Top News:
Bob Hohler / Boston Globe:
Inside the collapse — Dedication waned, unity unraveled, and manager lost influence as a once-inspiring Red Sox season ended in epic failure — With their team in peril and their manager losing his authority, three Red Sox pitchers last month were uniquely positioned to prevent …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Gaslamp Ball, Associated Press, NESN.com, Amazin' Avenue, MLB.com, Baseball Nation, Deadspin, Projo Sox Blog, SawxBlog, Over the Monster, joy of sox, SportsGrid, The Big Lead, SOX & Dawgs, Royals Review, FenwayNationWorld, baseballmusings.com, soxaholix.com, Fenway West, It's About The Money, Boston Sports Media Watch and NoMaas.org
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Jerry Spar / WEEI:
D&C: THEO HAS 5-YEAR DEAL WITH CUBS — WEEI's John Dennis reported Wednesday morning that Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has agreed with the Cubs on a five-year deal worth more than $15 million. — According to Dennis' sources, the Red Sox granted the Cubs permission to talk with Epstein late last week.
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Report: Theo Epstein agrees to a five-year deal with the Cubs — John Dennis of WEEI just reported that Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has agreed with the Cubs on a five-year deal worth more than $15 million. This is a huge moment for the Cubs. Franchise-altering.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Pirates Prospects, VFTB and The House That Dewey Built
Steve Buckley / Boston Herald:
Theo Epstein on brink of joining Cubs — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email — Two baseball sources have confirmed that Theo Epstein is on the cusp of leaving his job as general manager of the Red Sox [team stats] to accept a position with the Chicago Cubs that is believed …
Alex Speier / WEEI:
HEIR APPARENT: HOW BEN CHERINGTON EMERGED AS THEO EPSTEIN'S LIKELY SUCCESSOR — It was a time when general managers had suddenly been turned into the iconic faces of franchises. — The Red Sox had engaged in a public and dramatic courtship of Billy Beane, the GM who was quickly coming …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Brian Cashman: ‘I have a job’ … NEW YORK — With Yankees general manager Brian Cashman's current contract scheduled to run out at the end of the month, would he be interested in the new Boston Red Sox opening? — “I have a job,” Cashman told ESPNNewYork.com on Wednesday. — Cashman is expected to keep that job.
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and ESPN.com
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Epstein not out the door — yet
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, Over the Monster, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, The LoHud Yankees Blog and joy of sox
Sean McAdam / Comcast SportsNet:
Epstein close to leaving Sox, heading to Cubs
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Boston Herald and NESN.com
Noah Trister / Associated Press:
Fister, Martinez help Tigers pull to 2-1 in ALCS — DETROIT—Victor Martinez slowed his home run trot to barely a jog, stepping gingerly around the bases after hurting himself with a big swing. — The banged-up Detroit Tigers are teetering but still standing, thanks to Martinez …
Discussion:
Reuters, Bless You Boys and Lookout Landing
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Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Beltre's knee is hardest hit as sluggers struggle
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
V-Mart continues despite intercostal strain
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Chris Cox / MLB.com:
Texas must brush aside Comerica Park woes
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score and Bless You Boys
Nate Mink / MLB.com:
Howard undergoes surgery on torn Achilles — PHILADELPHIA — First baseman Ryan Howard underwent surgery on his ruptured left Achilles on Wednesday in Baltimore. Dr. Mark Myerson performed the procedure. — The Phillies did not announce a timetable for Howard's return, but the normal recovery period is 4-6 months.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
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Kuiperfan / Joe Posnanski:
The Worst Contracts in Baseball — Dan Quisenberry said many wonderful things in his too-short life, but probably the most famous is his line about the future. “I've seen the future,” he said, “and it's much like the present, only longer.” — A version of that quote kept popping …
Discussion:
The Yankee Analysts, Tedquarters and We Should Be GMs
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Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
The 3-year, $100 Million Offer — In a post for SI.com, in which he lists the 10 worst contracts in baseball, Joe Posnanski writes: … It makes sense. And, it's interesting Joe brings this up, because the buzz out of Miami suggests this is exactly what the Marlins are thinking of doing …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Yankees' killer instinct appears to have vanished — NEW YORK - Joe Girardi spent a lot of time Tuesday talking about how much “luck” goes into winning a championship. It's a popular anesthesia, meant to keep fans from feeling bitter about early round losses in the playoffs.
Discussion:
It's About The Money and HardballTalk
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Silver anniversary: the Donnie Moore-Dave Henderson game — 25 years ago, one of the most famous (or infamous) games in baseball history occurred. On Oct. 12, 1986, the greatest pair of LCS of all-time were underway. In the ALCS, the Angels appeared to be on the verge of their first pennant in franchise history.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven and baseballmusings.com
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Rockies Claim Andrew Brown — The Rockies announced that they claimed Andrew Brown off of waivers from the Cardinals (Twitter link). St. Louis had designated the versatile 27-year-old for assignment over the weekend to create roster space for Lance Lynn. — Brown appeared in 11 games …
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Astros Expected To Complete Sale, Move To AL — Astros owner Drayton McLane is expected to complete the sale of the team to Jim Crane in mid-November, according to Peter Gammons of MLB Network (on Twitter). The arrangement would move Houston to the American League West and even MLB into two leagues of 15 teams.
Discussion:
Where Have You Gone …, Bucs Dugout and Al's Ramblings
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Williams considered Konerko for Sox manager — While team captain wasn't interviewed, he was in candidate mix — CHICAGO — Picture this scenario at the first full-squad White Sox workout of Spring Training at Camelback Ranch next February. — Paul Konerko takes his physical and then joins …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Williams briefly considered Konerko as player-manager
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Baseball Nation, HardballTalk and Deadspin
