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12:20 AM ET, September 23, 2006

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Bleed Cubbie Blue:
Breathless  —  I'm sure many of you almost hyperventilated when you saw this article in today's Tribune (reprinted from the Trib-owned South Florida Sun-Sentinel), stating that … This immediately spawned two BCB diaries, one of which I had to delete because it contained the entire text of the above-linked article.
Discussion: Sun-Sentinel and Baseball Musings
RELATED ITEMS:
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
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Closers closing in on perfection  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  LOS ANGELES — Not since Eric Gagne nailed down all 55 save opportunities in 2003 has any National League closer had a spotless season.  —  What the Pirates have achieved this season pales by comparison, of course.
Fox Sports:
Marlins reportedly won't bring Girardi back
Clark Spencer / Miami Herald:
Sweeps will be needed  —  NEW YORK - Their wild-card chances …
Discussion: Philliesflow
Associated Press:
Tavarez pitches complete game in BoSox victory over Jays  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  TORONTO — Julian Tavarez called it the only highlight of his season.  —  "That's the only good thing I've done this year," Tavarez said after pitching his first complete game in six years …
Discussion: Surviving Grady
RELATED ITEMS:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Who will be the next Esteban Loaiza?  —  Say hello to the "Esteban Loaizas of 2006."  —  The scout who coined that phrase wasn't talking about the top of this year's free-agent pitching market — left-hander Barry Zito and righty Jason Schmidt.  —  He wasn't talking about potential free agents …
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Under The Knife  —  A Scary Day  —  I've been covering steroids in baseball for most of my career, and there's been no scarier day than yesterday.  I was in the ESPN newsroom, getting ready to go on and talk some fantasy football when I saw that the authors of Game of Shadows were sent to jail.
Discussion: Dan Agonistes
RELATED ITEMS:
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Today  —  An Important Start  —  Monday night …
Discussion: the metropolitans
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Will his fastball be ready?  —  Pedro fools hitters through four …
Discussion: Always Amazin'
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Pavano Joins Yankees, and the Joking Begins  —  It has been a season of setbacks for Carl Pavano, the Yankees' $10 million missing man.  But the team made sure his latest physical problem did not keep him out of the clubhouse.  —  Pavano, who cracked three ribs in a car accident on Aug. 15 …
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.
RELATED ITEMS:
NY Daily News:
Series-ly - tix for $10G!
Discussion: Hot Foot
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Howard hits No.58 as Phils fry Fish  —  Slugger continues torrid pace to back rookie starter Hamels  —  PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard had barely rounded first base when the rally-towel waving faithful began what has now become the regular mantra.  —  Chants of MVP crescendoed until Howard came …
Baseball America:
International: Mariners Sign Truinfel  —  As expected, the summer of 2006 has been a busy one on the international market.  The Mariners, who aren't shy about signing players from any corner of the globe, already had spent heavily earlier in the summer, signing Venezuelan outfielder Mario Martinez for $600,000.
Discussion: U.S.S. Mariner and Mariner Minors
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Notes: Fairly calling it quits  —  Announcer set to retire; Feierabend to start Sunday  —  CHICAGO — After being on the field or in the broadcast booth for what he estimates as 7,000 games, Ron Fairly has decided to walk away from baseball following this season.
Associated Press:
Royals' Bell has tonsils removed  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals manager Buddy Bell had his tonsils removed Friday and will now await biopsy results on a growth that was detected in the area.  —  At the recommendation of Dr. Steven Joyce, the Royals' team physician, surgery was performed just days after the growth was found.
baseballthinkfactory.org:
Bullpen Mechanics  —  The Complex Case of Oliver Perez  —  Oliver Perez, in a span of a few years, has gone from a guy who routinely pitched at 95 mph+ in '04 to a guy who rarely broke 90 mph early this year (watch the WBC if you have to) to a guy who is back at around the 93-96 mph range.
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
First pitch, September 22  —  TOUGH LUCK  —  7 blown saves for the Rockies bullpen in relief of Aaron Cook tied with Jarrod Washburn of Seattle for the most blown saves for a starting pitcher.  The Rockies bullpen has a 7.26 ERA in relief of Cook, the highest for any starting pitcher with at least 10 starts.
RELATED ITEMS:
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Notes: Attention doesn't faze Fuentes
Discussion: Purple Row
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Notes: Raines' status unclear  —  Bench coach in wait-and-see mode regarding future  —  CHICAGO — The end of the 2006 season not only could mark the last vestige of the White Sox 2005 championship run, but it also could signal the final days of Tim Raines as a part of the White Sox coaching staff.
Discussion: South Side Sox
Mark Hale / New York Post:
BELTRAN FEELING 'STRAIN' IN QUAD  —  Carlos Beltran has not played the Mets' last three games, and the All-Star center fielder revealed after last night's 5-2 loss to the Marlins that he has a "little strain" in his left quad.  —  Beltran said he had an MRI on Wednesday.
Discussion: Hot Foot
USA Today:
'Moneyball' equations retooled for this A's club  —  This just in: Billy Beane has misplaced his copy of Moneyball.  —  Mention this to the celebrated general manager of the Oakland Athletics and there's a long silence over the phone.  Of course, the loaded question of how this A's team …
 
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 More News: 
Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
The Game of the Century?  —  Dodgers 11, Padres 10 (10 innings)
Rob Gillies / Associated Press:
Halladay's season over because of strained right forearm
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Q&A with Dejan Kovacevic
Discussion: Bucs Dugout
Associated Press:
Braves right-hander Smoltz to return for 19th season
Discussion: Hot Foot
Ryan Quinn / MLB.com:
Harden sharp as A's top Tribe
Dave Carpenter / Associated Press:
Tribune Board Signals Big Changes Coming
Discussion: Ivy Chat, 1060west and Giants Win
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Robinson Getting the Silent Treatment
 Earlier Picks: 
Baseball America:
Pioner League Top 20 Prospects List
Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
It's a Misconception That A-Rod Only Hits the Scrubs
newyork.mets.mlb.com:
To qualify for the NLCS drawing, you must register
Discussion: Hot Foot
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
52 pickup  —  Record is in cards as Ortiz (2 HRs) blasts past Foxx
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Showalter not dwelling on his '07 status
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
MLB INSIDER
George King / New York Post:
GIAMBI PLAYING WITH TORN WRIST LIGAMENT
 

 
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Associated Press:
Iran's supreme leader has been killed during major attack, Trump says

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Actor Shia LaBeouf arrested again on battery charge in New Orleans

TMZ.com:
Cher's Son Elijah Blue Allman Arrested on Assault, Trespassing Charges

 
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