Top News:
Jayson Stark / MLB:
David Freese, St. Louis force Game 7 — Twice down to their last strike, Cards rally in ninth and 10th innings, win it in 11th — ST. LOUIS — It ended with a baseball soaring through the October sky. — Soaring toward a patch of resplendent green grass, located just beyond the center-field fence.
Discussion:
ESPN, Bats, Sports Illustrated, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and NESN.com
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Associated Press:
Game 6: Twice Down to Last Strike, Cards Win 10-9 — David Freese homered in the 11th inning to give the Cardinals a 10-9 victory over Texas in Game 6 of the World Series, capping one of the wildest, most exciting finishes in baseball history. — As Freese's shot cleared the center field fence …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Associated Press, Twinkie Town, Viva El Birdos and Yahoo! Sports
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
The story of the Cardinals fan who returned David Freese's homer — ST. LOUIS — Though the mad scramble for David Freese's(notes) home run ball looked like a spontaneous mess on Thursday night, the truth is that Dave Huyette (center) and his friend Jeremy Reiland had already played the scenario through their minds several times.
Discussion:
6-4-2
Fox Sports:
Hamilton gets special message before HR — ST. LOUIS — There is no happier harbinger in baseball than translucent tarpaulin. It's unfurled in the late innings when a series clincher is near, to protect the carpets and cables and televisions where a celebration is about to erupt.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Deadspin and Toeing the Rubber
Associated Press:
Cardinals force stunned Rangers to 7 as David Freese's HR caps wild rally — ST. LOUIS — By the time David Freese stomped on home plate Game 6 had already been stamped among the greatest thrillers in baseball history. — Twice down to their last strike, the St. Louis Cardinals somehow rallied.
Discussion:
ESPN, ESPN.com and joy of sox
Ben Walker / Associated Press:
Cardinals stun Texas, force World Series to Game 7
Cardinals stun Texas, force World Series to Game 7
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Viva El Birdos and Pinstripe Alley
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Cardinals, Rangers tied 4-4 after six innings
Cardinals, Rangers tied 4-4 after six innings
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Purple Row, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Nick Swisher likely to return to Yankees next season, meaning Bombers won't pursue Carlos Beltran — Nick Swisher seems set for a return to the Bronx next year after a baseball executive familiar with the Yankees' thinking said Thursday the team would “probably pick up” Swisher's contract option.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Sliding Into Home
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George A. King III / NY Post:
Boras says he was kidding; knows Yankees won't adjust Cano's contract — ST. LOUIS — Scott Boras wants a few things cleared up regarding comments he made to The Post on Wednesday when he talked about Robinson Cano's two option years with the Yankees. — Boras, who represents the second baseman …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Source: Robinson Cano deal unlikely
George A. King III / New York Post:
Cano's agent wants contract redone; Yankees GM hasn't returned call
Cano's agent wants contract redone; Yankees GM hasn't returned call
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Boras Kidding About Reworking Cano's Contract
Boras Kidding About Reworking Cano's Contract
Discussion:
The Yankee Analysts and It's About The Money
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
CC Sabathia opt-out clause looms over Yankees, who close in on signing Brian Cashman for 3 years
CC Sabathia opt-out clause looms over Yankees, who close in on signing Brian Cashman for 3 years
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Scott Lauber / Clubhouse Insider:
John Farrell endorses Torey Lovullo for Red Sox' managerial opening — For several reasons, including the significant compensation that would be required to pry him from his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, John Farrell almost certainly won't be the Red Sox' next manager.
Discussion:
NESN.com
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Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Lovullo, McEwing not high on Sox's list
Lovullo, McEwing not high on Sox's list
Discussion:
WEEI, Al's Ramblings and MLB Rumors
Chris Bahr / Sporting News Chris Bahr Feed RSS:
Sporting News 2011 MLB awards: AL, NL All-Star teams
Sporting News 2011 MLB awards: AL, NL All-Star teams
Discussion:
ESPN, Cincinnati Reds, True Blue LA and JSOnline
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Cherington is making his list
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa expected back in 2012 — Barring an eleventh-hour change of heart, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is expected to announce his decision to return to the club for a 17th season within several days of the World Series' final out. The composition of his coaching staff may be slightly less certain.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Notebook: Pujols defends hit-and-run play
Notebook: Pujols defends hit-and-run play
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter to start Game 7 — The Cardinals have decided on Chris Carpenter to start tonight's Game 7. — In two starts, including a win in Game 1, Carpenter allowed four earned runs total in 13 combined innings against the Rangers. In Game 5 on Monday at Texas, Carpenter pitched seven solid innings …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Reggie Jackson says Billy Martin was a bigot — NEW YORK - To Reggie Jackson, this is fact - not opinion - that Billy Martin engaged in bigoted and anti-Semitic behavior during his tumultuous tenure as Yankees manager. — “I didn't say it as accusatory ... I said it with feeling and empathy …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Ramona Shelburne / ESPN:
Dodgers: Bryan Stow shares blame — The attorney for embattled Dodgers owner Frank McCourt filed a civil complaint against the two men charged in the Opening Day beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow in Los Angeles Superior Court last week, arguing that they should be held liable for the attack …
Discussion:
Dodgers Blog, HardballTalk, Yahoo! Sports, Giants Win and Los Angeles Times
Gil Lebreton / Boston Herald:
Rangers will have to dial up their resiliency once more — ST. LOUIS — One strike away. — And fate denied the Texas Rangers not once, but twice. — After 40 seasons, did you expect it to go any other way? — David Freese's leadoff home run in the bottom of the 11th inning gave …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets won't re-sign Jose Reyes during exclusive negotiating period after World Series: source — Has Jose Reyes played his final home game at Citi Field? Everyone will know this winter. — Check in with Jose Reyes, perhaps make a modest offer, then step back while he collects proposals …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Draft/Int'l Spending Cap Discussed In CBA Talks — A hard slotting system for the amateur draft is no longer the main issue holding up a new collective bargaining agreement, a source tells Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus (Twitter link). Still being discussed, however …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues