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 …
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
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Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
CC is cool as October — NEW YORK — You search for even the faintest hint of anxiety or tension from the pitcher who's being asked to deliver the Yankees to the World Series. Of course there is none, nothing even close as CC Sabathia is flipping through mail Wednesday afternoon …
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.
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.
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Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Guzman added, Burnett in Game 2 (and a live chat tonight!) — Still in the interview room where Joe Girardi just announced that Freddy Guzman has been added to the roster in place of Eric Hinske. — Also, A.J. Burnett is starting Game 2. Andy Pettitte in Game 3. Game 4 is TBA.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Sox vs. Stripes, Sliding Into Home, The Bronx Block, Fack Youk, Pinstripe Alley and River Avenue Blues
Reuters:
U.S. clubs chase Japanese schoolboy Kikuchi — TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese schoolboy Yusei Kikuchi will hold ‘speed interviews’ with Major League Baseball clubs as the race to sign the explosive left-hander heats up. — The 18-year-old pitcher is poised to meet representatives …
Discussion:
THE BOOK
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Saito outrighted — Takashi Saito has been outrighted by the Red Sox off of their 40-man roster. This is likely a prelude to the team not picking up the 2010 option on his contract. We'll have more later.
MLB:
Albert Pujols in no hurry to talk extension with St. Louis Cardinals — The St. Louis Cardinals have expressed interest in extending Albert Pujols' contract during the winter, but the slugger is not in a hurry. — “I'm not desperate to sign a contract extension.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
PostCards: Is it time to trade Albert Pujols?
PostCards: Is it time to trade Albert Pujols?
Discussion:
Hardball Times
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.
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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 …
Toronto Star:
If Jays GM looking to make a splash, how about Bay? — Alex Anthopoulos is quickly putting his own stamp on the Blue Jays, reassembling the scouting and development staff, and good for him. — That's the best way to build for the long term. Plus, it also enhances his own job security.
Matt / Fack Youk:
The Fallacy Of El Comedulce — Good morning Fackers. The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 allowed for far easier and faster transportation from the East Coast to the West Coast than had previously existed. Yet, from what I've been hearing and reading over the past several months …
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …, ESPN, The Bronx View Yankees Podcast …, Yahoo! Sports and New York Times
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:
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
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Gammons: Jeff Wilpon is GM of the Mets — Yesterday, ESPN.com's Peter Gammons told 1050 ESPN Radio that Jeff Wilpon is the real GM of the Mets, not Omar Minaya. — The show's host, Michael Kay, asked Gammons if the Mets will look to hire hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, saying, ‘Omar loves him.’