Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Holland pitches gem as Rangers tie Series — ARLINGTON, Texas — Rangers pitcher Derek Holland admits that his moustache is the worst in all of baseball, and catcher Mike Napoli could hide wildlife in his thick beard. — The hairy odd couple led Texas to a 4- victory Sunday night …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
What a performance by Derek Holland! — With his Texas Rangers trailing two games to one in the World Series, the 25-year-old lefty took a two-hit shutout with seven strikeouts into the ninth inning against a powerful Cardinals lineup. — After a one-out walk to Rafael Furcal …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals leaning toward Lohse if there's a Game 7 — • The Cardinals would prefer not to face the decision but for now remain inclined to start Kyle Lohse in a possible Game 7. — Lohse endured a third consecutive abbreviated start this postseason during the Cardinals' 16-7 win over the Texas Rangers in Saturday's Game 3.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Steve Henson / Yahoo! Sports:
Holland's grown-up game shuts down Cardinals — ARLINGTON, Texas - Parents know the feeling. One glorious day their child grows up right before their eyes. Sometimes it's unexpected. Sometimes it's been a long time coming. It's always delightful. — Fortunately for the Texas Rangers …
MLB.com:
La Russa using bullpen at near-record pace — ARLINGTON — Hardly hesitant to utilize his bullpen during the regular season, Tony La Russa has applied that philosophy to near record usage this postseason. — With two Cardinals relievers pitching in Sunday's 4-0 loss in Game 4 of the World Series …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Derek Holland tops Pujols, Cards; Texas ties Series at 2
Discussion:
Twinkie Town, Lookout Landing and Boston Herald
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Pujols hits 3 HRs in Cardinals' rout
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Boston Globe and baseballmusings.com
Ben Walker / Associated Press:
Pujols blasts 3 homers to lead 16-7 rout of Rangers
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Twinkie Town
Chris Hays / Boston Herald:
Ken Griffey Jr. calls Commissioner's Award ‘humbling’ — Future Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., was honored as the 12th recipient of the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award on Sunday night prior to Game 4 of the World Series in Arlington, Texas.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Griffey receives Historic Achievement Award — ARLINGTON — Ken Griffey Jr., whose superior performance and effervescent demeanor thrilled legions of fans throughout his 22-year career, received the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award, which recognizes achievements and contributions of historical significance.
Associated Press:
Rangers make change at 1B for World Series Game 4 — ARLINGTON, Texas - The Texas Rangers have made a change at first base for Game 4 of the World Series. — Manager Ron Washington says Mitch Moreland getting the start at first Sunday has nothing to do with what happened in Game 3.
Discussion:
TSN.ca, Associated Press and Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
ESPN:
Ron Kulpa's call joins long line of errors
Discussion:
DRaysBay, Florida Marlins, ESPN, Rays Index and MLB Rumors
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Farrell was seen as Sox manager, and still could be — When the Red Sox and Terry Francona parted ways, Blue Jays manager John Farrell was the preferred candidate to manage the team, according to a major league source. — There is conflicting information on how deep the Red Sox are at this point …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Federal Baseball, Jays Journal, MetsBlog.com and Drunk Jays Fans
RELATED:
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Cherington's Sox need strong manager
Discussion:
Boston Globe and MLB Daily Dish
Jim Caple / ESPN:
Fifth time the charm for C.J. Wilson? — Rangers lefty, winless this October, faces Cards ace Chris Carpenter in Game 5 — ARLINGTON. Texas — Rangers starter C.J. Wilson has the movie idol looks and smooth delivery of an “Ocean's 11” headliner capable of being George Clooney's wingman at Lake Como.
Discussion:
ESPN and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Ready? OK, now for the ten best postseason series of all-time: — 10. 1997 ALCS: Indians over the Orioles in six games. 110.8 points. — Did you guess this one? Me neither. I'd never heard of this series. (The late 1990s were a low point for my following of baseball).
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue and Red Reporter
Frank Fitzpatrick / Philly.com:
Expert poring over long-lost Philadelphia A's records — While Moneyball might be box-office magic, the baseball team at the heart of that hit movie desperately needs to pull a rabbit out of its green-and-gold hat. — Fifty-eight years after they abandoned Philadelphia, the Oakland A's are a mess.
Fox Sports:
Pujols certainly will hit the jackpot — Let's try to be rational for a moment, even though the history of baseball's free-agent market is practically a case study in irrationality. — Let's assume the owners finally figure out that signing free agents into their late 30s almost never is a good idea.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Jayson Stark / MLB:
Stark: Ruth … Reggie … Albert Pujols
Discussion:
ESPN, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Yahoo! Sports, Viva El Birdos and HardballTalk
Paul Sullivan / Boston Herald:
Cubs hoping Theo Epstein brings a cultural shift — CHICAGO — “Creating a New Culture” might not have the same ring to it as “Building a New Tradition,” Dallas Green's mantra three decades ago after arriving at Wrigley Field with a mandate of change. — But that's exactly what Theo Epstein …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Philly.com:
Inside the Phillies: Slot for Phillies closer could be wide open — It's long forgotten, because the decision Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee made at the end of spring training had little consequence in an ultimately disappointing season that was not the bullpen's fault.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball
Wall Street Journal:
Baseball Needs Its Own ‘9-9-9’ Plan — This fall, millions of Americans have been flipping channels to stay abreast of two distinct forms of competition: Major League Baseball's 2011 postseason and the Republican presidential debates. — The baseball competition has come down to a World Series between …
Discussion:
ESPN
