Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Nightengale's Notebook: Aaron Judge is the AL MVP. Who else deserves 2022 MLB awards? — ST. LOUIS — It was a season where teams were either really, really good, or were really, really bad. — There were four 100-victory teams this season, tying a major-league record.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and Sox On 35th
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Poof! Cardinals' ‘magic’ season vanishes in sweep. Their next trick is up to new core — As he walked to the plate with a chance to push the game one hit deeper into the night, the season one game further into the weekend, and his career one day longer into October, Yadier Molina paused and whispered a prayer.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
4 things we learned from MLB playoff openers: It's on Jacob deGrom to save the Mets' season — Blink, and it could be over. — For all the talk that Major League Baseball's best-of-three wild-card weekend would somehow be fairer than the one-game playoff that preceded it …
Discussion:
Associated Press and MLB Baseball News …
USA Today:
MLB playoffs live updates: Cardinals-Phillies underway, Shane Bieber dominates Rays in Cleveland win — Major League Baseball's best-of-three wild card series begin Friday, a quadruple-header to kick off the first year with an expanded 12-team postseason field.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Baseball's Postseason Is Evolving, for Better or Worse — With 40 percent of teams qualifying for the playoffs, and four teams getting first-round byes, October will have a very different feel. And plenty of new merchandise. — ST. LOUIS — Baseball people never use the word tournament.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Notebook: How Game 1 is a ‘what could have been’ matchup for Cardinals and Phillies
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Padres, NBCSports.com, AZ Snake Pit and Phillies Nation
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Will Albert Pujols go out on top? Cardinals legend says final MLB postseason is ‘why I came back’
USA Today:
MLB playoffs: From Mets to Mariners, one question for every team in baseball's wild card weekend
Discussion:
Associated Press, MLB Baseball News … and Yahoo News
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
‘This is how I want my career to end’: In magical final season, one last playoff push for Albert Pujols
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated
Mandy Bell / MLB.com:
Oscar-worthy ending in 15th puts Guardians in ALDS — CLEVELAND — It was the game that seemed like it never was going to end. Guardians Game 1 starter Shane Bieber decided to go grab a cup of chicken broth to keep him warm in the dugout as Cleveland went to the bottom of the 15th inning.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Mariners News and AZ Snake Pit
RELATED:
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Jose Ramirez's 2-run homer sends Guardians past Rays in AL opener — CLEVELAND — When the Cleveland Guardians needed a response, after Tampa Bay took a 1-0 lead in Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series on Friday, it came as no surprise that All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez would be the guy to come through.
Discussion:
Associated Press and USA Today
Sports Illustrated:
Inside the MLB Culture Wars That Led to Joe Maddon's Firing — How could a World Series-winning manager with 19 years of experience lose his job over a 12-game sample? The answer is about much more than just a losing streak. — Excerpted from THE BOOK OF JOE: Trying Not to Suck at Baseball & Life by Joe Maddon and Tom Verducci.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, SGV Tribune and Bleacher Nation
RELATED:
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Angels GM Perry Minasian says it's ‘business as usual’ despite ownership questions
Discussion:
The Athletic
Sarah Valenzuela / Los Angeles Times:
Angels GM Perry Minasian will look at ‘opportunities’ for team's roster in offseason
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and New Jersey Online
Dan Albano / Orange County Register:
Mater Dei football knocks off St. John Bosco with big lift from defense — Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now — SANTA ANA — Mater Dei's football team claimed a state championship last season despite swirling controversy.
Discussion:
Press Enterprise
Evan Petzold / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers fire scouting director Scott Pleis after 15 seasons, per sources — Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris has started the restructuring of his front office. — Amateur scouting director Scott Pleis was fired after 15 seasons with the organization …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
KUSA-TV:
95-year-old Rockies employee ushers out another season — Win or lose, Peter Sabell is at nearly every Colorado Rockies home game ushering fans down to their seats along Coors Field's third base line. — DENVER — It's too late to catch a baseball game after the Colorado Rockies played out their last game of the 2022 season.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Bullpen, right-handed bat, rotation help all high on Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen's to-do list — The Diamondbacks won 22 more games this year than the previous year, but it was clear from General Manager Mike Hazen's end-of-year session with reporters that fact did not mean much to him.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
