Top News:
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs suspend Bradley for rest of season — Outfielder informed by GM after harsh comments in interview — ST. LOUIS — Outfielder Milton Bradley's tumultuous season in Chicago ended Sunday, when he was suspended for the final two weeks following comments he made in which he said the Cubs were “not a positive environment.”
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New York Post:
3UP: Yanks postseason, AL MVP, Bradley — Yes, I am on Twitter. — 1. The Yankees are going to make the playoffs. The Rays and Rangers have made sure of that by falling apart late and leaving no potential wild card trapdoor. But the Yankees do not want to collapse out of first place late …
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Today — Bradleygate? — In something of a surprise, the Cubs have suspended Milton Bradley for the rest of the season for conduct detrimental to the team. There are about two weeks left in the season, so in the midst of the big pile-on, I'd like to ask one question …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
The trials and tribulations of Joba — Just received this from a reader: — As a parting gift, please take Joba with you. — That is very funny. This is not: Joba is 0-4 with an 8.42 ERA in his last eight starts and opponents have hit .331 against him.
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Joba gets touched up in Seattle — Griffey's three-run shot headlines early flurry vs. righty — SEATTLE — This was supposed to be the start when the rules that revolve around Joba Chamberlain's universe were going to relax, with the Yankees anticipating that he would finally pitch long enough to earn another victory.
Paul White / USA Today:Griffey, Mariners put Yankees' playoff party on hold
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Markakis: 'I'm in a funk' — Struggling outfielder says his timing is off at the plate; in Sept., he's hitting .203 with no homers — Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis is adamant that he has had much tougher stretches in the major leagues, regardless of what the numbers suggest.
Discussion:
MASNsports.com
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Jorge Arangure Jr / ESPN.com:
Aroldis Chapman awaits ruling on MLB free-agency status — Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban defector considered to be one of the top pitching prospects in the world, petitioned Major League Baseball for free-agency status recently and is likely only weeks from becoming a free agent, according to his agent.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates will pursue familiar faces in free agency — Grabow likely target this winter, as is St. Louis outfielder Rick Ankiel — The Pirates plan to be more aggressive in free agency than last year, general manager Neal Huntington said yesterday, and that could include a pursuit of recently traded players.
Discussion:
Pittsburgh Lumber Co., Bucs Dugout, Where Have You Gone …, Raise the Jolly Roger and MLB Rumors
Ken Belson / New York Times:
A Stadium as a Work of Art — When Jeffrey Loria says that the Florida Marlins' new stadium will be a work of art, he means it literally. Loria, the owner of the Marlins, who made his money as an art dealer, is overseeing many of the details of the design of the park …
Chris Moore / Baseball Analysts:
Best Fastballs in Baseball — A few weeks back, Jeremy Greenhouse presented a new method for evaluating who throws best pitches in baseball. Building on work by Dave Allen and John Walsh, the principle is to evaluate pitches based on their outcomes. Jeremy's innovation was to use regression …
Sports Illustrated:
Lackey … ARLINGTON, Texas(AP) Maybe John Lackey was already thinking about his plans for the evening. — Despite struggling through six innings, Lackey was good enough to pitch the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels closer to the postseason with a 10-5 victory Sunday over second-place Texas …
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NY Daily News:
Jets accused of tampering with Crabtree — The Jets' long-running pursuit of a high-profile wide receiver could land them in hot water with the NFL. — The 49ers, embroiled in an acrimonious contract dispute with rookie receiver Michael Crabtree, have filed tampering charges against the Jets, sources told the Daily News.
Floyd Mayweather Jr / Associated Press:
Police: Giants' prospect a suspect in killing — SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic(AP)—A Dominican baseball prospect for the San Francisco Giants is the main suspect in the killing of a 25-year-old man, police said Sunday. — Angel Villalona turned himself in 12 hours after the man …
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Ben Goessling / Washington Times:
Nationals Insider: A blueprint to escape futility — Copying Tigers is way to avoid third 100-loss year — The Washington Nationals are approaching rare territory, the kind of stratosphere occupied by only a select few in baseball history. — And no, it's not good.
