‘Tampa Rays’ — Fox baseball pregame host Jeanne Zelasko has a message for Rays fans: She's sorry. After often referring to the team as the “Tampa Rays” this season, Zelasko responded to criticism in several Times columns and e-mails she personally received over the weekend from Rays fans.
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Tim Lemke / Washington Times:
Nationals ‘miserable’ on, off field — Team in crisis — It began with genuine optimism. The Washington Nationals entered the 2008 season with a new ballpark, a new crop of young talent and a feeling that this once-downtrodden franchise was moving swiftly on a rebuilding path.
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Hitting coach revolving door continues to spin for Padres — Wally Joyner, a member of two Padres teams that reached the playoffs, has stepped down as the club's hitting coach. Joyner gave his resignation letter to General Manager Kevin Towers on Monday. — “It bothers me a lot …
Keith O'Brien / Boston Globe:
Latino Sox fans lost in lineup shuffle — Felipe Gomez, a Jamaica Plain barber, still wears his Red Sox cap, the bill crisp across his brow. He still roots for his adopted hometown team, and he always looks forward to visits from such players as David Ortiz when they are in need of a haircut.
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk
John Lowe / Detroit Free Press:
Gary Sheffield suspended four games, still vows revenge vs. Indians — Gary Sheffield, Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona and two other Indians were suspended Monday by Major League Baseball for the brawl that began in Friday night's Tigers-Indians game when Sheffield charged Carmona.
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk
Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
To the finish, nothing comes easy for them — Baseball seasons are weird phenomena. Brandon Moss saved Opening Day. Remember? — The Red Sox soon will be in postseason play. Some fans may think this is their birthright, but Terry Francona doesn't. — “It's a big deal getting to the playoffs,” he reminds us.
Discussion:
Baseball Analysts
Mike Podhorzer / THE FANTASY BASEBALL GENERALS:
What Happened to Troy Tulowitzki? — After a fantastic, but somewhat surprising, rookie season last year, fantasy owners were ecstatic at the possibility of welcoming a new shortstop into the top 5 for seasons to come. A scintillating 2nd half that included 15 HRs in just 294 ABs …
Discussion:
Fantasy Baseball
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Midwest League Top 20 Prospects — Royals' Moustakas turns season around — Early on, 2008 looked like it would be a year that Mike Moustakas and the Burlington Bees would rather forget. Moustakas opened the season at shortstop, which wasn't a good fit.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball