Top News:
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Mets skipper Manuel agrees to return — Jerry Manuel has agreed to return as New York Mets manager, SI.com has confirmed. Manuel will get a two year contract, plus a club option for a third season. — When Manuel took over as interim manager for the fired Willie Randolph in mid-June …
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets give Manuel key to the Citi — The self-professed “gangsta” will occupy the home dugout at Citi Field next season. — Jerry Manuel agreed on Friday to a two-year contract with a team option for 2011 to serve as Mets manager after a week of tougher-than-expected negotiations with team officials, the Daily News has learned.
ESPN.com:
Manuel gets two-year contract from Mets — Jerry Manuel Agrees To Two-Year Deal With Mets — NEW YORK — Jerry Manuel is getting another chance to right the New York Mets. — After replacing Willie Randolph in June and falling just short of a playoff berth, Manuel was given …
Andrew Marchand / ESPN.com:Valentine all ears if Mets unable to sign Manuel
Discussion:
The LoHud Mets Blog
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Rays about to go 2-up in Series — (9:05, top of the ninth, Rays 6, White Sox 2 — Outstanding relief pitching by Grant Balfour and particularly lefty J.P, Howell allowed the Rays to hold on to a 3-2 lead until the Rays broke it wide open in the eighth with three runs to take a 6-2 lead.
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Injured eye forces Pena from game — ST. PETERSBURG — The irritation in 1B Carlos Pena's left eye Wednesday night was nothing like the pain he went through taking himself out of Thursday's game after two innings. — Pena was relaxing at home early Wednesday night when he felt something in his left eye and rubbed it.
MLB.com:
Best-of-seven series a better test — Five-gamer not always an accurate test of team's true strength — A five-game series in baseball is like getting all dressed up for the big dance and the music stops before you walk through the ballroom door. — For most managers and players …
Discussion:
crashburnalley.com
RELATED:
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Reverse Psychology — This is the Cubs' big chance. This is their Red Sox moment. — The Cubs now face the same galling indignity, and the same disguised opportunity, that Boston grabbed so spectacularly four years ago when it trailed the Yanks three games to none but came back to reverse the curse.
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Beckett definite; Lowell and Lowrie scratches explained — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Lowell's hip injury did not worsen, but Terry Francona made what he said was a very difficult decision to sit him. Lowell wanted to play badly, Francona said. One factor in the decision was the fact that Joe Saunders …
RELATED:
Scott Soshnick / Bloomberg:
Brewers Owner Attanasio Wants More Revenue Sharing From Yankees — Oct. 3 (Bloomberg) — Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, seeking a “fair fight,” said high-revenue clubs like the New York Yankees should share more with the other teams. — “It's always amusing to me to hear the Yankees …
RELATED:
Carl Macgowan / Newsday:
Workers begin dismantling Shea Stadium — It's really happening, Mets fans. — Shea Stadium is coming down, one thousand-watt lamp and one sink at a time. Centerfield's iconic 410-foot sign now lies in a fenced-in area outside the ballpark, along with other pieces of the outfield wall.
RELATED:
Bruce Miles / Daily Herald:
Piniella fed up with Fukudome's play — Cubs manager Lou Piniella has all but written off right fielder Kosuke Fukudome for the rest of the playoffs and maybe longer. — “From now on, I don't want to hear about Fukudome anymore as far as whether he's going to play or not,” …
RELATED:
Franz Lidz / Portfolio:
The Bronx Is Turning — With seven possible free agents freeing up $75 million, what should the Yankees' game plan be for 2009? — Whether the New York Yankees resign Mike Mussina depends almost entirely on his wife, Jana. — The rejuvenated free agent—who, at 39 …
Robert K. Elder / Chicago Tribune:
Bill Murray offers advice to the Cubs — Bill Murray has not lost hope. — In fact, the life-long Cubs fan has some advice for the ailing boys in blue. — “They're not out of it yet, it's baseball,” said Murray, during a Friday interview with the Tribune to promote his new movie “City of Ember.”
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Hurdle not alone regarding security — While a faction of the media has attempted to create a buzz about the future of Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, there never was a desire within the organization to make a managerial change. — And the fact he will be in the final year of his contract …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Brantley completes Sabathia deal — A source familiar with the deal just told me that the CC Sabathia trade has been completed with the Brewers sending minor league outfield prospect Michael Brantley to the Indians. — When the Brewers acquired Sabathia in early July …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
