Top News:
Johnette Howard / Newsday:
Tom has plenty left for playoffs — You couldn't blame Tom Glavine if he felt a little strange last night when he took the mound against the Florida Marlins. Not a single Mets regular was in the starting lineup. There was still a giddy, woozy, slightly hung-over feeling at Shea Stadium …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
Scrubs brush off hangover & deficit for Tom — And on the day after the big event, they rested. — Willie Randolph watched his team celebrate winning the NL East crown on Monday night and gave his regulars last night off against the Marlins at Shea. It was a reward for the season …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Fox Sports:
It's not all smooth sailing for Mets, Yankees — It's a good time to be a baseball fan in New York City. — FOX Bite — Videos — Mets clinch in style — On Tuesday night, the Mets clinched their first division title since 1988, and the Yankees, whose magic number stands at three …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
As Yankees March On, a Reminder of Rodriguez's Summertime Swoon — Jason Giambi faced a crowd of reporters at his locker before and after Tuesday's game. The earlier subject was awkward. The later subject was painful. — Before the Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-3 …
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Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
A-Rod Agonistes — Despite his extraordinary numbers, New York fans are quick to discount his contributions. And when things go wrong for A-Rod, even his teammates find him hard to motivate and harder to understand — "Joe wants to see you." — Alex Rodriguez still was weak …
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Notes: Pavano likely out for season — Giambi's wrist an issue again; Torre congratulates Randolph — TORONTO — It looks like Carl Pavano's second season with the Yankees will officially come to an end on Wednesday without him throwing a single pitch. — Pavano, who fractured two ribs …
Discussion:
Replacement Level …
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Guillen: Blame me for shortcomings — Manager takes heat for champs' second-half struggles — CHICAGO — When Ozzie Guillen unleashed his now famous verbal tirade in the direction of Magglio Ordonez late last April, there was no mistaking the intent of Guillen's venom or the point …
Discussion:
Beck's Blog
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Pierzynski, Garcia keep Sox battery powered — Freddy Garcia remains under contract through 2007, but he's showing he has plenty of value if the White Sox decide to trade him. — Garcia reaffirmed his knack as a big-game pitcher Tuesday night with eight innings of one-hit ball …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Melissa Isaacson / Chicago Tribune:
Million thanks perfect tonic for Reinsdorf — Fan's continuing joy, gratitude for '05 lift owner's mood amid White Sox slide — Jerry Reinsdorf opens another letter and says he still can't quite get over it. — He tells you of the letter-writer's history, a fan who first ripped him in July …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Strain halts Johnson's year — · Starter Josh Johnson's fabulous rookie season likely is over. — Johnson returned to South Florida on Tuesday to have his right forearm examined. An MRI revealed a strained ulnar collateral ligament but no tear. The ulnar collateral is the ligament …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Soriano's top feat is off the field — Slugger grateful to have won over the Washington fans — WASHINGTON — Left fielder Alfonso Soriano finds himself in a 2-for-25 slump that has dropped his batting average to .285, but he's not worried about it. He believes he will get out of it because he is comfortable at the plate.
Discussion:
Washington Post
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Homer-happy Dodgers show anything's possible … LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers' clubhouse is typically as animated as one of those wooden local radio ads that manager Grady Little does for Jiffy Lube. It's a businesslike place after victories, and so quiet after defeats you can hear the dirty laundry hit the floor.
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Peter Gammons / ESPN:
'One of the luckiest people on the earth' — The first clue that my cell towers were intact came right around the trading deadline, approximately a month after my aneurysm. By that time, I had been transferred from the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston to the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape and the Islands.
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog, Dan Shanoff, Deadspin, Mack Avenue Tigers, SOX1FAN and Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
Don't expect Pedro at 100% — Pedro Martinez threw a bullpen session on Monday in preparation for his start tomorrow night and said he felt no ill effects from his start Friday in Pittsburgh. However for the first time, he sounded like he isn't sure what to expect from himself in the postseason.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Braun, Gallardo class of Minors — Anderson, Gwynn find way home; Nix, Gross recovering — MILWAUKEE — Some consider the jump from Class A to Double-A to be the toughest a player has to make in his Minor League development. It didn't seem to faze two Brewers farmhands honored Tuesday.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Jim Reeves / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Firing Buck would be folly — ARLINGTON - Dropped by The Ballpark on Tuesday night, probably for the last time this season. Just to say goodbye to another year, to hopes dashed again...and to Buck Showalter. — You know, just in case. — I don't think Showalter will be fired, and I know he shouldn't be.
Joe Roderick / Contra Costa Times:
Kendall sets his sights on first postseason party — notebook — OAKLAND — A's catcher Jason Kendall has played in 1,536 games during his major-league career, but not one in the postseason. That will almost surely change in a few weeks. — "It's what you play for," Kendall said.

