Top News:
Associated Press:
Jays manager Gaston extended 2 years — TORONTO (AP)—Cito Gaston signed a two-year contract extension with the Toronto Blue Jays before their home finale Thursday night against the New York Yankees. — Toronto has a 48-36 record since Gaston replaced John Gibbons on June 20.
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Halladay goes distance for No. 20 — Ace gives vintage performance in Jays' final home game — TORONTO — It seemed fitting that Roy Halladay would be on the mound for the Blue Jays' final home game this season. With Rogers Centre's dome open to welcome in the warm Toronto night on Thursday …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Ricciardi returning as Jays' GM — Godfrey explains decision on day Toronto keeps Gaston on — TORONTO — Paul Godfrey is a realist. The Blue Jays president and CEO is well aware that his announcing that general manager J.P. Ricciardi will be back for the 2009 season won't go over well in all circles.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:Rivera Is Aching, but Yankees Can't Agree Where It Hurts
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:Jays might be better off without Burnett
Discussion:
Drunk Jays Fans
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets show cool under pressure — Beltran delivers game-winner, Mets now one back in NL East — NEW YORK — It was merely a slam they had witnessed, nothing grand about it. The baseball left the bat of Ryan Braun and instantly tightened the race for the National League Wild Card.
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Brandon Eddy / MetsBlog.com:
postGame: Mets 7 Cubs 6 — My heart, hairline and sanity can't take much more of this but somehow Carlos Beltran's line drive in the bottom of the ninth went threw Micah Hoffpauir's glove and the Mets came back to defeat the Cubs 7-6 at a very soggy Shea Stadium tonight.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Twins take first on Casilla's walk-off hit — Second baseman singles in 10th to complete sweep of Sox — MINNEAPOLIS — The jubilant way that the Twins jumped into a pile following Alexi Casilla's game-winning single on Thursday night made them look like a team that had just clinched a playoff spot.
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
White Sox talking extension with GM — NEW YORK — White Sox general manager Ken Williams is discussing a new contract with club owner Jerry Reinsdorf, SI.com has learned. — Williams is said to be amenable to an extension, and people familiar with the talks expect a new deal to be consummated fairly soon.
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Wet weather could impact races — Mets' farewell to Shea Stadium festivities in jeopardy — As if the National League East race and the Wild Card picture were not fuzzy enough, Mother Nature may deal Major League Baseball another dastardly card before the postseason begins on Wednesday.
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Braun delivers walk-off grand slam — Brewers remain tied with Mets for National League Wild Card — MILWAUKEE — Until 10:13 p.m. CT on Thursday, the Brewers were the only team in Major League Baseball without a grand slam this season. — What a moment for Ryan Braun to deliver.
Paul White / USA Today:
Baseball's playoff teams start to map strategies — For the five teams already in the playoffs, this final weekend of the regular season is about preparation, strategy and auditions. — Managers of the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox …
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Offseason Outlook: Cincinnati Reds — By Tim Dierkes [September 26 at 12:17am CST] — The Reds are next in our Offseason Outlook series. Their probable commitments for 2009: — C - Ryan Hanigan - $400K — C - Wilkin Castillo - $400K — 1B - Joey Votto - $400K — 2B - Brandon Phillips - $4.75MM
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Geoff Baker / Seattle Times:
Part 2: Winter moves may hit M's hard at plate — There is one distraction Raul Ibanez has been unable to block out as he puts together one of his finest seasons. — Ibanez compares himself to “a racehorse with blinders on” because of the way he can focus on nothing more than the task ahead.
Discussion:
Associated Press, U.S.S. Ichiro, Mariners Blog, Bleeding Blue and Teal, My Pinstripes, MLB FanHouse, Deadspin and MLB Rumors
Roch Kubatko / MASN Online:
Cakes on Moose — We debated last week, right here at The School of Roch, whether Mike Mussina belonged in the Hall of Fame. — Who better to ask than a Hall of Famer who's seen him pitch plenty of times? — I just got off the phone with Jim Palmer, not realizing that he's on the West Coast …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
