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
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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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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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs can't hold on, fall to Reds — Ramirez sets career high with 37th long ball in loss — CINCINNATI — It's been more than a month since Ryan Dempster got his last save, and after Sunday, he may not get another chance the rest of the season. Whether he'll get the opportunity next year is to be determined.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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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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?
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 …
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.
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers top KC, clinch playoff spot — Detroit to play in postseason for first time in 19 years — KANSAS CITY — The "best worst team in baseball," as Matt Anderson put it three years ago, now has a chance to be the best, period. Craig Monroe's three-run homer punctuated a nine-run second inning Sunday …
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Notes: Hudson away for a few games — Second-base defensive whiz dealing with family issues — LOS ANGELES — Second baseman Orlando Hudson left the team Sunday to deal with a family issue in Atlanta, but is expected back in the next few days. — "He had a family issue to deal with …
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
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
David Ginsburg / Associated Press:
Gibbons calls foul after plunking wife with ball — BALTIMORE (AP) — The odds of such an occurrence seem insurmountable, yet Jay Gibbons pulled off the unimaginable feat: He hit a foul ball that injured his wife. — The scene occurred in the ninth inning of the Baltimore Orioles' game against Minnesota on Saturday.
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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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nationals' Johnson Suffers Broken Leg — Femur Fractured in Collision on Field: Mets 12, Nationals 6 — As soon as Nick Johnson's body slammed off that of Austin Kearns, he rolled limply to the turf, screamed in agony and flung his glove in the air, his expression mixing frustration with pain.
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