Top News:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Jon Lester speaks out about beer in the clubhouse, Francona and other issues — Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester admitted today that he drank beer in the clubhouse during some games this season and that, “it was the wrong thing to do.” But he was adamant that such behavior was not to blame for the team's September collapse.
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ESPN:
Jon Lester: Beer drinking ‘wrong’ … Boston Red Sox starter Jon Lester admits to drinking beer in the clubhouse, but he says it has nothing to do with the team's September swoon. — “There's a perception out there that we were up there getting hammered and that wasn't the case,” Lester said, according to the Boston Globe.
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Source: Red Sox wanted Matt Garza — The Boston Red Sox initially wanted Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Garza to be included as compensation for general manager Theo Epstein, but the Cubs refused, according to major league sources. — Talks began a week ago, after Epstein and the Cubs agreed …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, NESN.com, Baseball Nation and ESPN
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Epstein one of best deciphering numbers — His arrival will enhance Cubs' move toward analytics, sabermetrics — Theo Epstein smokes a cigar after the Red Sox beat the Rockies in the 2007 World Series. (Rob Tringali/Sportschrome, Getty Images / October 28, 2007)
Discussion:
Boston Herald
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Comp talks extend; Schill speaks up
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Baseball Prospectus, MLB Rumors and Clubhouse Insider
Colin Fly / Globe and Mail:
MLB Playoffs: Cardinals slug their way to World Series — An afterthought in early September, the St. Louis Cardinals are taking their wild ride all the way to the World Series. — David Freese hit a three-run homer in the first and manager Tony La Russa turned again to his brilliant bullpen …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Brew Crew Ball and Yahoo! Sports
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Frank and Jamie McCourt reach settlement involving Dodgers — In the agreement, she would give up any claim to the team, multiple people familiar with the deal say. It would appear to set up a winner-take-all court showdown between Frank and Commissioner Selig.
Discussion:
Associated Press, MLB Rumors, Dodgers Blog, HardballTalk, True Blue LA, Mike Scioscia's tragic illness, ESPN, Baseball Nation and The Big Lead
Mac Thomason / Braves Journal:
I wish I had good news. — And I wish there was an easier way to say it. The surgeons were unable to operate on Tuesday, because scans showed the regrowth of tumors that had been removed in July. From all appearances, the remaining cancer has entered a virulent stage.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Talking Chop and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Fox Sports:
Draft, realignment among labor issues — The announcement of the last collective-bargaining agreement before Game 3 of the 2006 World Series set a target for major league players and owners in their current talks: — Strike another new deal during the Series, announce it to the widest possible audience …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Arbitration Eligibles: Milwaukee Brewers — The Brewers came up short last night, and now one of the many concerns for GM Doug Melvin will be the status of his nine arbitration eligible players. — First time: Casey McGehee, Nyjer Morgan, George Kottaras, Mitch Stetter
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues and Al's Ramblings
Mike Silva / Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest:
Bobby Valentine, Executive Producer, But What's Next? — Big league manager on two continents, ESPN broadcaster, civil servant in Stamford, CT and now executive producer is a term you can use to describe Bobby Valentine. The man that seems to have his hand in just about everything …
Discussion:
Kranepool Society
Patrick Flood:
Signing Free Agent Pitchers … - Outis the Mets Fan, via email — First: I might have invented this email. But the question is a real one, and something I looked into recently — it seems that there are a lot of bad contracts given to starting pitchers.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Tedquarters
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Wang hopes for new deal with Nationals — WASHINGTON — The Nationals and representatives for right-hander Chien-Ming Wang continue to talk about a contract extension, but they are not close to a deal, according to a baseball source. — The source said that both sides want to continue to work together.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, FanGraphs Baseball and MLB Rumors
