Top News:
Mike Berardino / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins' Girardi not coming back, source says — Joe Girardi, who guided the surprising Marlins into playoff contention despite baseball's lowest payroll, will soon be out as manager after just one season. — On a scale of 1 to 10, Girardi's chances of returning next year are "zero," …
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ESPN:
Report: 'Zero' chance Girardi manages '07 Marlins … MIAMI — Joe Girardi has a chance to win National League Manager of the Year, but it seems he has no chance to return to the Florida Marlins next season. — According to a report in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Girardi will be out as Marlins manager after just one season.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
NY Daily News:
Series-ly - tix for $10G! — It's scalpers' going rate for a Game 7 — Dreams of a Subway Series are driving postseason ticket prices to insane heights - with Yankees ticket holders already hawking World Series Game 7 ducats for $9,999. — Seems crazy, especially since the 10-grand tickets are far from home plate.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
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NY Daily News:
Subway Series no gravy train — While the Yankees clinched the American League East sitting on their backsides in Toronto Wednesday night, no one should dare downgrade this truly auspicious occasion. — The ninth straight division title officially opened the gate for a Yankees-Mets run through October.
newyork.mets.mlb.com:
To qualify for the NLCS drawing, you must register — Registration for postseason ticket opportunities will begin at noon Eastern Time (ET) Tuesday, September 5, 2006 and will close just prior to the drawing for World Series tickets, date to be announced (the "Registration Period").
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks' Boss Says That His Health Isn't Failing — A day after the Yankees clinched their ninth consecutive American League East title, the principal owner George Steinbrenner followed yesterday with his usual statement praising the team and its fans. — More surprising was the release …
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Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Will his fastball be ready? — Pedro fools hitters through four, but gets roughed up in the fifth — With his pitches and emotions under better control, Pedro Martinez left his tune-up against the Marlins last night feeling "extremely happy." Happy is better than weepy …
Discussion:
Always Amazin'
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Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Notes: Attention doesn't faze Fuentes — Midseason stumble hasn't derailed Rockies closer — DENVER — Rockies closer Brian Fuentes shed his status as an unknown when he earned 31 saves last season. All in all, the Rockies believe he has handled recognition well this season.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Mets making New Orleans their Triple-A team — NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets are making the New Orleans Zephyrs their Triple-A farm team next season, ending an association with Norfolk that began in 1969. — By switching their top affiliate from the International League to the Pacific Coast League …
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John Brattain / Hardball Times:
Cy Burgh — Probably the only thing more up in the air than the National League playoff race is the run for the National League Cy Young Award. There have been some very good efforts in the senior circuit this year, but unlike Johan Santana's magic in the AL there hasn't been one hurler who makes you stand up and whistle.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
MLB INSIDER — Spin doctor is in, or is he? — At first, there was a look of recognition. Akinori Otsuka was in the Rangers dugout before the game with Seattle on Wednesday, and when asked the question, he smiled, nodded his head and uttered an elongated: "Aahhhhhhh." — So this was it.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Showalter not dwelling on his '07 status — Manager understands speculation comes with the territory — ARLINGTON — Rangers manager Buck Showalter and hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo are planning a mid-October trip to the Dominican Republic to see some of the young prospects.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers' gloves are a notch above — ARLINGTON — The past couple of games have not provided the best of examples, but the Rangers' defense has been a plus this season. — Defense doesn't grab a lot of attention, unless there is an error or an occasional web gem, most often by Gary Matthews Jr. or Mark Teixeira.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
From Arizona, to Columbus, to the Bronx — The first inning Brian Bruney pitched for the Yankees, he struck out the side. The next night, in a game in which 25 runs scored, he allowed no runs in the heat of a pennant race at Fenway Park. — The third day, Bruney was on a plane to Ohio …
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
Consider This the Beginning of What Will Be a Grind to Finish — Now that was a miracle. — The Dodgers finally beat the mighty Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, maintaining both their tenuous playoff spot and their slipping sanity. — OK, so their starting pitcher barely lasted half the game.
Childs Walker / Baltimore Sun:
A broken record? … The "natural" home run king. That's what some would call Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard should he pass Roger Maris' pre-1998 record for home runs in a single season. — The title implies that Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds were fueled …
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
52 pickup — Record is in cards as Ortiz (2 HRs) blasts past Foxx — Do mythical creatures exist? David Ortiz pondered as much yesterday afternoon as he sat in front of a laptop in the Red Sox clubhouse, reading an e-mail from a friend who had attached a photo taken in Boca Chica …
