Top News:
Associated Press:
La Russa's Moves Pay Off, Cards Win Series Opener — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nobody plays a hunch like Tony La Russa. Not this October, anyway. — The St. Louis manager once again looked like a genius, especially when Allen Craig pinch-hit for ace Chris Carpenter and delivered a go-ahead single …
Discussion:
Associated Press, HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
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Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Rhodes makes World Series debut, Cardinals win 3-2 — After 20 years in the majors and 900 games on the mound, Arthur Rhodes finally got his first chance to pitch in the World Series. — He did his job, too. Brought in to face left-handed slugger Josh Hamilton, Rhodes retired …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and baseballmusings.com
Ben Walker / Globe and Mail:
Cardinals draw first blood — Pinch-hitter Allen Craig singled in the go-ahead run off reliever Alexi Ogando in the sixth inning with a sinking line drive that dropped just in front of right fielder Nelson Cruz, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers 3-2 on Wednesday night in a chilly World Series opener.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Rangers Have Power Outage in World Series Opener — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz and the homer-happy Texas Rangers experienced another power outage in the opening game of the World Series. — This time, they hope the juice gets flowing again before it's too late.
Discussion:
Associated Press
TSN.ca:
Rangers visit Cardinals in opening game of World Series
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and The Crawfish Boxes
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
McGwire getting well-deserved credit as hitting coach
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Yahoo! Sports:
Rhodes gets a World Series ring, win or lose — ST. LOUIS - Arthur Rhodes(notes) shakes his head and allows a wry smile. Nearly 20 years of deprivation and all of a sudden he's showered in blessings. Less than a week shy of his 42nd birthday, the left-handed relief pitcher is in his first World Series …
Discussion:
Red Hot Mama
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Marc Stein / ESPN:
Source: Dirk Nowitzki denied first pitch
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Deadspin, The Big Lead, Baseball Nation and NESN.com
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Finally in World Series, Rhodes guaranteed ring
Discussion:
Red Reporter, baseballmusings.com and HardballTalk
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Giants:
It's time for the World Series designated-hitter and ratings-talk drinking game — Please understand, I am not advocating alcohol abuse. In my drinking game, you take shots of cranberry juice, which is very tasty and extremely good for you. As for you kids, stay in school!
Discussion:
Hardball Times and Gaslamp Ball
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Bruce Olson / Reuters:
Occupy St. Louis to show commercial-free World Series
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and HardballTalk
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
MLB announces Fan Cave to return in 2012 — Application process opens up for next Dream Job winner — ST. LOUIS — The MLB Fan Cave will be back in 2012, and signups are under way for those interested in watching every regular-season game as Major League Baseball's next Dream Job winner.
ESPN:
Molina's late HR powers Cards into World Series — NEW YORK — The first long drive to left field wound up in the webbing of Endy Chavez's glove as he crashed against the wall. — The second one sailed clear over his head. — And that's what sent Yadier Molina and the St. Louis Cardinals to the World Series.
host.madison.com:
RSS Local Selig to retire to Madison to write memoirs on UW campus — IMAGE (8) — As the World Series begins, the most powerful man in baseball readies a nest in Madison for retirement. It contains bubble gum, pretzels, a basket of baseballs and a cable connection to Major League Baseball's TV channel.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
John Timmer / Ars Technica:
Placebo-ball: the science of baseball's magical necklaces — As fans celebrate and detractors deride, baseball is a sport ridden with superstition. Playing 162 games per season will do that, leading to all manner of lucky hats (bats, chew tins, gloves, you name it), pregame rituals …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Yu Darvish to formally ask to be posted — It's been long suspected that Japan's best pitcher — Yu Darvish — would be posted by his NPB team this winter, thereby allowing Major League teams to bid on him. Kyodo News in Japan has now confirmed through several sources that, yes …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and Patrick Flood
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Baseball America:
2011 Draft Report Card Chat With Jim Callis and John Manuel — Moderator: Jim Callis and John Manuel will answer your draft questions as well as other baseball questions beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET. — Jim Callis: Hi, everyone. I wrote the NL Draft Report Cards (minus Houston) and also did Boston in the AL.
