Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
After a Disappointing First Season, Girardi Adjusts — Joe Girardi's hair is the color of steel, buzzed close to his scalp, suited for the military. The reason is that anything else would look frizzy. But the haircut, it seems, has always informed the narrative.
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yanks want to clinch against Sox — The Yankees and Red Sox are both headed for October, but the two rivals would love to make a statement to assert themselves as the favorites in the American League. — With only 10 days to go until the end of the regular season, the two AL East contenders …
Associated Press:
Dodgers one win away from playoffs; Nats hit 100 losses — WASHINGTON (AP) — Rafael Furcal (FSY) hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning Thursday night, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Washington 7-6 to hand the Nationals their 100th loss of the season.
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Lisa Winston / MLB.com:
Dodgers cut playoff magic number to one — Furcal collects four hits, including winning homer in eighth — WASHINGTON — Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier quoted a wise baseball man — his own teammate, veteran outfielder Juan Pierre — to sum up the Dodgers' 7-6 win over Washington on Thursday night: “Both sides of the ball.”
Discussion:
Sons of Steve Garvey
Ben Goessling / Washington Times:Nats dodge century mark by rallying to win
Discussion:
Washington Post, MLB.com, William World News, MASNsports.com, NationalsPride.com and The Nationals Enquirer
Associated Press:
Tigers' Verlander strikes out 11 as Indians drop 11th straight — CLEVELAND (AP) — Justin Verlander (FSY) pitched the Detroit Tigers closer to a division title and pushed the Cleveland Indians within one loss of matching a franchise record for futility with a 6-5 win on Thursday night.
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Best (and worst) of the playoff rotations — Starting pitching often rules in October, and that should bode well for the Red Sox — When you think of October, you think of Josh Beckett pitching a Game 6 shutout in Yankee Stadium. You think of Cole Hamels, carving his own little slice of Mr. October history.
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
FINAL: Red Sox 10, Royals 3 — SOX WIN (11:51, TOP 9, 10-3 SOX) — After a long, ugly victory, the Sox cut their magic number clinch the AL wild card down to three. Clay Buchholz pitched 6 2/3 sterling, shutout innings, striking out eight and allowing five hits, all singles.
Jim Rice / Ask 14:
Greinke is a Good Pitcher - Not Dominant — Zack Greinke didn't really impress me last night. He pitched well and maybe I caught him on a bad night, but to me he didn't seem dominant. Greinke has may have the lowest ERA in the AL since Pedro Martinez in 2000, but he doesn't strike …
Discussion:
Joe Posnanski, Hardball Times, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Yawkey Way Academy, Circling The Bases and Amazin' Avenue
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Fielder is last candidate to play all 162 — Goal to be in lineup every day started in Little League — MILWAUKEE — When Baltimore right fielder Nick Markakis took a night off on Tuesday in Toronto, the Brewers' Prince Fielder became the season's lone iron man.
Associated Press:
Rookie Anderson wins fourth straight as A's split series with Rangers — OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers have gotten to know each other better this month — as in seven meetings in 11 days. — Last-place Oakland won five of those games and put a big damper on Texas' wild-card hopes in the process.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Pirates Claim Anthony Claggett — The Pirates claimed pitcher Anthony Claggett off waivers from the Yankees, according to a press release. The Yanks had designated him for assignment ten days ago. Claggett, a 25-year-old righty, was acquired by the Yanks from Detroit in the Gary Sheffield deal in November of '06.
Discussion:
Fack Youk
Canadian Press:
HERNANDEZ WINS NO. 17 AS MARINERS DOWN BLUE JAYS — TORONTO — There is lots of intrigue building around Felix Hernandez right now, and how his future plays out this winter is something the Toronto Blue Jays will be watching closely. — The dominant right-hander struck out a season-high 11 batters …
TSN.ca:
PHILLIES GET PAST BREWERS; INCH CLOSER TO DIVISION TITLE — Sports Network — Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Jimmy Rollins went 2-for-4 and smacked a three-run homer during a six-run fifth inning, as the Philadelphia Phillies inched closer their third consecutive division title with a 9-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Associated Press:
Padres say most tix to be cheaper or hold steady — SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres say prices for the majority of tickets for next season, including all full season ticket packages, will either be reduced or remain at the 2009 level. — The team says 86 percent of full-plan pricing will be more affordable than in 2009.
Jon Weisman / Dodger Thoughts:
Can you trust any national baseball writer? — National baseball columnists offer opinions on the Dodgers that you might or might not agree with. That's just the way it is. — Too often, however, their opinions are based on factual errors that, while not intentional, clearly reflect a lack of familiarity with the team.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Pujols is TSN's Player of the Decade — Slugger topped a .300 average in each of his nine seasons — The Sporting News announced its Major League Player of the Decade on Thursday, and there was little in the way of surprise. — That honor was bestowed upon Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
