Top News:
Helene Elliott / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, wife Jamie separate — The team releases a statement, calling it a ‘personal matter.’ — Jamie and Frank McCourt, who bought the Dodgers in 2004, confirmed their separation in a statement released by the Dodgers on Wednesday night. (Los Angeles Times)
RELATED:
Beth Harris / Associated Press:
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, wife separate — LOS ANGELES (AP)—Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie have separated. — The couple confirmed it in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday night. — “This is a personal matter and they request that their privacy be respected …
Kasey Kahne / Yahoo! Sports:
Torre: Being a Dodger isn't a ‘living hell’ — LOS ANGELES - Dodgers manager Joe Torre said on the eve of the National League Championship Series that working for team owner Frank McCourt was not so unbearable that he would leave the club before his contract expired after next season.
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Tom Hoffarth / L.A. Daily News:
Gammons on Torre: He's gone after 2010 because Dodger ownership has made his life a ‘living hell’ — Peter Gammons is so money. — ESPN's Hall of Fame baseball analyst, a guest on Michael Kay's 1050-AM ESPN sports talk show in New York, came up with a nice sound bite that should be recycled …
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
MLB Announces Umpiring Crews for 2009 LCS
MLB Announces Umpiring Crews for 2009 LCS
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mariano wins Delivery Man of Year Award — It's third time in his career Yanks closer has picked up honor — NEW YORK — In a postseason in which closer after closer has faltered, Mariano Rivera has stood tall. Battling an illness, Rivera tossed at least one scoreless inning in each …
Discussion:
iYankees, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, Baseball & The Boogie Down, Bottom9 Baseball and The Bronx Block
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks keeping tabs on the weather — Tickets for Game 1 would be honored whenever it's played — NEW YORK — The Yankees are keeping an eye on a rainy forecast for this upcoming weekend, which could throw a wrinkle into their planning for the American League Division Series against the Angels.
John Perrotto / Baseball Prospectus:
Closing Confidence Tests
Closing Confidence Tests
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Yahoo! Sports, True Blue LA and The Good Phight
Dallas Morning News:
Cash-strapped Texas Rangers moving further from date with destiny — Give the Texas Rangers credit. They possess the ability to make news during the playoffs even without participating in them. — On Wednesday we learned that the organization is getting rid of Rudy Jaramillo but hanging onto some of your money.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
RELATED:
Sam Borden / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Angels announce their ALCS rotation — Mike Scioscia was a little more forthcoming at his post-workout media session in California, revealing his four-man series rotation. John Lackey, as expected, will pitch Game 1, with Joe Saunders pitching Game 2, Jered Weaver in Game 3 and Scott Kazmir in Game 4.
RELATED:
Todd Zolecki / The Zo Zone:
Myers Off NLCS Roster, Park On — Brett Myers said tonight that the Phillies have told him he is not on the NLCS roster. — “I'm (ticked),” he said. — Chan Ho Park will take his place, a team source said. Park has not pitched since Sept. 16 because of a strained right hamstring, but Park said he feels healthy.
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Hanley signs with Louisville Slugger — NL batting champ's signature will appear on bats — MIAMI — For winning the National League batting title, Hanley Ramirez recently won the Silver Bat Award, presented by Louisville Slugger. — The Marlins All-Star shortstop is regarded as one of the top players in the game.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Sean McAdam / Boston Herald:
Theo Epstein sees value in patch jobs — Re-arm with retreads — Last winter, the Red Sox [team stats] signed two veterans with shoulder issues - Brad Penny and John Smoltz - to modest deals, designed to give the team inexpensive depth. — Neither deal worked out particularly well.
Discussion:
Yawkey Way Academy
NY Daily News:
Teufel leads ex-Met wave — As the body was unloaded from a U-Haul truck and wheeled across the Scottsdale, Arizona, parking lot, cryonicists with cameras swarmed from Alcor's back doors, laughing, joking, and snapping souvenir pictures. — The Stadium erupts and players go wild as they greet …
Discussion:
24 Hours From Suicide
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Japanese lefty sparks interest from MLB — The Red Sox are reportedly one of several teams interested in lefthander Yusei Kikuchi, the top amateur player in Japan. — Kikuchi is trying to decide whether to bypass the Japanese draft in favor of signing with a Major League team as a free agent.