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 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.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, HardballTalk, Lone Star Ball, ESPN, Full Count, Bronx Baseball Daily, NESN.com, Deadspin, Baseball Nation and joy of sox
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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.
Discussion:
ESPN
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 …
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Associated Press, Brew Crew Ball and Yahoo! Sports
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Associated Press:
Beast Mode Beaten: Brewers Fall Short in NLCS — MILWAUKEE (AP) — Another shaky outing by Shaun Marcum, some more sloppy fielding and a tough night for Milwaukee's two biggest stars ended the Brewers' chance for a trip to the World Series they had so craved.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Local boy Freese wins NLCS MVP for Cardinals — MILWAUKEE — In a lineup loaded with all-stars, it was David Freese who all but iced the pennant for the St. Louis Cardinals. — Freese, who grew up in a St. Louis suburb, hit a three-run homer Sunday night and was selected MVP …
Discussion:
Canadian Press and ESPN
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.
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)
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Boston Herald
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Comp talks extend; Schill speaks up
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB Rumors and Clubhouse Insider
Danny Knobler / CBSSports.com:
Rangers aren't sitting on their AL throne without Young — CBSSports.com Baseball Insider — ARLINGTON, Texas — The Rangers didn't need Cliff Lee to get back to the World Series. — They did need Michael Young. — They weren't severely damaged on that night in December …
Discussion:
New York Times and HardballTalk
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John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Historic rally sets stage for Rangers in clincher
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Phillies Nation, Purple Row and Yahoo! Sports
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
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
New York Post:
Yankees will look for in-house offseason fixes — This is the time of year in which we have the Yankees involved in every major scenario involving the acquisition of big-time players. This is what happens when your history is to chase stars and swell payroll.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, IT IS HIGH! and WasWatching.com
Amy K. Nelson / MLB:
Nelson: Marcum trying to save Brewers — Time for righty to put bad six weeks and postseason behind him in elimination game — MILWAUKEE — He will take the mound on Sunday in the most pressurized game of his career, during a time when some of the biggest questions about him as a pitcher exist.
Discussion:
ESPN and HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Leyland says Verlander won't pitch again in AL Championship Series … ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — If Justin Verlander pitches again this season, it will be in Game 1 of the World Series. — Detroit manager Jim Leyland is adamant that if the AL championship series against Texas reaches a seventh game …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Tigers' Verlander won't pitch again in ALCS
Discussion:
Babes Love Baseball, MLB, Bless You Boys and Bleed Cubbie Blue
