Top News:
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
‘Big Game Gavin’? Floyd eager to face Garcia — Gavin Floyd was planning to eat dinner Sunday evening. — A full meal. — He also had plans to sleep Sunday night. — A good night's sleep at that. — If this afternoon truly was going to be the biggest moment the White Sox right-hander …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, 6-4-2, Bless You Boys, Minneapolis Star Tribune, MLive.com and AaronGleeman.com
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John Donovan / Sports Illustrated:
Pitching mess could doom White Sox even if they make playoffs … Getting to baseball's postseason is hard enough sometimes. Bullpens blowing up, starters going down, late losing streaks, make-up games, play-in games, just plain bad luck. — And for those fortunate enough to somehow limp …
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
A side of intrigue — Oblique injury pushes Beckett back to Game 3 — There was little Josh Beckett couldn't do in last year's postseason. He won game after game after game, dominating in every start, on the way to a World Series title. He was supposed to do it again.
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Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Francona on Beckett — The following is Terry Francona answering …
Francona on Beckett — The following is Terry Francona answering …
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs, Boston Herald, The Bottom Line, MLB FanHouse, The Joy of Sox and Over the Monster
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Mussina's 20th Victory May Be His Last
Mussina's 20th Victory May Be His Last
Discussion:
New York Post, River Ave. Blues, Baseball Musings, MLB FanHouse, My Pinstripes, Bronx Banter, Bugs & Cranks and matsuifan.com
Washington Post:
A Strained Season Off the Field, Too — Kasten Frustrated by Ownership's Continued Lack of Spending — After the final home game of the Washington Nationals' season, team president Stan Kasten and principal owner Mark Lerner crossed paths in their new stadium's lowest level.
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
To solve Mets' bullpen problem, bid for K-Rod — In a Mets clubhouse that emitted a mix of shock and deja vu, Scott Schoeneweis redefined “morose.” — Yesterday's losing pitcher wore the most pained of expressions as he staggered from his locker to Jerry Manuel's office, planted himself on a couch and stared into space.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, NY Daily News, New York Post, Ken Davidoff's baseball …, On the Mets beat and Bats
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Pooka / Toronto Star:
Godfrey quits as Jays president — Paul Godfrey has announced he will step down as president and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays at the end of 2008. — The Jays, who ended the regular season on Sunday with an 86-76 record, have never advanced to the post-season under Godfrey's reign at the top of the major league organization.
Discussion:
Associated Press
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Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Melvin offers thanks to ex-manager — Brewers GM sends e-mail to Yost expressing appreciation for his work — One of the first things Doug Melvin did was send a message to Ned Yost. — After the New York Mets fell, 4-2, to Florida on Sunday afternoon, securing the National League wild-card berth …
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Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Keg Party! — Sabathia finishes what he starts — It's over.
Keg Party! — Sabathia finishes what he starts — It's over.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Phillies Nation, USA Today, Deadspin, Can't Stop The Bleeding and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Unsettled offseason for Rockies — Hurdle's sit-down with GM today just first phase of reshaping ballclub — PHOENIX — A six-month disappointment ends with a frank discussion today at Coors Field. Manager Clint Hurdle will meet with general manager Dan O'Dowd for a season review …
Jim White / PBC Blog:
Pirates fire pitching, first base coaches — The Pirates this morning fired pitching coach Jeff Andrews after one season on the job. — Andrews, 39, oversaw a pitching staff that had a 5.08 ERA, third-highest in Major League Baseball and fifth-highest in franchise history.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Lohse will get four-year deal — The Cardinals scratched Kyle Lohse from his last start of 2008 because a contract was in the works for him to be a part of the club in 2009 and beyond. — The Cardinals expected to finalize a four-year extension with Lohse this morning.
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Philly.com:
Hamels, Myers, Moyer ... Just heard that the Phillies have set up their rotation for the first three games of the National League division series against the Milwaukee Brewers: Cole Hamels will pitch Game 1 on Wednesday, Brett Myers will pitch Game 2 on Thursday and Jamie Moyer will pitch Game 3 on Saturday.
Associated Press:
Home runs drop to 15-year low … NEW YORK (AP) — Home runs in the major leagues dropped this year to their lowest level since 1993, and Angels center fielder Torii Hunter thinks he might know why. — “I think the steroid testing has something to do with it,” he said.
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Peter Abraham / The Journal News:
Yanks leaning toward leaving Joba as starter — BOSTON - Joba Chamberlain finished the season having thrown only 100 1/3 innings because of a shoulder injury that caused him to miss a month. If the Yankees stick to their organizational beliefs, the 23-year-old right-hander will be limited to 140 innings next season.
Dodger Thoughts:
Dodger Thoughts: The Dodger Thoughts 2008 Postseason Guide — So, here they are, the Los Angeles Dodgers. C students of the postseason, baseball's nothingdictorians. Barely a .500 team ... but they can dream. — No one should be favoring the Dodgers against the Cubs …
Jason George / Chicago Tribune:
Musician loses Milwaukee gig for playing a little ‘Go Cubs Go’ — Ted Wulfers never thought that singing Steve Goodman's “Go Cubs Go” could get you fired, but that's just what happened to the Chicago musician over the weekend. Wulfers was scheduled to perform Sunday at a TGI Friday's inside Milwaukee's Miller Park.
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
SEE IT: The 2008 Divison Series Broadcast Schedule — TBS will telecast all Division Series games and ESPN Radio will provide national coverage. Additional coverage of the Division Series games will be provided by XM Radio and MLB.com. — NOTE: Monday will see the White Sox play the Tigers …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Giants Rumors: Aurilia, Vizquel, Cain — By Tim Dierkes [September 29 at 3:09pm CST] — Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News did some quick blogging from Brian Sabean's press conference today. Hot stove notes: — Rich Aurilia could be re-signed, but Omar Vizquel won't be back.
Discussion:
Extra Baggs