Top News:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Omar sees Brave reign put to rest — MIAMI - Mets officials converged on Dolphin Stadium, hoping to participate in the eventual NL East-clinching celebration during the Mets-Marlins series. While they wait for the organization's first division title since 1988 - and to officially dispose …
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Thunder in the eighth — Delgado's 3-run HR, Floyd's RBI double rally from 4-1 deficit — MIAMI — The Mets officially ended the Braves' unprecedented run of 14 consecutive division titles with last night's rain-delayed 6-4 victory over the Marlins. But if they want to uncork …
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Maine squeeze to pen possible — MIAMI - Willie Randolph said he may use John Maine in the bullpen the final week of the season, giving him some comfort level there in case the Mets need him in that role in October. — "Right now he's starting Sunday. After that we'll see where we are," the manager said.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Mark Hale / New York Post:
BRAVES' DIVISION STREAK ENDS — With the Mets' 6-4 win over the Marlins last night, the Braves were officially eliminated from winning the NL East. Atlanta had won 14 straight division crowns, playing in both the NL West and NL East. — "Very impressive," GM Omar Minaya said before the game.
Discussion:
The Eddie Kranepool Society
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Baker: 'Wildest game I've ever seen' — Watches Cubs overcome 6 errors, win on Izturis' single — Carlos Zambrano was asked before Tuesday's game why he didn't want to shut down for the rest of the year. — "First of all, I don't want this team to get 100 losses," Zambrano replied.
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Miami Herald:
Girardi's status is still tenuous — With the Marlins continuing to amaze, why does manager Joe Girardi remain in jeopardy of losing his job at season's end? The more we hear, the more it becomes clearer why owner Jeffrey Loria issued another ''no comment'' this week regarding Girardi's future.
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Randolph among top NL skippers — Manager of the Year candidates also include Girardi, Little — PHOENIX — To many, there's little doubt who should be selected as Manager of the Year this season in the National League. — Hints? His team has been running away from its division since June …
Discussion:
Church of Baseball
Mark Bradley / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Lots of reasons why it ended for Braves — When you finish first 14 times over 14 completed seasons, you assume every year is your year. For the imperial Braves, this one finally wasn't. The Mets made it official Tuesday night, winning in Florida to eliminate the Braves from the NL East race.
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Furman Bisher / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
It was just a feeling in the spring — Say it ain't so, John. Yogi Berra says it ain't over till it's over, but actually, it has been over for the Braves since somebody strained the first oblique. I sensed it during spring training. Couldn't exactly put it in words, or maybe I didn't have the guts.
Discussion:
Deadspin
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Rattled Ortiz reacts — He insists media misrepresented him — BALTIMORE — MVP? — On this night, that would stand for a mightily, vociferously peeved David Ortiz, distressed at the way his remarks about the American League MVP race were used to portray him as selfishly campaigning …
Discussion:
Boston Herald, The House That Dewey Built, Boston Sports Media Watch and Yanksfan vs Soxfan
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Hernandez Hopes to Stay In Arizona — On the day he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, former Washington Nationals right-hander Livan Hernandez reiterated that he was disappointed to be dealt away because he wanted to throw the first pitch in the Nationals' new ballpark when it opens in 2008 …
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Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals get nasty — Runelvys Hernandez and John Buck liven up 5-3 win over Indians with a fight in the dugout. — There's proof. Right there on tape. A bit of September spice to Tuesday's 5-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians that, by the way, ended an 11-game losing streak at Jacobs Field.
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Long-Term Deal for Rodriguez Is a Priority — Securing closer Francisco Rodriguez to a long-term contract will be among the Angels' top priorities this off-season after the sides were unable to agree to terms on a multiyear deal last winter. — "We've agreed that we will sit down at the end …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
A look at the Braves' streak of 14 straight division titles — Braves' streak ends — Using 18 rookies, including 12 making their big-league debut, the Braves pull out their 14th straight division title by two games over Philadelphia. Andruw Jones finishes second in MVP balloting with 51 HRs and 128 RBI.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Cost of business in Latin America soars — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Early this month, the San Francisco Giants paid a $2.1 million signing bonus for a 16-year-old Dominican third baseman, Angel Villalona. — And that came not long …
Shea Stadium / Sports Illustrated:
New York Mets — Average Ticket Price: $25.28 — Average Cost of Concessions and Souvenirs: $106.00 — How expensive is stadium parking? — • FREE: 4% — • $5-$10: 9% — • $10-$15: 66% — • $15-$20: 12% — • More than $20: 4% — Is public transportation a viable option?
