Top News:
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Plenty of fireworks, but sizzle fizzles for champs — Champs can't produce encore presentation; new cast on horizon? — They locked down U.S. Cellular Field on Sunday afternoon, too early for all the White Sox players and fans who had painted their bandwagons for a second straight parade.
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Sox reach prodigious mark — Crede's blast gives Chicago four hitters with 30 homers — CHICAGO — A hearty 17-mph wind gusting out to center field during Sunday's contest between the White Sox and Mariners at U.S. Cellular Field certainly didn't hurt any of the nine drives clearing the fences …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Hot free agent — Soon-to-be-ex-Marlins skipper Girardi has ties to Cubs, Chicago — Joe Girardi may be very available when the Cubs start the search for a successor to Dusty Baker, who won't be retained after his contract expires at the end of the season.
Discussion:
1060west
Hartford Courant:
Angels Could Make Play For A-Rod — These are the words you love to hear if you're a fan, and they came this week from Angels owner Arte Moreno: — "I'll guarantee we're going to do something major. We explored it before, but now we have goals we want to attain and that we will accomplish, whether through free agency or trades."
Discussion:
Off the Facade
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Millwood roughed up early in loss — Home finale showcases Rangers' disappointment with season — ARLINGTON — Rangers owner Tom Hicks had enough in the top of the sixth inning while the Cleveland Indians were in the middle of a five-run rally. — Hicks got up from his front-row seat next …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:Rangers' Rupe looking good in long relief role
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Dempster blows save as Reds rally — 'Ticked off' after 4th blown save in row — CINCINNATI — On Opening Day at Great American Ballpark, President Bush walked into the Cubs' clubhouse and extended his right hand to Dusty Baker. — "This is the year, right?" Bush said as he and Baker shook hands.
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David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:
Double Negative — Sox Eliminated; Manny Wants Out — TORONTO — Manny Ramirez had already showered and dressed as his teammates walked into the clubhouse Saturday after a 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays that mathematically eliminated the Red Sox from making the playoffs.
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Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Notes: Cota has no regrets — Catcher likely finishing final season with Pirates — SAN DIEGO — Humberto Cota has come to grips with the fact that, in all likelihood, he's about to spend his last week in a Pirates uniform. — Cota, who has the organization's Minor League Player of the Year in 2001 …
Amanda Branam / MLB.com:
Hoffman makes history as Friars sweep — Closer converts save No. 479 to capture all-time record — SAN DIEGO — The final regular-season game of 2006 at PETCO Park is in the books. Closer Trevor Hoffman put it in the record books. — Hoffman calmly set down the Pirates in order …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Chris Duncan / sports.yahoo.com:
Houston 7, St. Louis 3 — HOUSTON (AP) — Roger Clemens waved to Houston's fans for the final time this season. Then, the rest of the Astros gave the sellout crowd even more to cheer about on Sunday night. — Clemens struck out six in five innings and Aubrey Huff hit a three-run homer …
Rich Draper / MLB.com:
Alou gets 2,000th hit in Giants' loss — Cain gives up two-run homer, three-run double vs. Brewers — MILWAUKEE — There was a quiet celebration Sunday by two baseball men — father and son — when Giants outfielder Moises Alou blooped a double into right field in the second inning …
Discussion:
The700Level.com
Eduardo A. Encina / St. Petersburg Times:
Out of limelight, two sluggers keep building their MVP cases — Even though much of the talk about the AL MVP recently has centered around Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, a pair of small-market stars warrant just as much consideration.
Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Angels refuse to watch A's celebrate — Santana rolls as Halos prevent Oakland from clinching — OAKLAND — The Angels can only begin to dream, but the what-ifs are slowly becoming more plausible. — Such as, what if they continue playing loose and winning baseball, while the A's feel the increasing pressure of the pennant race?
Jason Williams / TwinCities.com:
Plan is to save Santana for playoffs — Twins hope ace can rest next weekend — BALTIMORE — The Twins are closing in on their first postseason berth since 2004, but manager Ron Gardenhire said he has been losing sleep lately. — At issue is a potential make-or-break decision regarding …
Discussion:
TwinsGeek.com
Brian Mahoney / sports.yahoo.com:
NY Mets 12, Washington 6 — NEW YORK (AP) — Even before Nick Johnson was carted off the field, the Washington Nationals knew he was badly hurt. — Johnson broke his right leg in an outfield collision during the eighth inning of the New York Mets' 12-6 victory over the Nationals on Saturday.
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ESPN:
Bucs' Simms has spleen removed after loss to Carolina — Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms had his spleen removed at a Tampa, Fla., hospital after rupturing it in Sunday's 26-24 loss to Carolina, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports. — According to a source close to Simms' family …
Morning Call:
Shopping Place Ads Opinion Sitemap — | The Kid's last encounter with Florida ended in his worst second-half start that didn't include a cut finger. He couldn't command his pitches and couldn't match Dontrelle Willis' zeroes in the Miami heat and humidity, lasting only four innings in a 3-0 loss Sept. 10.
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Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:In the Driver's Seat — After a long uphill battle …
Discussion:
Philling Station
Mark Polishuk / MLB.com:
Snyder starts as Sox aim to finish strong — Boston (83-72) at Toronto (81-73), 1:07 p.m. ET — The scouting report on Kyle Snyder is fairly simple. When his slow curveball is on, he can be dominating. When it isn't on, however, things rarely go well for the right-hander.
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