Top News:
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers defeat Cubs, 10-3, at Wrigley (No) Field — The Dodgers' Chad Billingsley pitches Thursday night in Wrigley Field in the second game of a National League Division Series. Billingsley allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings in the Dodgers' 10-3 victory. — Chad Billingsley is dominant …
RELATED:
Will Carroll / Unfiltered:
The Myth of Protection — Watching the Dodgers-Cubs game last night, one of the announcers discussed how much better Andre Ethier was hitting since Manny Ramirez came to the team. That's something we can test, so I asked Eric Seidman to take a look at this through the lens of Pitch F/X. His findings follow:
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Andrew Seligman / Associated Press:
Manny HRs again, Dodgers lead Cubs 6-0 — CHICAGO (AP)—Manny Ramirez hit his 26th postseason homer, extending his major league record, and the Los Angeles Dodgers led the Chicago Cubs 6-0 after six innings Thursday night in Game 2 of their NL division series.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
John Branch / New York Times:In Chicago, Fans' Moods Swing From Gleeful to Gloomy
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Mel Antonen / USA Today:
Victorino's slam sends Phillies past Brewers in Game 2 — PHILADELPHIA — Shane Victorino hit a grand slam Thursday to help move the Philadelphia Phillies within a win of playing for their first National League pennant since 1993. It was such a magical moment, he almost couldn't believe it.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Mike's Baseball Rants, The Good Phight, Phillies Nation and Associated Press
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Chicagosports / RosenBlog:
When Vazquez starts, the winning stops — It's Thursday, and I have all the answers ... The White Sox had to beat three different teams in three days to get to the playoffs, and what happens after they pull off that major-league first? — The Sox have to play inside a pachinko machine …
RELATED:
Alan Schwarz / New York Times:
Longoria's Big Day Carries the Rays — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Javier Vazquez spent as much time as he could to figure out how to somehow retire Evan Longoria. — Longoria, the Tampa Bay Rays' rookie slugger, had already hit two home runs in his and the Rays' — first post-season game …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Offseason Outlook: Arizona Diamondbacks — By Tim Dierkes [October 2 at 4:58pm CST] — The Diamondbacks are next in our Offseason Outlook series. Their setup for 2009: — C - Chris Snyder - $1.85MM+ — C - Miguel Montero - $401K — 1B - Chad Tracy - $4.75MM — 2B -
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
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Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Francona on Lowell: 'I really don't know what we're going to do tomorrow' — ANAHEIM, Calif. — The news from Terry Francona on Josh Beckett is positive, and the news on Mike Lowell is somewhat surprising: — Francona indicated the ailing third baseman may not play tomorrow night in Game 2 …
RELATED:
ESPN:
The invisible villain — I thought of that story when Manny began acting up again this summer. Boston's brain trust had decided to dump him. Again. We were doing this dance for the fourth time in six years. There were two crucial differences this time, the first being Manny had canned …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Cashman aims to win with dysfunctional Yankees — Hank Steinbrenner is a part of the Yankees' muddled organizational structure. (Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan) — Amid the disappointment of 2008, Brian Cashman insisted yesterday, a kinder, gentler Steinbrenner family emerged.
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Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Live: Omar Minaya Conference Call — SNY will televise this morning's conference call with Omar Minaya, which is set to begin around 11 am EDT. — I will also live blog the call, since I know many of you are unable to be in front of a television or computer speakers. — ...Update...11:03 am...
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
RELATED:
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Leyland's contract status unchanged — Tigers skipper to return in 2009 for final contracted season — Jim Leyland won't just be managing the Tigers for a rebound season and postseason berth next year. He will apparently be managing for another contract.
Discussion:
TigerBlog
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Olney's Latest: Yankees, Cashman, Giambi — By Tim Dierkes [October 2 at 3:19pm CST] — A few hot stove notes from ESPN's Buster Olney... - Olney heard the Yankees' 2009 payroll will be in the $180MM range, down $29MM or so from this year. — The Yankees didn't need to negotiate dollars …
George A. King III / New York Post:
YANKS MIGHT MAKE COACHING CHANGES — Sunday in Boston manager Joe Girardi said there had been no discussions about changes in his coaching staff. Nevertheless, that was before general manager Brian Cashman officially returned. Now, every department in the organization is under review.
