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.
RELATED:
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:
Chicago Sun Times, Over the Monster, Boston Globe, The LoHud Yankees Blog, HardballTalk, NESN.com, MLB Rumors, Baseball Nation, Deadspin and ESPN
Chicago Sun Times:
Theo Epstein deal a go, but it might miss ‘deadline’ — At this rate, Theo Epstein may need another gorilla suit. — Cubs sources with knowledge of the talks between the Cubs and Boston Red Sox don't expect their haggling over player compensation to keep Epstein from becoming the Cubs' next general manager.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Comcast SportsNet and Boston Globe
Comcast SportsNet:
Sources: Lester only told part of the story — A friend of mine said this Red Sox saga would make one hell of a book . . . though not if you're a Sox fan. — The latest chapter unfolded Monday when Jon Lester told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that some of the assertions …
Discussion:
Toeing the Rubber, Fenway West, HardballTalk and SawxBlog
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
An important start — Until last week, there was only well-deserved praise for Jon Lester. The quiet lefthander beat cancer and helped the Red Sox win the 2007 World Series, starting down a career path that includes a no-hitter and two All-Star selections.
Discussion:
SawxBlog and The Soxaholix
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Negotiations between Cubs, Red Sox over compensation for Epstein drag on
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Full Count and Chicago Tribune
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Future Shock
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Boston Globe and MLB Rumors
Jeff Bradley / New Jersey Online:
Bradley on the World Series: Texas Rangers' Michael Young shows Derek Jeter-like qualities — The comparison was first introduced by Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long. In an examination of Derek Jeter's unorthodox, inside-out swing, Long was asked if any other hitters reminded him of Jeter.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer … and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Michael Young = Derek Jeter — In the wake of my Michael Young post from yesterday, I was drawn into a little Twitter skirmish with Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, who called the post “boneheaded,” and said I didn't understand or appreciate Michael Young.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, It's About The Money and New York Times
Fox Sports:
McCourts reach divorce deal — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Frank and Jamie McCourt have reached a settlement in a costly and nasty feud over control of the Los Angeles Dodgers, paving the way for a showdown in bankruptcy court between the embattled team owner and Major League Baseball.
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
Bojan Koprivica / Hardball Times:
Another one bites the dust — I'll be honest with you. — Had I known from the beginning that the idea of designing a model to estimate the difficulty of blocking every major league pitch is not a new one—let alone a groundbreaking one—I might have spent significant portions of my free …
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Yahoo! Sports:
Cardinals began this epic rise four years ago — MILWAUKEE - On stage stood the architect, the puppeteer and the star. John Mozeliak, Tony La Russa and David Freese(notes), as they are better known, wore matching grins. They are the general manager, manager and third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals …
Discussion:
Rangers Blog, Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
Chicago Sun Times:
Ozzie Guillen fires on White Sox — Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen waves to fans following the Sox 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday September 26, 2011 at U.S. Cellular Field. It was Guillen's final game as manager of the White Sox. Tom Cruze~Sun-Times
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Sports Illustrated:
Brewers owner Attanasio appears right at home in Milwaukee … Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, a Bronx-raised Brentwood, Calif. resident, is thriving in Milwaukee, the NLCS defeat notwithstanding. And while some folks around baseball envision him as a potential savior of the Los Angeles Dodgers …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and MLB Rumors
