Top News:
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Sox, Peña walk on air — He's a hometown hero with winning HR in 10th — Such sweet relief, this atmosphere of giddiness that enveloped the Fens last night after the steady drumbeat of gloom and despair that has echoed throughout the ancient ballpark in recent days.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Winning hit was child's play — Walkoff homer a real throwback — I was Tony Conigliaro, with the wide stance and bat cocked high, shaping the No. 25 with duct tape on the back of a white T-shirt. — You were Fred Lynn making great catches against an imaginary wall, or Jim Rice hitting sizzling line drives over the Green Monster.
Discussion:
Keep Your Sox On In Brooklyn
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Notes: Papi might return on Tuesday — All-Star slugger could be cleared for return to Boston's lineup — BOSTON — As he walked down the first-base line and sauntered toward the home plate area, bat in hand, sweatband around his head, David Ortiz had a smile that seemed to light up Fenway Park.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Cruz control: Rangers rout A's, 8-1 — OAKLAND, Calif. - Labor Day traditionally means two things for the Rangers: the end of summer and the start of looking to next season. — At least Monday, gazing into the future provided a vista as pretty as sunset at the Golden Gate Bridge.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Newcomers gain stamp of approval — OAKLAND, Calif. — The Rangers know approximately what contributions they will receive in a season from Michael Young, Kevin Millwood, Hank Blalock and the like. — But Nelson Cruz? Robinson Tejeda? The Rangers remain in the discovery stage with those two.
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:Zito, Payton, A's struggle vs. Texas
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Newsday:
Wallace Matthews — September means fall is in air, not a collapse — September is a beautiful month to spend in New York City. The weather is cooler, the humidity packs up and leaves town, the leaves start to turn yellow, orange and red before crumbling into in a brown heap in October.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats' Ortiz flirts with no-hitter in victory — Right-hander helps his own cause at plate with solo homer — WASHINGTON — Jose Rijo, the special assistant to Nationals general manager Jim Bowden, was in Washington the last few days and he was set to travel back to the Dominican Republic on Sunday …
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Gerg Cote / Miami Herald:
Fans missing the magic — Amazement is best served suddenly. As a 100-meter dash is more exciting than a marathon, what impresses most easily in sports is what we can see happening right now — as in one frenetic night at the Orange Bowl, for a totally random example.
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Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
LaRoche Probably Won't Get the Call — MILWAUKEE — All it took was sitting for several hours during the flight from L.A. and Chad Billingsley's next start was pushed back indefinitely. — As for Andy LaRoche's debut, that apparently will wait as well. — LaRoche, a prospect …
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Angels Squeak by the Orioles — Moreno gives full support to Stoneman and offense does just enough to win, 1-0, behind standout pitching of Weaver and bullpen. — In this era of democracy gone wild, fans can register their opinion with a call to a talk show, a vote in an online poll or a post on a message board.
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Torres' final-out antics may backfire — Pirates closer Salomon Torres jumped off the mound like The Who's Pete Townshend after striking out the Cubs' John Mabry to end the game Monday. — Was Torres' celebration a bit excessive for a game between two teams with the worst records in the National League?
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Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun Times:Emergency surgery shelves Barrett
Discussion:
Sweaty Men Endeavors
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Two Bulls stars begin audition — ST. PETERSBURG - Two more potential pieces of the Devil Rays' future arrive today with the promotions of catcher Shawn Riggans and reliever Juan Salas from Triple A. — Riggans, 26, hit .293 with 11 homers and 54 RBIs and was named the International …
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Associated Press:
HOMEMLBNEWS STORYWright, Reyes to lead MLB tour in Japan — TOKYO (AP) - New York Mets infielders David Wright and Jose Reyes will lead a team of major league players on an exhibition tour of Japan in November, Major League Baseball officials said Tuesday. — Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies …
Daniel Brown / Mercury News:
The case for Jeter — In 1950, the last time a New York Yankees shortstop won the most valuable player award, Phil Rizzuto edged a deep and talented field despite lacking gaudy statistics. — Rizzuto got the nod because writers recognized his contributions that went beyond the box score.
Steve Treder / Hardball Times:
Enlivening the Mid-1970s: Part One — The baseball in use in the major leagues was a little bit dead from 1974 through 1976. — Now, I can't prove that. And I assure you, nearly every time when assertions about "juiced baseballs" come up, I'm firmly in the highly skeptical camp.
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Loving it in La-La Land — Former Cub Maddux enthused to be part of Dodgers' playoff push — MILWAUKEE — Greg Maddux was sitting in the visiting clubhouse Monday when he saw a familiar face from his second tour with the Cubs. — "Quiet in here, isn't it?" he said. — Yes, it is.
Ray Sánchez / Newsday:
Braves dredge up bravado in face of new reality — A dour Chipper Jones sat in the quiet of the Atlanta Braves' clubhouse yesterday, reflecting on the end of his team's unparalleled run of 14 straight division titles. With Jones out at least a week with a strained left oblique, there is plenty of time to reflect.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Zambrano: Injury may end my year — Cubs' ace exits with lower-back problem after taking a pasting — Carlos Zambrano may have gone from Cy Young Award candidate to sayonara on Monday afternoon at Wrigley Field. — The Cubs ace lasted 1-1/3 innings in a 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh …
Discussion:
1060west
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Baseball Without Strikes? Talks Could Make It Happen — PROBABLY the biggest surprise in all of the years I have written about baseball was not the Red Sox' comeback against the Yankees in the 2004 postseason, or the Diamondbacks' victory over the Yankees in the ninth inning of Game 7 …
