Top News:
Buster Olney / MLB:
Trevor Hoffman, Milwaukee Brewers agree to 1-year, $8 million deal — Trevor Hoffman has agreed to another one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. — Hoffman — Hoffman, who turns 42 next week, had 37 saves and a 1.55 ERA with the Brewers this season, pushing his career saves total to 591, the major league record.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, FanGraphs Baseball, Jorge Says No!, JSOnline, MLB Daily Dish and Associated Press
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Mets likely to give Backman minor-league gig amid staff shakeup … The Mets will announce a few changes to their coaching staff today, but a more intriguing personnel decision is on deck. — The team now appears willing to give scrappy fan favorite Wally Backman a second chance to return to baseball in a minor-league job.
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Brian Costa / New Jersey Online:
Mets manager Jerry Manuel explains changes to coaching staff — NEW YORK — Mets manager Jerry Manuel spoke to reporters for just over 22 minutes Monday morning at Citi Field. And he spent almost all that time explaining the changes to the coaching staff that were made — and the ones that weren't made — for 2010.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Detroit Free Press:
Police: Cabrera was drunk during fight with wife — First baseman had .26 blood-alcohol level — Miguel Cabrera had a blood-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit when he was involved in a physical altercation with his wife early Saturday morning, according to the Birmingham Police.
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Mike Martindale / Detroit News:
Police: Drunk Cabrera picked up, released after 911 call from home — Birmingham — Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera was taken in for questioning early Saturday morning based on a 911 call made from his home by his wife, Birmingham Police Chief Richard Patterson said Monday.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets have season to disremember — The initials ‘DL’ figure prominently in team's lost year — NEW YORK — David Wright had hit the pitch soundly and in the general direction of a come-from-behind victory. This one had carry, and, unlike many of his well-struck drives at Citi Field …
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Aaron / AaronGleeman.com:
The Beginning? — That was kind of amazing. — When the Twins lost in Detroit last Wednesday it looked (to me at least) like the season was over, save for “a miracle if things break perfectly for the Twins and horribly for the Tigers.” They were three games back with four games left …
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MLB.com:
2009 MLB Postseason Schedule* — Teams That Have Clinched a Postseason Berth: — NOTE: In the Division Series, the New York Yankees will host the AL Central Champion (winner of the Tuesday, Oct. 6th DET @ MIN tie-breaker), while the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will host the Boston Red Sox.
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Official: Lester in Game 1, Beckett in 2
Official: Lester in Game 1, Beckett in 2
Discussion:
Baseball Analysts, The Yankee Universe, Over the Monster, MLB FanHouse, sox1fan.com, Yahoo! Sports and The Joy of Sox
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
So when do the playoffs start? Good question
So when do the playoffs start? Good question
Discussion:
Angels Unplugged
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks set club record with 243rd homer — With two in one inning, A-Rod breaks '04 record, ties McGwire — ST. PETERSBURG — Alex Rodriguez helped the Yankees set a new franchise record for home runs in a single season, punctuating the final day of the campaign by sending two homers …
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New York Post:
Minaya might hire fired GMs — Omar Minaya reached out to Kevin Towers and J.P. Ricciardi over the weekend to express his support after the two were fired as general managers and also to lay the groundwork to speak to both soon about possible jobs in the Mets' organization, The Post has learned.
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Beltre prepared for uncertain market — Free agent third baseman might not return to Seattle — SEATTLE — The two lockers filled with Adrian Beltre's belongings the past five years were vacant on Monday morning. — The Mariners third baseman left the building late Sunday afternoon …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Arizona beats Cubs in finale of miserable year — Doug Davis gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a win over the Chicago Cubs in the finale of disappointing seasons for both teams. — Davis pitched eight strong innings and Chris Young homered Sunday. leading the Diamondbacks to a 5-2 victory.
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NBCSports.com:
Carpenter and Hill voted comeback players of year — NEW YORK - Chris Carpenter has been voted NL comeback player of the year and Aaron Hill has won the AL award. — Limited to four starts over the prior two seasons because of elbow surgery and a shoulder injury, Carpenter was 17-4 …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers want new pitching coach quickly — Hire will have some say in filling of other openings — ST. LOUIS — Brewers general manager Doug Melvin plans to move fast in his search for a new pitching coach. — “I hope to do the pitching thing within 2-3 weeks,” Melvin said Sunday …
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Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
Q&A With Mike Rizzo — So, here's the full let's-begin-the-offseason Q&A with GM Mike Rizzo. If you want the microwave version, here goes: 1) Rizzo seems to want a veteran baseball guy as his next manager. 2) He doesn't believe Bryce Harper is the surefire No. 1 pick in 2010, as Stephen Strasburg was this year.
Discussion:
MASNsports.com
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Alvarez Worth The Shift For Pirates — Nothing is certain yet, but the Pirates have spoken with incumbent third baseman Andy LaRoche about working out at second base, with the hope that Pedro Alvarez can take over at third base in Pittsburgh by the middle of next season.
Sports Illustrated:
Ramirez becomes first Marlin to win batting crown … PHILADELPHIA(AP) Philadelphia's big sluggers had the day off to rest for the playoffs. The Phillies didn't miss them in their final postseason tuneup. — Paul Hoover hit a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning …
Discussion:
The Good Phight
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