Top News:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Free Agent Compensation Could Be in Jeopardy — Once Washington Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano becomes the fourth player to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season — he needs just one more stolen base — the attention will likely turn to Soriano's future.
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Mark Zuckerman / Washington Times:
Logan may be answer in center — PHOENIX — Nook Logan was brought in by the Washington Nationals two weeks ago in a last-resort move by a club that has been searching for a reliable center fielder seemingly since the day it relocated to the District. — It's still way too early to tell …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
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.
Discussion:
District of Baseball
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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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Red Sox edge O's for series win — Loretta delivers go-ahead RBI as Boston remains in contention — BALTIMORE — Through all the unfortunate events of the last few weeks, and there have been many for the Red Sox, it would be easy for veteran players to see the proverbial writing on the wall, if not in the standings, and lose focus.
NY Daily News:
Plunking puts Posada in pain — One of the main goals for any first-place team simply cruising to the finish line is to get through each day without suffering new injuries. — Jorge Posada left last night's 7-4 win over Tampa in the seventh inning with a bruised left elbow after he was clipped …
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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 …
Randy Galloway / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Reality check: Buck looks a lot like Bill — The Rangers' final homestand of the season opened in Arlington on Thursday night. Only the hardcore will care. The vast majority will keep going east or west on I-30. — Although minimal local baseball intrigue will be involved over the next two weeks …
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Notes: Daniels plans to keep Showalter — 2004 AL Manager of the Year has three years left on contract — ARLINGTON — Rangers manager Buck Showalter's job status has been a prime topic of conversaion lately so general manager Jon Daniels addressed it one more time Thursday.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Gonzalez, D-Backs part ways — Gonzo is going, going, gone. — Luis Gonzalez's tenure with the Diamondbacks will end after this season. Club officials informed the popular left fielder on Thursday they have no intention of bringing him back for a ninth season in 2007, The Republic has learned.
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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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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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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 …
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 …
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.
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
