Top News:
Mark Bradley:
Bobby Cox: “Everything is fine. [Wren] has been outstanding” — Bobby Cox says all's well between him and Braves GM Frank Wren. (AP photo) — Bobby Cox responded this morning to a Yahoo! Sports report of discord between him and Braves GM Frank Wren. Said Cox, speaking via iPhone from New York: “Everything is fine.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Walkoff Walk, Talking Chop, Circling The Bases and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Cox to retire as skipper after '10 season — Braves legend will move on to a consulting role with club — The future of Bobby Cox has been decided: The long-time Braves manager will return for the 2010 season, and then that will be it. — The team issued a news release on Wednesday afternoon saying …
Discussion:
Angels Unplugged
David Waldstein / New York Times:
Cox to Retire After One More Year Managing Braves — Bobby Cox announced Wednesday afternoon that he would return to manage the Braves next year, his 25th year as Atlanta's skipper, and then retire after the season. — Cox, 68, is in his 28th year as a major league manager.
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Drew Silva / MLB Rumors:
Bobby Cox Inks One-Year Extension — 3:52pm: MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reports that Cox will remain with the Braves in a consulting role through 2015. Cox also issued a statement: … 3:09pm: According to the Braves' official Twitter feed, manager Bobby Cox signed a one-year extension Wednesday afternoon …
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Posada's X-rays come back negative — Results good news after catcher fouled ball off right foot — ANAHEIM — Having clinched at least a spot in the postseason but still seeking loftier goals, the Yankees breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday after X-rays on Jorge Posada's bruised right foot came back negative.
Discussion:
matsuifan.com
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
First of Yanks' many goals crossed off — Truest test of club's superiority will come in postseason — NEW YORK — The Yankees have been confident for weeks that they will eventually arrive at the postseason, so there was no boisterous celebration in the visitors' clubhouse at Angel Stadium …
Associated Press:Yanks edge Halos, first to clinch playoff berth
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Angels Unplugged, Fox Sports, Yahoo! Sports, Halos Heaven and USA Today
ESPN:
Chicago Cubs' Milton Bradley would return to team if allowed, his mother says — The mother of banished Chicago Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley said her son would consider returning to the team if it will have him back. — The Cubs suspended the volatile Bradley on Sunday for the rest …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:Next season could determine Aramis Ramirez's future with Chicago Cubs
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
Bobby Valentine close to making return to TV, nears deal with ESPN — It appears that BOBBY Valentine won't be unemployed for long. — Television industry and baseball sources say Valentine, completing his final season as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League …
Discussion:
Kranepool Society, Walkoff Walk, AwfulAnnouncing, Circling The Bases and 24 Hours From Suicide
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Bobbie Dittmeier / MLB.com:
Valentine returning to television — Former MLB skipper reportedly on verge of deal with ESPN — Former Rangers and Mets manager Bobby Valentine, on the verge of completing his final season with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League, is close to signing a multiyear deal to return to television with ESPN.
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 153: Yankees at Angels — YANKEES (96-56) — Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (11-9, 4.22). — ANGELS (90-61) — Figgins 3B — Aybar SS — Abreu RF — Hunter CF — Morales 1B — Rivera LF — Kendrick 2B — Matthews RF — Napoli C — Pitching: LHP Scott Kazmir (9-8, 5.08).
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Nathan Rode / Baseball America:
GCL Top 20 Prospects — Braves' Bethancourt tops the list — As usual, the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League was filled with young, raw prospects who flashed impressive tools but still needed plenty of seasoning. International position players dominated our GCL Top 20 list …
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets' top official for Latin American talent canned — Fred Wilpon may have offered a vote of confidence to Omar Minaya, but the GM's inner circle quietly is being dismantled. — The Mets have fired Ramon Pena, the organization's top official in charge of signing Latin American talent, the Daily News has learned.
Steve Popper / NorthJersey.com:
Murphy's law: Never say die — NEW YORK — It was the ninth inning Monday night, the stands depleted by another miserable performance by the Mets, when Daniel Murphy stepped to the plate in an 11-3 loss. — Though most of the fans already had given up and maybe his teammates were ready to hit the showers …
RELATED:
David Waldstein / New York Times:Double Take: Murphy Has Shot at a Mets Record
Discussion:
The 'Ropolitans
Ken Fidlin / Toronto Sun:
Jays buzz — Looking toward next season, manager Cito Gaston's wish-list includes “some help in the starting rotation.” That would be especially acute if Roy Halladay is traded in the off-season in advance of his free agent year. — “A lot depends on free agency,” Gaston said.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Matt Swartz / Baseball Prospectus:
Slugging on Balls in Play — Two of the first things you learned about sabermetrics were that batting average is not a very good measure of a hitter, and that fielding percentage is not a very good measure of a fielder. Not all hits are created the same, and extra-base hits cause a lot …
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Webb not interested in taking pay cut — Right-hander Brandon Webb said if Diamondbacks executives are preparing to approach him about restructuring his $8.5 million contract option for 2010, they ought to save their breath. — He's not interested. — Webb, who hasn't pitched since Opening …
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Cuban client Aroldis Chapman a big deal to agent — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email — KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Aroldis Chapman, the newest resident of Andorra, is on course to be the hottest pitching commodity available in the offseason. — Expect the Red Sox [team stats] …
Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:
Hernandez, Nationals Are Throttled at Home By Dodgers — Livan Hernandez was young once, like his current Washington Nationals rotation-mates, except when he was young, he was on magazine covers. He was hoisting hardware. At 22, Hernandez was most valuable player of both the Nationals …
