Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Why Santana isn't the AL MVP … Johan Santana is the most talented, most charismatic, most dominating pitcher in this hemisphere. And that's something we should all be able to agree on, except perhaps for certain members of Roy Halladay's immediate family.
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Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Twins look to sweep Sox — Minnesota (90-61) at Boston (81-71), 6:05 p.m. CT — Fenway Park hasn't always been the kindest ballpark to the Twins, but that certainly hasn't been the case this series. — The Twins enter the finale of their three-game set with the Red Sox having the opportunity to pull off a series sweep.
Associated Press:
Steinbrenner feels good about health, postseason — NEW YORK — George Steinbrenner says he's fit and feeling fine. And for those who don't believe him, the New York Yankees owner invites them to join him at the gym. — "No, I did not have a stroke. I am not ill. I work out daily," …
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NY Daily News:
Giambi's still needling — Time to get off A-Rod's case — The money quote, from Jason Giambi, is right there on the cover of Sports Illustrated, like a fastball under Alex Rodriguez's chin. — "Alex doesn't know who he is," Giambi says of A-Rod, the SI cover boy.
Bob Klapisch / ESPN:
Pressure on A-Rod will be intense in October — It was in January 2005 when George Steinbrenner opened the door to his Legends Field offices and invited Alex Rodriguez in for a chat. This wasn't a conversation as much as it was a job review — actually it was a history lesson, and the Boss did all the talking.
Rich Radford / Virginian-Pilot:
Tide turns in favor of Orioles — With each passing day, odds that the Norfolk Tides will affiliate with the Baltimore Orioles increase. — On Wednesday, one of the Tides' main suitors opted to go elsewhere. — Seeing the Orioles as frontrunners in a perceived two-horse race to land Norfolk …
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NY Daily News:
Yankees pick Scranton, Mets beg to turn Tides — The Mets asked David Wright to place a late-night call to Triple-A Norfolk owner Ken Young after their loss to Florida last night. But the last-ditch effort to prevent the Mets from losing Wright's hometown team as their affiliate appeared unlikely to work.
Associated Press:
Yankees' top minor league team to move to Scranton — SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — The New York Yankees reached an agreement Thursday to make the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons their Triple-A affiliate, after ending their relationship with the Columbus Clippers earlier this year.
Baseball America:
Major Changes In Triple-A Fall Into Place — It's official: Three of the longest-standing affiliations in the minor leagues are coming to an end in the International League, with the announcements of new player-development agreements in Columbus and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Relive all the magic with Clinch Time — Download playoff-assuring games for free at MLB.com — The first celebration scene happens on the field, where giddy players release all of that pent-up emotion from a marathon Major League Baseball season and pile on top of each other after clinching a championship.
Discussion:
The Griddle
MLB.com:
Braves exercise 2007 contract option on John Smoltz — Veteran right-hander to return for 19th season in 2007 — ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves announced today that they have exercised the option on the contract of right-handed pitcher John Smoltz for the 2007 season.
Tony Chamberlain / Boston Globe:
Home at the ballpark — Gammons back to work for ESPN — And then, yesterday, he was back at the ballpark. Home, as he sees it. — Little fanfare. No promotional gimmicks. Just some handshakes and heartfelt greetings from fans, players, and colleagues, and the inevitable kids …
Soraya Nadia McDonald / Associated Press:
Royals manager takes medical leave of absence, return indefinite — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Royals manager Buddy Bell is taking a leave of absence to treat a growth discovered near his left tonsil. — The Royals announced the move during the ninth inning of their game against …
Discussion:
The Griddle
Shaun Powell / Newsday:
Wilpon deserves all the credit — A wealthy, genteel and proper gentleman who's probably used to drinking his bubbly from a crystal flute instead took it straight from the bottle, and had it all dumped right on his head. Don't be misled; Fred Wilpon was not drunk the other night, at least not from liquor.
Discussion:
Always Amazin'
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Team, Duffy disagree on winter ball — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — LOS ANGELES — The Pirates have told Chris Duffy they would like for him to play winter ball, but Duffy has responded that he has no wish to do so. — Potential for another rift between the team and its starting center fielder?
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
