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 …
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Epstein accepts five-year deal from Cubs
Discussion:
YFSF, Empyreal Environs, baseballmusings.com, Yahoo! Sports and Gaslamp Ball
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Tito victim of latest Sox smear campaign
Discussion:
Bats, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine and Boston Globe
TSN.ca:
Rangers look to close out ALCS with win over Tigers — The Sports Network — (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers hope to punch their ticket to the World Series for the second straight season when they try to put the Detroit Tigers away in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Beyond the Box Score and Canadian Press
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Associated Press:
Jim Leyland: Valverde, Benoit unavailable for Game 5 — DETROIT - Tigers manager Jim Leyland says relievers Jose Valverde and Joaquin Benoit won't pitch in Thursday's fifth game of the AL championship series. — Detroit trails the Texas Rangers 3-1 in the ALCS but sends ace Justin Verlander to the mound for Game 5.
Discussion:
MLB, ESPN and baseballmusings.com
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:
baseballmusings.com and Baseball Prospectus
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Berkman, Ellsbury earn Comeback awards — All-Star outfielders Lance Berkman of the Cardinals and Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox were named the winners of the 2011 Comeback Player of the Year Awards on Thursday, as the annual rollout of Major League Baseball's individual hardware got under way.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, River Avenue Blues and Fenway West
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MLB.com:
Berkman, Ellsbury win 2011 MLB Comeback Player of the Year Awards — Lance Berkman of the St. Louis Cardinals and Jacoby Ellsbury of the Boston Red Sox are the recipients of the 2011 Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Awards, it was announced today.
Discussion:
Baseball-Reference Blog and joy of sox
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
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
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Associated Press:
Cardinals hold off Brewers, take 2-1 series lead
Discussion:
TSN.ca, Red Reporter, Viva El Birdos, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
Andrew Keh / New York Times:
Cardinals 4, Brewers 3: N.L.C.S. — Cardinals Strike Early, and Bullpen Does the Rest
Discussion:
Baseball Nation and Brew Crew Ball
Steve Popper / NorthJersey.com:
David Wright ponders his future — In the final days of the season, David Wright would prepare himself at his locker almost unnoticed as crowds gathered regularly just a few feet away. Normally the face of the Mets' franchise and team spokesman, Wright dressed silently while Jose Reyes reluctantly held court.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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:
HardballTalk, Phillies Nation, Crashburn Alley and MLB Rumors
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Rany Jazayerli / Baseball Prospectus:
Starting Them Young, Part One — Everyone missed on Mike Trout. Don't get me wrong: Trout was a well-regarded player headed into the 2009 draft, a certain first-round talent. But he wasn't—yet—a phenom. Everyone liked Trout; it's just that no one loved him.
Discussion:
The Yankee Analysts
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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