Top News:
ESPN:
David Ortiz talks free agency, Sox mess … Could Big Papi really relocate to the Big Apple? — Longtime Boston Red Sox slugger and free-agent-to-be David Ortiz spoke about the possibility of signing with the AL East rival New York Yankees during an interview Wednesday with ESPN's Colleen Dominguez …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, joy of sox, Mike Silva's …, SULLY BASEBALL, It's About The Money, Toeing the Rubber, HardballTalk, NESN.com and Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Epstein accepts five-year deal from Cubs — Two team sources confirmed reports that Theo Epstein has reached agreement with the Cubs on a five-year contract and will officially leave the Red Sox before the end of the week. — The deal is believed to be worth $15 million with Epstein receiving …
Discussion:
YFSF, Empyreal Environs, baseballmusings.com, Gaslamp Ball and Yahoo! Sports
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Tito victim of latest Sox smear campaign — Ex-manager learning the hard way that no one gets out of Boston with reputation intact … BOSTON — Terry Francona is paying a dear price for deviating, however briefly, from the script. — He was supposed to say the decision to end …
Discussion:
Bats and Boston Globe
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Epstein embarking on mission impossible
Discussion:
Boston Herald and Associated Press
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Brian Cashman: ‘I have a job’
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Boston Globe, New Jersey Online, Bronx Baseball Daily and MLB
ESPN.com:
Sources: Theo Epstein, Cubs agree
Discussion:
ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Lady Loves Pinstripes, Chicago Tribune and Baseball Nation
Associated Press:
Cardinals hold off Brewers, take 2-1 series lead — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols hit an RBI double during a four-run first inning and the St. Louis bullpen bailed out Chris Carpenter as the Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 Wednesday night for a 2-1 edge in the NL championship series.
Discussion:
TSN.ca, Viva El Birdos, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards resolve ticket issue with Brewers — The Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers played down a flap over seating for friends and family of visiting players as a “misunderstanding.” — “There was some concern initially among the players about the situation, but it worked out,” said Brewers traveling secretary Dan Larrea.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Andrew Keh / New York Times:
Cardinals 4, Brewers 3: N.L.C.S. — Cardinals Strike Early, and Bullpen Does the Rest — ST. LOUIS — Under normal circumstances, Chris Carpenter would be nervous handing a one-run lead to a bullpen with four innings left to play. — But with the way the relievers in the St. Louis Cardinals' bullpen …
Discussion:
Baseball Nation and Brew Crew Ball
Jordan Schelling / MLB.com:
Gallardo's troubles with Cardinals continue — ST. LOUIS — No team has beaten Yovani Gallardo more than the Cardinals. For whatever reason, facing the Cards seems to bring out the worst in the Brewers right-hander. — In 12 career starts against St. Louis, including Milwaukee's 4-3 loss …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Jack McKeon recalls locking the Marlins clubhouse door to keep Josh Beckett and others in the dugout — Interesting story in today's Boston Globe about the September collapse of the Boston Red Sox. Among the details were allegations by unnamed sources that pitchers Josh Beckett …
Discussion:
Clubhouse Insider, Deadspin and HardballTalk
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Nate Mink / MLB.com:
Manuel favors upgrade at third base spot — PHILADELPHIA — After the Phillies struggled to keep their everyday third baseman on the field the last two seasons, manager Charlie Manuel voiced his support of an upgrade on Wednesday. — Placido Polanco, regarded as one of the best …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and MLB Rumors
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Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Gary Carter gets more good news — An MRI exam at Duke University revealed positive news in Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter's battle with cancerous brain tumors, daughter Kimmy Bloemers wrote in an online journal. — Carter's doctors informed the family that the tumors have shrunk 10 percent …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online and Amazin' Avenue
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Porcello left to wonder what might have been — DETROIT — Rick Porcello had 'em on their feet early. The 42,234 in Comerica Park had watched the young Tigers right-hander all season, but they had never seen him like this. — Porcello wasn't just retiring the Texas Rangers.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Bucs still mulling options with Maholm's option — PITTSBURGH — Though the Pirates do not plan on paying Paul Maholm $9.75 million — the value of the left-hander's 2012 club option — to pitch for them next year, the club has still not entirely ruled out that option being exercised.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, MLB Rumors and PittsburghLIVE.com
Associated Press:
Nelson Cruz, Rangers beat Tigers, take 3-1 lead in ALCS — DETROIT - Nelson Cruz made a rocket throw to keep the score tied, then hit a crushing three-run homer in the 11th inning off Jose Valverde that helped send the Texas Rangers over the Detroit Tigers 7-3 Wednesday night for a 3-1 lead in the AL championship series.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
