Top News:
Paul Newberry / Associated Press:
14 in a row: 'You knew the end was coming' — ATLANTA (AP) — It had to end sometime. — How about 1992? The Atlanta Braves were coming off their worst-to-first season, surely a fluke if there ever was one. They were perennially one of baseball's worst teams, the guys who passed …
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
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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 …
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
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 …
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Welcome Mat rolls D-Rays — Hideki back with 4 hits — The Yankees' lineup already was long on star power and sheer power, when Hideki Matsui's return and Gary Sheffield's continued progress prompted Joe Torre to boast "there's no question you can never have too much talent."
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Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
'Ready' or not, here's Sheffield — On the night Hideki Matsui returned from a four-month absence by going 4-for-4, the Yankees' other All-Star outfielder to undergo wrist surgery this season also pronounced himself close to returning to the team's increasingly cluttered galaxy of stars.
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Matsui and Sheffield: Future Is All in the Wrist — Hideki Matsui has told Japanese reporters that he wants to reclaim his starting position in left field because it is vitally important to him to help the Yankees on both offense and defense. Gary Sheffield told everyone …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Wakefield takes on Orioles in return — Boston (77-67) at Baltimore (62-81), 7:05 p.m. ET — After nearly two months of being sidelined, veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will be back on the mound Wednesday night at Camden Yards, when the Red Sox play the second game of this three-game series against the Orioles.
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Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Bedard takes the mound vs. Boston — Boston (77-67) at Baltimore (62-82), 7:05 p.m. ET — The short-handed Orioles dropped another one-run game and fell 20 games below .500 for the first time all season Tuesday night, but more importantly, the loss clinched the team's ninth straight losing season.
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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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
Sports Illustrated:
The myth of clutch — With the MVP races in both leagues going down the wire, you are going to hear and read a lot about "big hits" and "clutchness" in the next few weeks. The eventual winners probably will have some type of signature moment — a walkoff home run, most likely — to hang his campaign on.
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 Sports Media Watch, Boston Herald, The House That Dewey Built and Yanksfan vs Soxfan
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 …
Deadspin:
It's Like Tonya Harding, But Less Manly — We Have To Ask ... Suggested questions for today's ESPN SportsNation chatters ... • 3 p.m. NCAA football with Beano Cook: Yeah, those things on the helmets are called facemasks. We think they may catch on.
Discussion:
The700Level.com
