Top News:
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.
RELATED:
Steve Buckley / Boston Herald:
Source: Josh Beckett has oblique injury — Sox ace may be in hole — The Red Sox [team stats] could be facing a Tom Brady [stats]-like blow to their postseason plans. — Just as the Patriots [team stats] are trying to make it work this season without the injured Brady as their quarterback …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Mussina's 20th Victory May Be His Last — BOSTON — Mike Mussina is not a dreamer. He knows he has just spun a season unlikely to repeat itself. He is too much of a realist to believe that finally winning 20 games — as he did Sunday on the last day of his 18th season in the majors …
Discussion:
New York Post, My Pinstripes, Bronx Banter, River Ave. Blues, matsuifan.com and Bugs & Cranks
Steve Buckley / Boston Herald:
Josh Beckett on hold 'til Game 3 — Ace waits with oblique injury — Late last night at Fenway Park [map], after the Red Sox [team stats] had closed out the regular season with a 4-3 victory over the Yankees, manager Terry Francona confirmed what the Herald had reported earlier in the evening.
Discussion:
Keep Your Sox On
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:Francona on Beckett — The following is Terry Francona answering …
Discussion:
Boston Herald, The Bottom Line, SOX & Dawgs, MLB FanHouse, The Joy of Sox and Over the Monster
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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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.
Discussion:
It is about the money, stupid
RELATED:
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.
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Canadian Press:
Blue Jays CEO Paul Godfrey steps down — Paul Godfrey stepped down as president and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, ending an eight-year run in which his success on the team's business side was never matched by similarly strong improvements on the field.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Despite collapse, Mets retain Manuel — NEW YORK — The Mets have decided to bring back Jerry Manuel as manager despite the disappointing end to their season, SI.com has learned. — Manuel is expected to be approached to hammer out a new contract in the next day or two.
Discussion:
New York Post, MetsBlog.com, Associated Press, Ya Gotta Believe, Mets Fever, Baseball Musings and The LoHud Mets Blog
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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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MLB.com:
Division Series broadcast schedule announced — TBS to Televise All Division Series Games; ESPN Radio Will Provide National Coverage — The following is the national broadcast schedule for the potential tie-breaker game that will determine the American League Central title and the American League …
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins play spoiler again, knocking Mets from playoffs — NEW YORK — Shea good-bye to the playoffs. — Talk about a spoiler sequel, the Florida Marlins pulled off a double play Sunday. They knocked the Mets out of the post-season for the second straight year and ruined the celebration for the last game at Shea Stadium.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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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 …
Discussion:
6-4-2
Los Angeles Times:
For Dodgers, getting to the playoffs is only half the battle — I mentioned it to Lowe, but he was too sick to care. — “Been sick for three days,” he said, giving new meaning to pitching on three days' rest, and hoping for the best. — A FEW more tidbits from the sit-down with Ramirez:
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
Florida State League Top 20 Prospects — As usual, pitchers stand out in Florida — The high Class A Florida State League always seems to get a glimpse of the best pitching prospects in baseball. In 2004, Chad Billingsley and Scott Kazmir stopped by, followed by Justin Verlander the following season.
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
Mike Kelly / NorthJersey.com:
FRESH JERSEY — Mike Kelly's journal about events and people in the Garden State. — Read “Fresh Jersey” — Yankees — Kelly: A brush with Yankee greatness — Yankee Stadium was not just a baseball field. For a group of Teaneck sign painters, it was a canvas for dozens of signs …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
