Top News:
ESPN:
Cubs' Epstein: Francona a top skipper option … The Theo Epstein-Terry Francona combo worked in Boston and there's a chance the duo might play in Chicago. — The new Cubs president of baseball operations said he spoke with the former Red Sox manager on Thursday and will speak again …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, VFTB, Baseball Nation, SI Tracking Blog and MLB
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Rob Bradford / WEEI:
RED SOX FIRE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH — The Red Sox have let go strength and conditioning coach Dave Page and assistant trainer Greg Barajas, according to multiple sources. — Page had been with the organization since 2006, serving as the strength and conditioning coach …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, HardballTalk and NESN.com
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
RED SOX TO INTERVIEW MADDUX, ALOMAR JR. — A source has confirmed that the next two candidates to be interviewed by the Red Sox for their vacant managerial opening will be Mike Maddux and Sandy Alomar Jr. Both the Rangers (Maddux) and Indians (Alomar Jr.) have granted the Sox permission to talk to the coaches.
Discussion:
Over the Monster, HardballTalk, NESN.com and MLB Rumors
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians grant Boston permission to interview Sandy Alomar Jr. for manager's job; are Cubs also interested?
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and SI Tracking Blog
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Mike Maddux, Dale Sveum take center stage in Cubs' search
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball, NESN.com, Boston Globe, joy of sox, Yahoo! Sports and HardballTalk
MLB.com:
New details revealed in MLB Network's 1986: A Postseason to Remember, on Wed., Nov. 9 at 9 p.m. ET — After one of the most exciting Postseasons in Major League Baseball history, MLB Network will look back 25 years to the League Championship Series and World Series in “1986: A Postseason to Remember …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Vinny Cartiglia / MetsBlog.com:
Mike Scott admits to scuffing the ball in 1986 … And the truth shall set you free Mr. Scott... I was only seven year old during this series — with my 8th birthday less than a month away — so I'd be lying if I told you I remembered the debates on whether or not Scott was actually scuffing the ball.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Atabey / DominicanToday.com:
Baseball great Matty Alou dies in Miami — Santo Domingo.- One of the most inconic Major League Baseball greats from the Dominican Republic, Mateo Rojas Alou (Matty Alou) died early Thursday in Miami of unspecified ailment. — Alou, one of the famous brothers Jesus and Felipe …
Discussion:
Hardball Times, HardballTalk, Baseball Nation and Yahoo! Sports
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Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Braves Open To Trading Jurrjens, Prado — The Braves have told some teams they would be willing to move Jair Jurrjens and Martin Prado in a trade, a Major League source tells MLB.com's Mark Bowman. Atlanta is known to be looking for a power-hitting outfielder and possibly a new shortstop …
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
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Mark Bowman / Bowman's Blog:
Braves willing to trade Jurrjens and Prado
Discussion:
Talking Chop, MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
Baseball Hall of Fame:
Ten Named To Golden Era Ballot for Baseball Hall of Fame Election — Eight Players, Two Executives from 1947-'72 Era to Be Considered at Winter Meetings — Watch a video about the Golden Era ballot — COOPERSTOWN, NY - Eight former major league players and two former executives comprise …
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, South Side Sox and Dodgers Blog
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New York Post:
If Reyes waits, he'll get big bucks — but not from Mets — Mets on Twitter — The Mets insist they want to retain Jose Reyes, but at their reasonable price and, well, they really should stop saying that. — It is akin to going into a Mercedes dealership, badly wanting a new model …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, SI Tracking Blog and New York Post
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
ORTIZ SAYS STILL NO OFFER FROM RED SOX — David Ortiz told WEEI.com Thursday that to his knowledge the Red Sox have yet to make an offer to him. The designated hitter officially became a free agent at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, with the Sox' exclusive negotiating period — extending five days …
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, Over the Monster, HardballTalk and NESN.com
Jane Lee / MLB.com:
Willingham among five A's to hit open market — Seeking multi-year deal, slugger unlikely to return to Oakland — OAKLAND — Stuck in wait-and-see mode because of a stadium decision that's been looming for nearly three years, the A's were forced to let Wednesday's exclusive negotiating window …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
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Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
None of 5 free agents gets offer
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, McCovey Chronicles, HardballTalk, Athletics Nation and MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
Moyer primed for comeback at 49 — FOX Sports — Forget comeback player of the year. — Jamie Moyer might become the comeback player of the half-century. — Moyer, who turns 49 later this month, is a free agent and has thrown for scouts twice recently, including Thursday in San Diego.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Fox Sports:
Is Giants' best hope trading Lincecum? — At this time last year, the baseball industry was raving about the San Francisco rotation. After going more than a half-century between titles, the Giants had the pitching to win multiple championships. — But young starters are rarely as perfect as they seem.
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
15,000 days since a botched World Series play — There are some plays in World Series history where a fielding miscue proves costly. There are other plays in the Fall Classic where a baserunner makes a key error. On still other occasions, a play will have the umpire blow the call.
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
MLB All-Stars earn hard-fought win in Taiwan — Major Leaguers go ahead late to take Game 2 vs. Chinese Taipei — TAICHUNG, Taiwan — The quality of baseball in Taiwan is getting better quickly, and the stars of the Major Leagues got a good taste of that improvement Thursday night.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
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