Top News:
Richard / SportsJustice:
Astros have a very bad day, and that's being kind — Manny Acta was the guy they wanted. The Astros liked everything about him. His presence and personality. How he forged relationships with players. His ability to run a game. — I said from the beginning that there was no right answer in this search for a new manager.
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Alex Speier / Full Count:
Beltran Not an Option for Sox (or Anyone Else) — A recent story in the Boston Herald suggested that Mets centerfielder Carlos Beltran could be an intriguing contingency plan for the Red Sox this offseason should Boston fail to re-sign left-fielder Jason Bay.
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Red Sox' hot stove fired up early — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email the Author — Who could that be? Top-flight center fielders are a lot harder to find than left fielders, although what happens in contract talks with Jason Bay (or potential alternatives) this offseason may or may not prove that out.
Ben Bolch / Los Angeles Times:
Vladimir Guerrero goes down swinging — and zinging — In what might have been his final game as an Angel, the normally keep-to-himself slugger has three hits and twice jaws at home plate umpire Dale Scott over disputed strike calls in 5-2 loss. — Angels designated hitter watches …
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Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Which Angels will be back next year? — Seven Halos will test the free agent market. — Recommend — NEW YORK As the visitors' clubhouse at Yankee Stadium slowly emptied following the Angels' Game 6 loss, injured right-hander Scot Shields was “trying not to” think about who might …
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:Pennant affirms Pettitte's decision to return to Yankees
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa's back — with McGwire — Tony La Russa this morning will announce his return as Cardinals manager along with the surprise addition of Mark McGwire, the former home run king, who will end an eight-year, self-imposed exile from the game to become the team's hitting coach.
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
After Six Years, Center Stage Again — When they were new stars at an old park, the baseball season rarely ended until they were done playing. Now the Yankees' core is older, the park is new and the World Series is no longer a birthright. But the stage is theirs again.
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Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
George Steinbrenner will attend Series opener — George Steinbrenner will “absolutely” be — at Yankee Stadium for Game 1 of the World Series Wednesday night, Hal Steinbrenner said last night. — “I think all these players are doing this for him,” Hal said. “We want to win this whole thing for him.
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Opinion: I'm Rooting for the Phillies to Fail — I am not rooting for the Yankees, I just can't root for the Phillies. — The two teams will compete in the World Series, starting Wednesday night, thus putting a perfect and painful finish on top of what has been one of the worst seasons in Mets history.
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Donnelly not ruling out returning to Marlins — Veteran reliever expected to explore free agency this offseason — MIAMI — In July, it was a perfect fit. — Now, the Marlins are asking themselves if the matchup makes sense for 2010. — In early July, the Marlins were seeking relief help …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
Don Mattingly, Los Angeles Dodgers ponder coach's next move — Don Mattingly was on the short list of managerial candidates in Cleveland, and wasn't hired. — But he is speaking with the Los Angeles Dodgers about his future with that organization, and while it would be premature …
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
MLB ANALYST STEVE PHILLIPS FIRED BY ESPN — THIS IS BREAKING NEWS... UPDATE 1: Sources to The Biz of Baseball indicate that Phillips' agent Steve Lefkowitz has said that Phillips is voluntarily admitting himself to an inpatient treatment facility to address his personal issues.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yankees invite Chapman to Game 6 … Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman will be at ALCS Game 6 at Yankee Stadium as a guest of the Yankees, sources said. — The invitation is a not-do-subtle way of gaining an advantage in talks for the talented left-handed pitcher.
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Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:Mets Out of Chapman Sweepstakes
Discussion:
Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
10 worst World Series games ever — It's that time of year again - the Fall Classic is upon us. I have a lot of fun researching World Series related stuff. Two years ago, I wrote a series of articles on the best games in the history of baseball's annual finale.
