Top News:
Michael Morrissey / New York Post:
SWEEP OF RAYS NOW — COMPLETE — Due to last night's late lineup shuffle, Robinson Cano batted in the No. 3 hole for the first time in his career. It's the perfect spot for him these days. Cano smashed a tie-breaking RBI double in the seventh inning and drove in three runs …
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
A BERNING IDENTITY CRISIS — BERNIE Williams sought out Joe Torre yesterday to ask his manager if here - less than three weeks until Game 1 of the playoffs - the Yankee manager could explain his role. — Torre could not. He told Williams that, in essence, this is spring training …
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Yanks win sixth straight, finish off Rays — Cano drives in three runs as club's magic number drops to six — NEW YORK — The Yankees inched closer to a division title on Thursday night, finishing off a three-game sweep of the Devil Rays. — Robinson Cano drove in three runs …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Gonzalez unlikely to return to D-Backs — Veteran outfielder informed that team will not pick up option — PHOENIX — Luis Gonzalez's tenure in a Diamondbacks uniform will come to an end Oct. 1 when the club closes out the 2006 season against the Padres at Chase Field.
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Ramírez could be done for the season — Francona says slugger wants to play, but can't — BALTIMORE — Red Sox manager Terry Francona said after a closed-door meeting with Manny Ramírez yesterday that ``there's a chance" Ramírez, who has been diagnosed with patellar tendinitis …
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Timlin not ready to retire — Reliever aims for 1,000 appearances — Mike Timlin will turn 41 during spring training next season (March 10). After being an indispensable piece of the Red Sox' bullpen the previous three seasons, including a league-leading 81 appearances in 2005, Timlin has struggled mightily this season.
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Notes: No news is good on labor front — Gibbons says issues being discussed on regular basis — BALTIMORE — Four years ago at this point in the season, baseball's collective bargaining agreement was the hot-button topic that trumped everything between the lines. An election cycle later, it's almost a non-issue.
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Benjamin Hoffman / New York Times:
A Bittersweet Taste of Reality for a Fantasy Baseball Expert — The St. Louis Cardinals are stumbling toward the postseason with a patchwork pitching staff. Their closer, Jason Isringhausen, is out indefinitely with a hip injury, and Mark Mulder, who started the season as their No. 2 starter …
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Notes: Barrett braces for return — Cubs backstop taking necessary precautions against injury — CHICAGO — Cubs catcher Michael Barrett saw a doctor on Thursday in hopes of getting the go-ahead to resume activities so he can play again this season. — Barrett has been sidelined since Sept. 2 …
Discussion:
GROTA
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Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun Times:Rusch out of danger, but clot keeps him in hospital
Discussion:
cubs posts
Pat Borzi / New York Times:
Painful Matinee for Liriano and Twins — Francisco Liriano stumbled off the mound and shook his left arm in pain as his 28th pitch, a fastball, bounced past Oakland's Bobby Kielty. Mike Redmond, the Minnesota Twins' catcher, walked to the mound with the concerned look of someone coming upon …
Discussion:
StarTribune.com
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Ed Sherman / Chicago Tribune:
Harrelson did job perfectly — Mentioning Garcia's great effort essential — WGN-Ch. 9 and Ken Harrelson weren't about to accept the blame for Freddy Garcia losing his perfect-game bid on Wednesday. — There were complaints from some traditionalists that it was the broadcaster's fault …
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
Two Years, 180 Degrees — Photographs By The New York Times: Barton Silverman; John Dunn; Suzy Allman; Kathy Willens/Associated Press; Doug Benc/Getty Images — On this day two years ago, the Mets' lineup card included Jason Phillips, Eric Valent, Wilson Delgado and Jeff Keppinger.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Rick Hurd / Contra Costa Times:
Barry Zito breaks down his famous curveball — It's coming. No scouting reports needed. Opposing managers are aware. Opposing coaches are aware. Opposing scouts are aware. — You even need to ask about opposing hitters? — It's Barry Zito's Killer Curve, a pitch that's …
Bronx Banter:
So Long, Old Friend — There is some sad news to report on this rainy afternoon in New York. Jim Kaat is retiring. Tonight and tomorrow will be his final two broadcasts for the Yankees. While I had heard that Kaat might call it quits at the end of the year, all of sudden, he's going to be gone.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Schilling believes team will spare no expense in '07 — BALTIMORE — Red Sox ace Curt Schilling, who has never been shy about suggesting he has a direct pipeline to management, said he expects the Sox will not be bound by luxury-tax constraints when they address needs this winter.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Minor-league year in review: Another wave sought to refresh top tiers — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Something surely is amiss with a Major League Baseball team's system when the parent club is younger than its top two affiliates in the minors, as was the case …
Yahoo! Sports:
An eight-month probe uncovers evidence that Reggie Bush and his family appear to have accepted improper benefits from prospective agents while at USC. — An eight-month Yahoo! Sports investigation has revealed that Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush and his family appear …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Slender Soriano keeps slugging away — Left fielder one steal away from fourth 40-40 season in history — WASHINGTON — Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano has been one of the best home run hitters in the last five years, yet he is often asked how he is able to hit the ball out of the park so often.
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Romero Tries to Mop Up 'Nightmare' Year — ARLINGTON, Texas — In another time or place, reliever J.C. Romero might have thrown a tantrum by now, ripped his manager in the papers, asked for a trade. But it's hard to criticize how you're being used when you don't have a leg — or a decent earned-run average — on which to stand.
