Top News:
Greg Cote / Miami Herald:
More important than just a win — A mix of magic and emotion made it simply one of the most memorable nights in Marlins history. — Florida continued to roar back in the NL wild-card chase with a 16-5 drubbing of the Mets that included a season-high 20 hits and a franchise-record five home runs — three by unsung Cody Ross.
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
No Mets' magic — Fish pound out 16 runs, 20 hits — MIAMI - The clinching party figures to come this week, though it might have to wait until the Mets' arrival in Pittsburgh. — The Marlins bashed five homers, including three from Cody Ross, and routed the Mets, 16-5 …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
For Nats, Similar Themes Give Different Result — It could develop into a full-scale battle between the pitchers and the hitters if the Washington Nationals were to let it go that far. In a four-game series over the weekend in Colorado, they hit and ran and sent balls all over the park …
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USA Today:
Abreu gave Yankees a vital boost in spring away from AL East field — BALTIMORE — Johnny Damon says when the New York Yankees landed Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bobby Abreu at the July 31 trading deadline "we were playing on fumes." — When you talk about the Yankees …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Notes: Halladay healing nicely — Jays ace says he's not experiencing stiffness in right elbow — SEATTLE — Breathe easy Blue Jays fans — Roy Halladay is on the mend. Toronto's ace sat at his locker inside the visitor's clubhouse at Safeco Field, wearing an ice pack on his right elbow prior to Monday's game against Seattle.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
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Doug Padilla / L.A. Daily News:
A new home for Figgins? — ANAHEIM - Chone Figgins says he feels at home in center field, a residency that could be short-lived depending on offseason maneuverings that could wind up with the utility man getting traded. — "I'm starting to love center field a little bit because it's just fun to get out there and run," Figgins said.
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Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Two Steps Back, NL — This is part four of a four-part series where we look at which players saw their stock rise and fall the most in each organization. We finish off today with the National League, and the bad. — Arizona Diamondbacks — After winning the Double-A Southern League ERA title …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Sports Illustrated:
Fan Value Index 2006 — Readers rate which parks offer best value, experience — Last year SI.com writers analyzed each major league ballpark from a fan's vantage point in order to determine which venues offered the best value and experience. But this time around we went to the best source: the fans.
Discussion:
Bad Altitude
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
RIZZUTO FIGHTS ON IN LATEST BATTLE — PHIL RIZZUTO always has been a battler, the little underdog who made it all the way to the Hall of Fame. — The Scooter will turn 89 later this month, and this has been a difficult year for him and Cora. Rizzuto couldn't make it to Yankee Stadium for Old-Timer's Day.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Sports Illustrated:
Beyond Moneyball — Why A's Beane succeeds where others have failed — It's the man, not the methodology. — Moneyball was a superbly written tale, and while the book got it right in that the stunning achievements of the Oakland A's should indeed be attributed to their great general manager Billy Beane …
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Yo-yo man: Hennessey going back to bullpen — After spending most of the season in the bullpen, then getting a shot to start when Jamey Wright faltered, Brad Hennessey is back in the bullpen hoping someday to have a steady job. He did not fare well in his return to the rotation, going 1-2 with a 6.33 ERA in five starts.
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Leader of the attack — On Saturday afternoon, Rangers center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. was asked about the possibility of scoring 100 runs this season. — At the time, it seemed an outside chance. Matthews had scored 84 runs in 128 games played and would need to score 16 runs in the team's final 20 games to hit the milestone.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Minor honors for Rangers' prospects Hurley, Gold — Right-hander joins Rangers' top prospects; infielder excels in Frisco — DETROIT - The Rangers' trio of top pitching prospects officially became a quartet Monday. — Right-hander Eric Hurley, who moved up to Double-A Frisco …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Sports Illustrated:
Colorado Rockies — Coors Field — Average Ticket Price: $14.72 — Average Cost of Concessions and Souvenirs: $71.00 — How expensive is stadium parking? — • FREE: 4% — • $5-$10: 41% — • $10-$15: 35% — • $15-$20: 13% — • More than $20: 3%
Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com:
Barajas wants to be the No. 1 man — Catcher has split time with fellow backstop Laird this season — It could be really easy for Rangers catcher Rod Barajas to lose his cool. — Easy for him to blow his top, to lose his composure or spout off about the 2006 season. — But that's just not his style.


