Top News:
Associated Press:
Cliff Lee, Chase Utley, Phils top Yanks in World Series opener — NEW YORK — Look out for Cliff Lee, Chase Utley and this New Red Machine. — Lee outdueled CC Sabathia, Utley homered twice and the Philadelphia Phillies kept rolling through October, beating the New York Yankees 6-1 …
RELATED:
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Complete Lee: Phils ride gem over Yanks — Left-hander strikes out 10; Utley hammers two homers — NEW YORK — It was the defending World Series champions vs. the franchise that has won 26 World Series. — It was Cliff Lee vs. CC Sabathia. — But ultimately, it was Lee and Chase Utley.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Phillies' Francisco Quietly Showing What He Can Do — His name is Ben Francisco. You may know him as the Guy Who Was Traded With Cliff Lee. — On July 29, the Philadelphia Phillies made a deal with the Cleveland Indians to acquire Lee, who was destined to become their rotation savior …
Craig Calcaterra / Circling The Bases:
Major League Baseball is lying about Jay-Z — OK, this is really, really, petty in the grand scheme of things, but since Bud Selig hates it when teams announce actual news while the World Series is happening, this will have to tide us over. If you want, you can skip to the bottom to get my World Series prediction.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Walkoff Walk, New Jersey Online, Phillies Nation, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Boston Globe, NY Daily News and WBNS-TV
Ken Belson / New York Times:
Lines Blur Between Phillies and Yankees Territory — Where does Phillies Nation start and end and where does Yankees Nation begin? And does the Philadelphia metropolitan area bleed exclusively red, or are there patches of navy blue mixed in? — Given the team's long history in Philadelphia …
Sam Borden / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
World Series Game 1: Phillies at Yankees — YANKEES — Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (3-0, 1.19 ERA in postseason) — PHILLIES — Pitching: LHP Cliff Lee (2-0, 0.74 ERA in postseason) — WEATHER: Chilly and wet, with rain possible during the afternoon but (supposedly) tapering off tonight.
Sam Borden / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Jay-Z postponed; Stadium open for Game 4 — A few programming notes as the wait continues for what - weather permitting - should be a terrific night at the Stadium tonight: — The performance by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys has been postponed until tomorrow night.
RELATED:
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:Old Yankee Stadium a sad sight (and site) during World Series
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:JAY-Z and Alicia Keys Performances Moved to Game 2 of World Series Due to Weather
Discussion:
New Stadium Insider
Sam Borden / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Bruney, Hinske added; Guzman, Cervelli off — The Yankees just released their World Series roster and RHP Brian Bruney has been added, along with pinch-hitter Eric Hinske. Pinch-runner Freddy Guzman and third catcher Francisco Cervelli were removed. — Dropping Cervelli indicates …
Discussion:
Circling The Bases, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, ESPN, Fack Youk, Respect Jeter's Gangster, Philly.com and New York Post
RELATED:
Greg Risling / Associated Press:
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt accuses wife of affair — LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt on Wednesday filed papers opposing his wife's demand to be reinstated as the team's chief executive, citing insubordination and an affair she allegedly had with her bodyguard.
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Things to know about the Series, more notes (cont.) — Manny not leaving Mannywood — Manny Ramirez is planning to exercise the $20 million player option that returns him to the Dodgers for 2010. His original plan was to shop around, but after a year in which he was suspended for 50 games …
Discussion:
JSOnline, Circling The Bases, MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish, The iYankees Blog, NESN.com, Detroit Tigers and Brew Crew Ball
ESPN:
Sure, Ryan Howard's pretty good... Ryan Howard is pretty good. I mean, he's no Shin-Soo Choo. But pretty good, for sure. — You probably think I'm just some snot-nosed blogger trying to make a name for myself. — You're right. After all, it's patently ridiculous to suggest …
RELATED:
Mark Bowman / Bowman's Blog:
Hudson nearing extension — A source familiar with the negotiations said Wednesday night that Tim Hudson could be just a few days away from agreeing from the three-year contract extension that the Braves have offered. — “It's getting pretty close,” said this source, who added that there are just a few …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
RELATED:
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies moving closer to 3-year deal with Tracy — NEW YORK — The Rockies are moving toward an agreement on a three-year contract for manager Jim Tracy, according to a major league source. — The team ramped up negotiations this week, but it might not become official until next week since …
Associated Press:
Lawyer: Sex-for-tix woman has ‘Phillies fever’ — PHILADELPHIA — A lawyer for a Philadelphia woman charged with offering sex for World Series tickets says she is “a nice lady overcome with Phillies fever.” — Lawyer William J. Brennan says Susan Finkelstein might have dropped double entendres …
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Bad Contract Swap Meet — Got a bad contract on your hands? Maybe you can swap it for another team's problem. I'll list the bad contracts, you connect the dots. — Vernon Wells, Blue Jays - five years, $98.5MM — Alfonso Soriano, Cubs - five years, $90MM — Barry Zito, Giants - four years, $83MM
Jfay / Cincinnati Reds:
From Sarasota to Lynchburg (sort of) — The Reds are selling the their Florida State League affiliate to the Pirates. The Sarasota Reds will become the Bradenton Pirates (or whatever they name them). — To replace the high Single-A team, the Reds will take over the Pirates' Lynchburg team in the Carolina League.
Justin Hren / Club Seat:
Mark McGwire's Five-Step Approach To Hitting — The Mac is back! Big Mac, Mark McGwire is back with the Cardinals to be their hitting coach. McGwire has always been a fan favorite in St. Louis, but it's almost a written fact that he took steroids throughout most of his career.
RELATED:
