Top News:
Jesse Spector / NY Daily News:
If Yanks collapse in ALCS, Joe needs to go — The Yankees will come home Saturday still leading the ALCS, 3-2, still one win away from returning to the World Series for the first time since 2003, still with Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia lined up to pitch them there.
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Jim Caple / ESPN:
Yankees miss chance to close out series — A two-run lead with nine outs to go wasn't enough as Angels rally to force a Game 6 … ANAHEIM, Calif. — Stacks of unopened champagne bottles and a growling media waited for the Yankees outside their clubhouse following Game 5.
Discussion:
New York Times
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:Tom Verducci: ALCS Game 6 is critical for Yankees' World Series rotation
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Rebecca / This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes:
It's all about the leverage (or why Mariano should have pitched the 7th) — Leverage is a funny word. A loaded word, if you will. — For one thing, it's more or less responsible for the financial collapse of America. — In baseball parlance, leverage refers to an on-field situation …
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Joseph Pawlikowski / River Avenue Blues:If a closer is a team's best reliever, then why isn't he used …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Melissa Segura / Sports Illustrated:
Padres to hire Hoyer as GM … The San Diego Padres will name Jed Hoyer as their new general manager later today, a front office source tells SI.com. — Hoyer, 35, most recently served as the Boston Red Sox's senior vice president and assistant general manager.
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Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Hoyer to be named Padres GM — Jed Hoyer will be named the San Diego Padres general manager, a baseball source confirmed to the Globe's Tony Massarotti. — The 35-year-old Hoyer, who recently held the title of vice president and assistant general manager, has been a member of the Red Sox' front office since 2002.
Tim Britton / MLB.com:
Yankees could sit slumping Swisher — Girardi considering lineup change, batting order flip-flop — NEW YORK — Nick Swisher sauntered to his locker Friday, opened up a pair of Louisville Slugger boxes storing new bats and turned to the cluster of reporters slowly encroaching.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
Bridget Wentworth / New Jersey Online:NY Yankees can't afford to give struggling Nick Swisher another at-bat
Discussion:
ESPN, The Pinstriper, The Bronx View Yankees Podcast …, It's About The Money and Deadspin
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers outline offseason needs — Colletti, Torre list starting pitching depth, second baseman — LOS ANGELES — Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti and manager Joe Torre got an early start on the managing of offseason expectations Friday when they said an acquisition of an ace starting pitcher is unlikely.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Associated Press:
Colletti: McCourts' problems not affecting the Dodgers — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said Friday it's been business as usual running the team despite owner Frank McCourt firing his wife as CEO of the club. — Colletti said he doesn't anticipate any cutbacks …
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Hudson, Braves talking about extension — Right-hander optimistic that he can stay in Atlanta — ATLANTA — Tim Hudson and the Braves have started negotiating the contract extension that could enable the right-hander the opportunity to continue pitching in Atlanta.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Sheets planning big return in 2010 — Former Brewers righty has high school number retired — MILWAUKEE — Former Brewers right-hander Ben Sheets returned to his Louisiana high school last week and saw his No. 15 uniform retired. Sheets intends to be wearing it again in 2010.
David Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Giddy Halos fan takes a dive into the waterfall at Angel Stadium — Why is this guy all wet? Not because Angel Stadium has a pool. No, he's dripping with “holy” water because he went for a frolic in the ballpark's rocky waterfall. — Because an Angels' four-run lead over the Yankees …
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
All about the money — The most promising aspect, going forward, is that the Red Sox have money to spend again. And even if the Red Sox elect to spend it all this winter, the even better news is that they project to have just as much financial flexibility during the winter of 2010.
