Top News:
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Baseball, union make progress in talks — Major League Baseball and the players association are making significant progress toward a five-year extension to the collective bargaining agreement that could lead to a resolution during the World Series, according to sources familiar with the process.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
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:
HardballTalk, Associated Press, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
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:
Twinkie Town, Lone Star Ball, 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
Discussion:
TSN.ca and Associated Press
TSN.ca:
Rangers visit Cardinals in opening game of World Series
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, Amazin' Avenue and The Crawfish Boxes
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
McGwire getting well-deserved credit as hitting coach
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Source: Cubs set to hire Theo Epstein — The Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are finalizing a deal that would make Theo Epstein the Cubs' president of baseball operations at some point Thursday morning, according to a Major League Baseball source. — A source with knowledge of negotiations said …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, WEEI, Bleed Cubbie Blue and YFSF
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Deal is now closer — The Red Sox and Cubs are making progress …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Josh Kosman / New York Post:
Potential Astros owner Jim Crane wants $50M discount to move team to American League — Potential Houston Astros owner Jim Crane is looking to cut $50 million from the purchase price of the team in exchange for the Astros switching leagues, The Post has learned.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
Jason Collette / DRaysBay:
Breaking: Andrew Friedman Seen Dining With Angels Owner Arte Moreno … We believe we have a strong track record here at DRaysBay when it comes to breaking news. This site was the first to report on the signings of Morgan Ensberg, Gabe Kapler, Willy Aybar, and most recently Kyle Farnsworth.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, 6-4-2, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
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.
Jane Lee / MLB.com:
A's eyeing familiar face Young as pitching coach — Staple in Oakland organization could return after Boston stint — OAKLAND — Though A's hurlers were forced to say goodbye to a popular face when pitching coach Ron Romanick was not retained, they may soon be welcoming back a familiar one to fill that role.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
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
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Padres may have interest in Lackey — At last, good news for Red Sox fans. The San Diego Tribune reported today that the Padres have held discussions about acquiring John Lackey. — The Red Sox would have to pick up most of the remaining $45.75 million remaining on his contract.
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, Over the Monster, MLB Daily Dish, The Soxaholix, Fox Sports and Baseball Nation
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
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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