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:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Craig comes through in a pinch — Until the World Series moves to Arlington, Texas, this weekend and he gets three starts either as an outfielder or a designated hitter, the Cardinals' Allen Craig will serve as the club's top pinch hitter. — But as manager Tony La Russa amply had displayed …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Ben Walker / Associated Press:
La Russa's moves pay off, Cards win Series opener
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Rangers Have Power Outage in World Series Opener
Discussion:
Associated Press, Batter's Box Interactive …, Lone Star Ball and TSN.ca
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Rhodes makes World Series debut, Cardinals win 3-2
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Baseball Prospectus, Lone Star Ball, Twinkie Town, Lookout Landing and baseballmusings.com
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:
Boston Globe, NESN.com, Bleed Cubbie Blue, MLB Rumors, WEEI, Baseball Nation and Gaslamp Ball
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Cubs set to close the deal with Epstein — The Chicago Cubs are close to finalizing their hiring of Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, a source said. An announcement could come Friday. — Epstein would take a high-level executive role, above the GM level.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Full Count
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Padres may have interest in Lackey
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Red Sox Monster, MLB Daily Dish and The Soxaholix
NY Daily News:
Beer in the clubhouse is ‘nothing new’ and not the blame for the Boston Red Sox's September collapse — The finger-pointing in Boston began as soon as the regular season was over: The Red Sox, who had gone 7-20 in September, missed the playoffs thanks to yet another epic collapse, and somebody's head had to roll.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, ESPN, Subway Squawkers, Babes Love Baseball and NESN.com
RELATED:
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:
Boston Globe and HardballTalk
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
This kind of Octoberfest is leaving a sour taste
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Source: Igarashi released — Reliever Ryota Igarashi has been released by the Mets, a major league source tells ESPNNewYork.com. — #18 RP — New York Mets — 2011 STATS — GM45 — W4 — L1 — BB28 — K42 — ERA4.66 — Igarashi, 32, just completed a two-year …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, MLB Rumors, Amazin' Avenue, HardballTalk and Mets Merized Online
Jason Collette / DRaysBay:
Breaking: Andrew Friedman Seen Dining With Angels Owner Arte Moreno — Update, 3:45pm: This says it all. — Update, 3:27pm: It took someone from ESPN LA to confirm the story first, but this is now MLBTradeRumor official. Moreno and Friedman met, but who knows what they talked about and how interested Friedman is in the position.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, New Jersey Online, HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, 6-4-2, Angels blog and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Source: Rays VP Friedman on Angels' GM radar — The Los Angeles Angels' search for a general manager is moving along at a brisk pace. — According to a source with direct knowledge of the Angels' search, owner Arte Moreno and team president John Carpino have been in Florida this week …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer … and 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:
Ultimate Astros, Baseball Nation and HardballTalk
ESPN:
Yankees odds and ends: Swisher in, Chavez out? — From conversations I have had this week with executives, agents and various baseball wiseguys, here are a couple of things I can share with a reasonable amount of confidence: — Despite another post-season flameout …
Discussion:
Bleeding Yankee Blue, Bronx Baseball Daily, River Avenue Blues and It's About The Money
Mirror.co.uk:
Confirmed Gaddafi dead: New York Yankees baseball fan ‘captured’ tyrant — A man holds up Colonel Gaddafi golden gun (Pic: Getty Images) — Evil dictator Colonel Gaddafi was captured cowering in a drainage pipe by a 20-year-old rebel fighter wearing a New York Yankees baseball cap, it was claimed tonight.
