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
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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
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Brian Cashman: ‘I have a job’
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Boston Globe, New Jersey Online, Bronx Baseball Daily and MLB
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
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Jack McKeon used to lock Marlins' clubhouse door to keep Josh Beckett out during games — Josh Beckett is among the Red Sox pitchers who reportedly drank beer, ate fried chicken, and played video games in the clubhouse during games and former Marlins manager Jack McKeon recalls locking …
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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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Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Berkman booms to NL Comeback Player honors — Veteran slugger clubs 31 home runs in first season with Redbirds — ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals figured they had a quality player in Lance Berkman, someone better than the numbers he put up last year. Even so, it's hard to believe they knew they'd get what they did.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Epstein embarking on mission impossible — With Cubs, GM will find greater the challenge, harder the task — To understand why Theo Epstein would leave his one-time fantasy job — he grew up in Brookline, Mass., about a mile from Fenway Park — you first have to probe the psyche of big thinkers and dreamers.
Discussion:
Boston Herald and Associated Press
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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
