Top News:
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays Tales — The Rays wrap up a regular season like no other today, because for the first time in their 11 years it's not actually the end. Much about their incredible season will be said, written, blogged, slide-showed and podcasted in the days leading up to Thursday's (say it slowly) …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
20 or not, Yankees' ‘Moose’ may still retire — NOTEBOOK — BOSTON — It has been 105 years since a pitcher won 19 or more games and voluntarily retired healthy. — Mike Mussina seems to be considering it. — Mussina on Sunday will attempt to become a 20-game winner for the first time in his career …
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Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Mussina up in air about future, Jeter done for season — Mike Mussina said he has ot made up his mind about continuing to pitch. He said at one point that if he did, going year-to-year would be best. But at another point, he said if he's in for three, he might as well be in for three so he could try to get to 300 wins.
Discussion:
YanksBlog.com
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
This is the Cubs year. Really. (cont.) — Williams about to extend his deal; Cashman may, too — Meanwhile, a coterie of GMs at the top of their field are cashing in with new contracts this fall. Red Sox GM Theo Epstein recently agreed to a three-year deal for what is now believed …
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks' Season Unraveled One Injury at a Time — BOSTON — When a stiff shoulder knocked Joba Chamberlain from his start in Texas on Aug. 4, the Yankees were finished for 2008. They had made such careful plans for Chamberlain, invested so much hope, and at that moment none of it mattered.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Associated Press:
Cubs Change Course, Will Sit Zambrano — MILWAUKEE — Now, the Chicago Cubs won't start Carlos Zambrano in their regular-season finale Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers. — Instead, it will be Angel Guzman, a Sept. 1 call-up who has appeared in only five games _ all Cubs losses _ and has a 7.04 ERA in 7 2-3 innings.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Fox Sports, Bleed Cubbie Blue, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, Bats and 6-4-2
TorontoStPats / Toronto Star:
Jays deliver pitch to A.J. Burnett — A.J. Burnett, in possibly his last game as a Jay, salutes the home crowd. “It was storybook,” Burnett said of the sendoff on Sept. 24, 2008. — Team makes bold move with proposal to add two years, $30 million to righty's existing deal
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Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Twins maintain half-game lead — Minnesota offense struggles in disappointing loss to Royals — MINNEAPOLIS — The critics have been waiting all season for the Twins' clutch hitting to disappear. — And at the time they needed it most, it did in a 4-2 loss to the Royals on Saturday afternoon at the Metrodome.
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Phillies can kick back and relax after winning NL East … PHILADELPHIA — The 45,177 red-clad, towel-waving zanies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday yelled themselves hoarse in support of the hometown Phillies. But their emotional investment was nothing compared to the ups and downs pitcher Cole Hamels endured.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
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Jon Blau / MLB.com:
Manuel pulls out ace in the hole — New York (88-72) vs. Florida (83-76), Saturday, 1:10 p.m. ET — NEW YORK — Jerry Manuel agonized over the decision for days, refusing to reveal his Saturday pitcher until after Friday's loss to the Marlins. Little did anyone else know …
New York Post:
JETER CALLS BOMBERS' SEASON ‘A WASTED YEAR’ — BOSTON - Derek Jeter sat at his locker as the rain came crashing down at Fenway last night and contemplated life without October baseball. — For the first time in his career, the man who always knows what to do on the baseball field does not know what to do with himself in October.
