Top News:
ESPN:
Blue Jays 12, Red Sox 0 — R — H — E — Halladay's 3-hitter sets tone as Blue Jays light up Wakefield, Red Sox bullpen — BOSTON — Roy Halladay keeps showing the Blue Jays what they'll be missing if they trade him. — The big name on the market at the non-waiver deadline two months ago …
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John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Red Sox look forward to the bright playoff spotlight — J.D. Drew's numbers state case — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio — There are 45 American League outfielders with at least 300 plate appearances this season. J.D. Drew [stats] has a higher OPS than 43 of them.
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Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Phillies clinch NL East, prepare to defend World Series title — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Now, the Philadelphia Phillies can rest and prepare to defend their World Series title. — Kyle Kendrick (FSY) pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Pedro Martinez (FSY) and the Phillies beat …
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Phillies Clinch Title, but Worries Abound — PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies had already clinched their third consecutive National League East title Wednesday night before Brad Lidge threw his first pitch in the ninth inning, but there was no one else Manager Charlie Manuel wanted on the mound.
ESPN.com:
Cleveland Indians fire manager Eric Wedge … CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians have fired manager Eric Wedge in the final days of a terrible season. — Wedge — Wedge guided the Indians to one playoff appearance in seven seasons, and this year the club fell out of contention early …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Let's Go Tribe!, Boston Globe, Yahoo! Sports and Batter's Box Interactive …
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Chico Harlan / Washington Post:
Walk-Off Grand Slam Powers Nats to Win in Home Finale — Maxwell's Walk-Off Slam Gives Fans a Lasting Moment to Cheer About: Nationals 7, Mets 4 — As a parting gift, the Washington Nationals delivered pleasure — no complications. The last scene of the 81st and final home game of the season …
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Hermida A Non-Tender Candidate — The Marlins are unlikely to tender a contract to outfielder Jeremy Hermida, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post. Hermida followed up on a lackluster '08 with a .259/.348/.392 line in 491 plate appearances this year.
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David Gurian-Peck / MLB.com:
Moyer to have season-ending surgery — MRI reveals tears in left-hander's groin and abdomen — PHILADELPHIA — Phillies left-hander Jamie Moyer will undergo season-ending surgery to repair the left groin injury he suffered in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Astros.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Sports Illustrated:
Rockies lead NL wild card by 4 after 10-6 win … DENVER(AP) Todd Helton , Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki each hit a two-run homer, and the Colorado Rockies moved closer to a playoff spot with a 10-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night. — The Rockies extended …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Hart could miss remaining games — Crew outfielder has possible fractures to two right fingers — DENVER — Right fielder Corey Hart was out of the lineup on Wednesday and could miss the Brewers' final five games of the season because of a hand injury. — Hart had X-rays earlier …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Crawford Open To Long-Term Deal With Rays — 7:02pm: As Topkin notes, the Rays sound interested. — “We are very pleased to hear C.C.'s comments,” executive vice president Andrew Friedman told the St. Petersburg Times just moments ago. … 6:47pm: Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports …
Joe Posnanski / Sports Illustrated:
Appreciating the understated brilliance of Chipper and the Braves … There is a very short list of players in baseball history who over long careers hit .300, own an on-base percentage of .400 and slug .500. There are more complete ways to judge a player's hitting talents, of course …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Sports Illustrated:
Mets SS Reyes has new hamstring tear — WASHINGTON (AP) -New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes has a new tear in the injured right hamstring that sidelined him for most of this season. — Reyes has been on the disabled list since May with a hamstring tendon problem.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Washington lays out Rangers' wish list — Veteran starter, lefty reliever are top offseason priorities — ANAHEIM — A veteran starting pitcher, a right-handed hitter and a left-handed relief specialist top manager Ron Washington's offseason wish list for the Rangers.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Joba takes step back in Yanks' loss — Righty chased in fourth inning, before comeback bid stalls — NEW YORK — The book — or the record book, rather — is now closed on the first regular season at the new Yankee Stadium. The Yankees are done swatting regular-season home runs …