Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Angels Can Win in Various Ways, and Often Have — MINNEAPOLIS — The Yankees have never played the Los Angeles Angels in a best-of-seven series, and baseball has been poorer for it. There may be no matchup with such intense play and opponents who are more respectful of each other's strengths.
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Matt Gagne / NY Daily News:
Mo is still the best closer in baseball — MINNEAPOLIS - If there is any doubt who the best closer in baseball is, the debate was settled Sunday. — Boston's Jonathan Papelbon blew a save (he lost the game) and the Red Sox painfully bowed out of the other American League division series.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
The old-time gloom settles over Fenway — It was shocking. It was time travel. It was back to the bad old days. — It was a macabre matinee at our ancient baseball theater. — All you young New Englanders who shrugged whenever dad said, “The Sox will blow it, they always choke at the end,” . . . now you know.
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Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
Will Jonathan Papelbon be wearing a Red Sox uniform in 2010? — sat silently in front of his locker after Sunday's season-ending blown save to the Angels, but the usually chatty closer was causing a lot of discussion around the baseball world. — And not just talk of the …
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Full Count, MLB Babble, Fack Youk, Sports Blog Net, Over the Monster, Pinstripe Alley and MLB Rumors
Projo Sox Blog:
Pedroia: ‘Our field is the worst in the game’ — BOSTON — When the Angels' Erick Aybar slapped a single up the middle to start a two-out, ninth-inning rally against the Red Sox and closer Jonathan Papelbon, the ball barely skipped past shortstop Alex Gonzalez and second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards set to probe reasons for failure — Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak (left) talks with chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. during batting practice before Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. (By Chris Lee/P-D)
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Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Umps admit missed call on Utley hit — Replay shows key play in ninth should've been ruled foul — DENVER — Whether it was umpires being in the wrong place or some gamesmanship by the Phillies' Chase Utley, the fact is a missed call played a part in Philadelphia's 6-5 victory over Colorado …
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Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Hot-hitting Torrealba bats fifth for Rox — Catcher has just 23 career at-bats above No. 6 spot — DENVER — With a strong finish to the regular season and a surprise home run in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba found himself with a more prominent role for Sunday night's Game 3.
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Sports Blog Net
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Game-time temp in Denver ties record — First pitch tossed in Rox-Phils duel at chilly 35 degrees — DENVER — Brrrrrrrring it on. — After a 24-hour delay in the scheduling of the National League Division Series, the Rockies and Phillies finally started Game 3 on Sunday night, making postseason history in the process.
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Offseason Outlook: Toronto Blue Jays — Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Blue Jays. Their likely commitments for 2010: — C - — C - Raul Chavez - $500K+ — 1B - Lyle Overbay - $7MM — 2B - Aaron Hill - $4MM — SS - — 3B - Edwin Encarnacion - $4.75MM
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Bluebird Banter
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats' scouting director joining Blue Jays — Exec Brown will be assistant to Toronto's Anthopoulos — Dana Brown is leaving the Nationals as an amateur scouting director and will join the Blue Jays to become a special assistant to general manager Alexander Anthopoulos.
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays seem willing to see if catcher Dioner Navarro can come back — BOSTON — Of the three most disappointing Rays, DH Pat Burrell has the farthest to go, CF B.J. Upton is the most important to the team and C Dioner Navarro poses the biggest question.
William C. Rhoden / New York Times:
Yankees-Dodgers Is the Finish Baseball Needs — In the euphoria of the moment, Los Angeles Angels Manager Mike Scioscia was asked Sunday if he had thought about a freeway series between the Angels and the Dodgers. The Dodgers eliminated the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday …
