Top News:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 160: Yankees at Red Sox — YANKEES (87-72) — RED SOX (94-65) — Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 1.38) has never faced any of the Boston hitters. — Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-2, 2.80) vs. the New York hitters. — Notes: The Yankees have won seven of eight and 10 of their last 12. ...
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Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Rivera considering surgery — Mariano Rivera is back with the team, as we await official word for them to cancel this game. Seriously, it's torrential rain out there. I don't know why they haven't called it yet. Even if it stopped right now, the field would be too wet to play.
Discussion:
Ken Davidoff's baseball …
Mark Feinsand / Blogging the Bombers:
Tough year for Girardi just got tougher — Joe Girardi has had a tough first year as manager, and not just because the Yankees missed the playoffs. Replacing a guy like Joe Torre can't be easy, especially with a demanding fan base, a demanding media corps and demanding owners.
George A. King III / New York Post:RIVERA TO HAVE MRI EXAM ON SHOULDER
Discussion:
The Bronx Block, My Pinstripes, Heartland Pinstripes, The LoHud Yankees Blog and New Jersey Online
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:Cranky, cranky, everybody is cranky
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse, Mike Silva's NY Baseball …, Sliding Into Home, Projo Sox Blog, iYankees and New York Times
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:Is Mo hurt or not? — Returns to NY for shoulder MRI; Yankees say it's not serious
MLB.com:
Manuel unhappy with Phils' recent slip — Skipper calls meeting to convey importance of final games — PHILADELPHIA — Charlie Manuel was angry. He didn't say so, but words weren't necessary. — A lieutenant went to the message board in the players' den and scribbled: Meeting. Friday.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
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Bill Conlin / Philly.com:Brace yourself for wild weekend in baseball's homestretch
Discussion:
Bats
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Tiebreakers loom after walk-off wins — Races in AL Central and NL Wild Card remain tight — The regular season is supposed to end on Sunday, but with the way things are going, it might take until Tuesday to determine the three remaining playoff spots. — Minnesota's walk-off win …
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Mark Herrmann / Newsday:Rain could scramble Mets' schedule
Discussion:
Bronx Banter, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, New Jersey Online, Newsday, NJ.com and ShysterBall
Kary Booher / Baseball America:
Brackman Kicks Off HWB — 2007 first-rounder makes pro debut, finally — Out in Hawaii Winter Baseball, Yankees' 2007 first-round draft pick Andrew Brackman already has his eyes on grabbing a surfboard and hanging 10. — Well, that and finally launching his pro career come Saturday night.
Geoff Baker / Mariners Blog:
Bedard: no labrum tear, could start season on-time — It looks like Erik Bedard is not as bad off as had initially been feared. He underwent surgery today to remove a cyst in his shoulder area and also to have “a minor labral debridement.” — But a medical update issued by the team …
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Giambi wants to re-sign with Yankees — TORONTO - Jason Giambi's seven seasons in pinstripes have run the gamut. He had 40-homer, 100-RBI seasons his first two years before being diagnosed with an intestinal parasite and a benign tumor and testifying to a grand jury that he had used steroids.
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
This is the Cubs year. Really. … NEW YORK — These Cubs are not your father's Cubs. Or your grandfather's. Or even your great grandfather's. — This should finally be their year. No, really. — Beyond having the most solid rotation in the National League …
Chicago Tribune:
Fans sue over seats for Cubs playoffs — A budding legal dispute over the divvying up of Cubs playoffs tickets reflects the tensions and possible treacheries that abound as fans who share season-ticket packages attempt to split their much-coveted seats for the upcoming postseason.
Associated Press:
Sheets will toe mound for Brewers against Cubs — MILWAUKEE — Brewers pitcher Ben Sheets will start Saturday against the Cubs despite a sore elbow that forced him to leave his last appearance on Sept. 17 against Chicago. — Sheets says he's ready to pitch and he feels like his arm is ready to let him return to the mound.
Geoff Baker / Seattle Times:
M's respond to clubhouse anger toward Ichiro — Ichiro reached base on... Another loss Thursday night for the Mariners at Safeco Field began the way so many other contests have this season. — Ichiro reached base on his 176th single of the season and the 1,800th hit of his career.
Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Hardy might have hand injury — As speculated by others on the Brewers Blog earlier today, shortstop J.J. Hardy might have injured a hand during the home-plate celebration when Ryan Braun hit his walk-off grand slam last night in the bottom of the 10th inning against Pittsburgh at Miller Park.
Dlamothe / Red Sox Monster:
Does nobody want the bed of the Large Father? … A week back, I started some fuss after posting that David Ortiz has offered up his autographed bed for charity. It seemed like a good enough idea, right? Who can't use an autographed bed? — Apparently, the answer is, “just about anybody.”
Mark Herrmann / Newsday:
Maine wants to pitch, but knows he may not — John Maine knows now that there is a big chasm between being “activated” and being active. — After long, tough rehabilitation work, Maine was taken off the disabled list Wednesday and activated. But manager Jerry Manuel suggested …
