Top News:
Mctaggart / Tag's Lines:
Astros hire Mills — Brad Mills, who spent the last six years working under former college roommate and teammate Terry Francona as the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox, will be named Tuesday to be named as the new manager of the Astros. — How does the hiring of Mills play with Astros fans?
Discussion:
Houston Chronicle, Bottom9 Baseball, Over the Monster, Circling The Bases and Full Count
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Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Red Sox bench coach was skipper in Minors for 11 years — HOUSTON — Astros general manager Ed Wade's respect for Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona runs deep, so it wasn't surprising that the club leaned on Francona heavily for advice and wound up tabbing someone from his staff to lead the Astros into the future.
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Associated Press:
Report: Houston Astros to name Boston Red Sox's Brad Mills skipper — HOUSTON — Brad Mills is the new manager of the Houston Astros. — The 52-year-old Mills has been Terry Francona's bench coach in Boston for the past six seasons. He'll manage in the majors for the first time …
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Sox to stay internal for bench coach? — NEW YORK — While Sox manager Terry Francona is ecstatic at the news that Brad Mills was named the manager of the Houston Astros today, it is also clear that he will have a void to fill on the Red Sox staff. — Asked if he might turn to an internal candidate …
Discussion:
NESN.com
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Pedro gets Game 2 start for Phillies — Old foe will make seventh postseason appearance vs. Yanks — NEW YORK — Phillies manager Charlie Manuel dropped a few big hints the past few days that Pedro Martinez would pitch Game 2 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. — He made it official Tuesday morning.
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Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Awaiting finest Fall Classic in decade — Why does this World Series feel so perfect? Maybe because it is — putting baseball's two most headstrong teams on a collision course. There's plenty to choose from the Yankees-Phillies buffet, whether you're a purist who loves pitching duels …
Mike DiGiovanna / LA Times Sports Blog:
Gary Matthews Jr. wants out of Anaheim — While three Angels headed for free agency — Vladimir Guerrero, Bobby Abreu and Chone Figgins — have expressed publicly a desire to return to Anaheim, one player who has two years remaining on his contract has no desire to return to the Angels in 2010.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball
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Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Gary Matthews Jr. Wants Out — When the Angels handed Gary Matthews Jr. a five-year, $50MM contract prior to the 2007 season, the team figured it was getting an elite centerfielder that played Gold Glove defense and hit .300+ like he did in his final season in Texas.
George A. King III / New York Post:
Yanks' aim: Win one for George — The Boss has lost something off a Hall of Fame fastball, but that doesn't mean the need to win has been sucked from his marrow. — “It's the old George, the focus is on nothing but winning,” a friend of Steinbrenner's told The Post yesterday.
Discussion:
New York Times
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Hinske, Bruney on Yankees roster; Guzman, Cervelli off — Emphasizing extra pitching and a power bat to pinch-hit, the Yankees will submit a World Series roster that will add Brian Bruney and Eric Hinske and remove Francisco Cervelli and Freddy Guzman, The Post has learned.
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Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Gaudin getting stretched out, start possible — Pitching coach Dave Eiland said the Yankees haven't ruled out the idea of sticking with a three-man rotation in the World Series, a plan that would force all three starters to pitch on short rest. That said, Chad Gaudin is scheduled to throw …
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
One of the Whiz Kids, Curt Simmons, recalls the last Phils-Yankees World Series - in 1950 — Imagine if Cole Hamels or Cliff Lee couldn't pitch for Philadelphia in the World Series this week because they were summoned for military service. — That's what happened to Curt Simmons nearly 60 years ago …
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Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
Tom Verducci: How do you beat the Yankees? Smoltz has a radical idea … 1. As the postseason began, Cardinals pitcher John Smoltz gave me a stunning piece of advice about how to stop the Yankees this October. Remember, it was the powerful New York lineup that knocked Smoltz clear …
New York Post:
Their fans are second rate & so is their city — Gotham trembles; the Frillies are coming to town — Yankee fans have a message for the Phillies and their hometown: This ain't Rocky, and the underdog won't win! — “The Yankees are going to make Philly cream cheese out of them,” …
ESPN:
Figuring Yankee rotation — With the world still awaiting the puffs of smoke that will signal Joe Girardi's intentions regarding his starting pitchers in the World Series, Dan Rosenheck offers his well-reasoned (as usual) advice: — The critical question for Girardi is how to make the most use …
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Chris Mottram / Mr. Irrelevant:
Redskins Fan Booted From MNF Game, Banned From FedEx For Anti-Snyder Sign — Today's guest writer is a man known simply as Fitz, a friend of the Brothers Mottram and all-around outstanding Redskins fan. You may recognize him as our “Snyder Sucks” t-shirt model. He has also made appearances in several D.C. Sports Bog posts.
