Top News:
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
A look at the Texas Rangers' off-season lineup card — ARLINGTON - Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels took some time Tuesday afternoon to run through the list of positive steps the team took this season. He cited the improved record, the contributions by young players …
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Hicks says Rangers are closer — Owner firmly believes in direction team is heading — Rangers owner Tom Hicks said Wednesday he believes strongly that the Rangers are close, that Nolan Ryan's pitching philosophy will help fix their woes on the mound and he supports the decision …
Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Texas Rangers have to get smarter to get better — ARLINGTON — Not that the local baseball club needed to be reminded or anything, but that was John Danks, formerly of the Texas Rangers, pitching eight shutout innings Tuesday night and leading his team to the American League Central title.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yankees eyeing free-agent options — Questions surround return of Posada, Pettitte, Mussina, others — NEW YORK — Because the Yankees could not proceed with their offseason planning until it was decided who would sit in the general manager's chair, Brian Cashman assured …
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Steve Lombardi / WasWatching.com:
WHY BRINGING CASHMAN BACK WAS A MISTAKE — As we learned yesterday, Brian Cashman and the Yankees have agreed on a three-year deal that will keep him with the team through the 2011 season as their General Manager. — Now, Brian Cashman has some great qualities. As I wrote back on August 29, 2008:
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Sox roster is set — The Red Sox have set their initial roster for the first round of the playoffs and there are no real surprises. The Sox are carrying 10 pitchers and 15 positional players; Mike Timlin is off and third catcher David Ross is on. Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew are both expected …
Discussion:
Cardboard Gods
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Sam Mellinger / Boston Herald:
Angels-Red Sox is the can't-miss series of first round
Angels-Red Sox is the can't-miss series of first round
Discussion:
Boston Globe, The House That Dewey Built, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse and Associated Press
Tim Sullivan / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Greene's self-inflicted hand injury could cost him a chunk of salary — Losing his cool could cost Khalil Greene more than a cool million. — Padres CEO Sandy Alderson acknowledged Tuesday that the club is pursuing a grievance against its normally stoic shortstop, who was lost for the season …
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Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Teams can make pitch for Peavy, but to Towers it's just fact-finding
Teams can make pitch for Peavy, but to Towers it's just fact-finding
Discussion:
Pinstripes, Pa.
NY Daily News:
Fan: Yep, lost my head over Mr. Met — A disgruntled Mets fan who melted down months before his team did pleaded guilty Tuesday to harassing Mr. Met during a game. — Christian Hansen, 32, of Brooklyn, admitted to badgering the baseball-headed mascot - while swatting young fans out of his way …
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Dave Goldiner / NY Daily News:
Mets pitcher involved in deadly hit-and-run crash — Troubled Mets relief pitcher Ambiorix Burgos allegedly struck and killed two women in a hit-and-run crash in his homeland of the Dominican Republic, cops told a local paper. — Burgos, 24, who missed the whole season with an elbow injury …
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Rays trim roster, announce lineup — Maddon bats Crawford fifth, decides on 15 position players — ST. PETERSBURG — While the Rays won't announce their final 25-man postseason roster until Thursday's 10 a.m. ET deadline, manager Joe Maddon said on Wednesday that the club will go with a makeup …
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Mets' Santana had a meniscus tear in left knee — Mets ace Johan Santana had left knee surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn meniscus, SI.com has learned. He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready in time for spring training. — Adding to his legacy as one of the game's elite starters …
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
My awards ballot: These MVP picks may surprise you
My awards ballot: These MVP picks may surprise you
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, The Good Phight, Lone Star Ball, FIRE JOE MORGAN and Big Apple Sports
Billy Witz / New York Times:
Dodgers and Angels, California's Yin and Yang — ANAHEIM — When the Dodgers celebrated clinching the National League West title last week, Manny Ramirez walked out on the field armed with a microphone and surveyed the crowd, some of whom sported dreadlocked wigs and No. 99 jerseys. — “What's up L.A.?”
Discussion:
ShysterBall
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Thom Henninger / STATS:
Struggling Bullpen Costs Mets, Could Doom Playoff Clubs — The Mets are going home early again. It's easy to point to the bullpen, but the 2008 club never seemed to be firing on all cylinders for any stretch of time, particularly in the second half. Both the hitting and pitching ran hot …
Discussion:
Associated Press
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Peavy expected to be trade target — Kyle Lohse is off the board, CC Sabathia is going to be out of reach for most teams, and Derek Lowe might have more suitors than any pitcher on the market, a dynamic that will drive his asking price well beyond $50 million.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates' broadcaster Frattare retiring — Lanny Frattare, the voice of the Pirates for 33 years, is retiring. — Frattare, who began broadcasting the team's games in 1976, has called the team games longer than any other announcer, including the venerable Bob Prince.
Discussion:
Where have you gone …