Top News:
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Official: Lester in Game 1, Beckett in 2 — With both Jon Lester and Josh Beckett healthy after recent scares — a ball to the knee for Lester, cortisone shots in the back for Beckett — manager Terry Francona announced the Red Sox' postseason pitching rotation after today's game.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Fox Sports, sox1fan.com, MLB FanHouse, The Joy of Sox, Over the Monster and Joe Posnanski
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
So when do the playoffs start? Good question — The Minnesota Twins are still on the field at the moment, but with an AL Central Division playoff game looming, the Red Sox are facing an unusual predicament. They may not know when they will begin their AL Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels until late Tuesday afternoon.
Discussion:
Angels Unplugged
Associated Press:
Twins force one-game playoff with Tigers — MINNEAPOLIS - Hang on to those Homer Hankies: The Metrodome isn't ready to close for baseball just yet. — Jason Kubel got those familiar white towels waving with a pair of three-run homers and Minnesota beat Kansas City 13-4 Sunday …
Discussion:
USA Today, Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, Bless You Boys, Yahoo! Sports and Twinkie Town
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Associated Press:
Tigers survive, to play Twins in tiebreaker for AL Central crown — DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander and Ryan Raburn gave the Detroit Tigers at least one more game. — Raburn hit two homers and Magglio Ordonez had a solo shot to lead slumping Detroit over the Chicago White Sox 5-3 Sunday …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Andrew Simon / MLB.com:
Piniella: Sandberg would be ‘in mix’ — Skipper warns managing Minors is different than Majors — CHICAGO — Ryne Sandberg is expected to ride buses for at least another year before he has a chance to fulfill his ambition of succeeding Lou Piniella as manager of the Cubs.
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Could Valentine be Marlins' manager? … Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is said to be less than satisfied with his team's standing, and in a fairly shocking development is apparently considering replacing well-regarded manager Fredi Gonzalez, who has been widely praised for his performance this season.
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JSOnline:
Macha back with option — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — St. Louis - Brewers general manager Doug Melvin confirmed Sunday morning what had become increasingly obvious in recent days, that manager Ken Macha would be returning in 2010 for the second year of his two-year contract.
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers finally come to play — On its sixth day of trying, L.A. gets to celebrate its second consecutive National League West championship. — Sick of staring at it, the Dodgers became it, pouring themselves across Chavez Ravine on Saturday night like the champagne that has haunted them.
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JSOnline:
Hoffman close to returning — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — St. Louis - Trevor Hoffman just dropped a very interesting bit of news to us after the final game of the season: he already is deep into discussions to return to the Brewers in 2010.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Mark Feinsand / Blogging The Bombers:
Yankees to open Wednesday against ... somebody — It's official: the Yankees will start the playoffs on Wednesday. — The team is unlikely to make any formal announcement until the conclusion of Tuesday night's Tigers-Twins playoff, but Joe Girardi informed CC Sabathia after today's …
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Podsednik open-minded about market — Outfielder likes Chicago, but will explore free agency — DETROIT — There's has been little doubt left by Scott Podsednik in regard to his strong desire to return to the White Sox for the 2010 season and possibly beyond.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Parnell elects not to pitch in winter ball — Mets righty is fatigued from his first full big league season — NEW YORK — Even now, months before the Mets assemble in Port St. Lucie, Fla., some definition may have been added to their plans for 2010. Nothing is for certain of course …
Associated Press:
Figueroa pitches shutout, Mets beat Astros 4-0 — NEW YORK - Nelson Figueroa pitched a four-hitter for his first major league complete game, Angel Pagan keyed the offense and the New York Mets wrapped up a miserable season Sunday by completing a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 4-0 victory.
