Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Graduation day nearing for Wells … LOS ANGELES — David Wells is planning a trip to Africa in November. He will pack his bow and arrow and go on a safari to hunt lions, leopards and water buffalo. — He wants to shoot golf consistently in the 70s, and climb on a surf board and cut …
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Associated Press:
Padres-Cardinals Preview — Now that their star closer has set a new all-time saves record, the San Diego Padres can focus on wrapping up the National League West for the second straight year. — Trevor Hoffman will try to help the Padres to their fifth straight victory when they open …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
Amanda Branam / MLB.com:
Padres open decisive road trip — San Diego (83-72) at St. Louis (80-74), 5:10 p.m. PT — Players have begun to throw around the cliché "this time of year separates the men from the boys" during the last week or two. — It's the final week of the regular season …
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Twins quiet KC to clinch playoff berth — Bonser two-hits Royals through 6 2/3 innings — MINNEAPOLIS — Clinching a spot in the playoffs seemed an impossible task for the Twins nearly four months ago, but on Monday night, that's exactly what the club did by defeating the Royals, 8-1, at the Metrodome.
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
After Loss, Trachsel Faces Postseason Questions — Endy Chávez of the Mets could not reach Brandon Harper's double in the seventh inning. Harper later scored on a double by Henry Mateo. — Asked to sum up his performance in yesterday's 5-1 loss to the Nationals, Steve Trachsel unwittingly assessed his season.
Discussion:
Always Amazin'
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Amanda Branam / MLB.com:
Jones, Holliday meet again — After Mile High slugfest, they are NL Co-Players of the Week — The level of play around baseball always seems to jump up a notch in September, and 2006 is no different. — In the second-to-last week of the regular season, play was so strong in the National League …
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Gardenhire stuck in classic quandry — From the managers-can-never-win dept: — If the Twins are still in contention for the AL Central title on the final day of the season, Ron Gardenhire will be damned if he starts left-hander Johan Santana and damned if he doesn't.
Baseball America:
Minor League All-Star Team — C Chris Iannetta • Rockies — Though he didn't play enough at either Double-A or Triple-A to make either of those all-star teams, Iannetta's breakout season was the most impressive by a catcher this season. He split his time evenly between Double …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Arias will get his chance this week — ARLINGTON — Rangers manager Buck Showalter planned to start Joaquin Arias, the organization's top minor league prospect among non-pitchers, on Sunday, but delayed it for two reasons. — First, Showalter likes the matchup of the right-handed hitting Arias …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Salmon Is Getting Ready for His Last 'Stand — OAKLAND — The Angels, barring an unprecedented collapse by the Oakland A's, aren't headed to the playoffs, but for veteran outfielder Tim Salmon, who will begin the final homestand of his 14-year career tonight, this week will have a postseason feel to it.
Discussion:
6-4-2
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Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Notes: Miller gets scouting lesson — Top pitching prospect spending final week with Indians — CLEVELAND — Top Indians prospect Adam Miller has been brought up to the big leagues. — All right, calm down. It's not an official roster move or anything.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
MLB.com:
Mariners select RHP Jorge Campillo from Triple-A Tacoma — RHP Cha Seung Baek placed on 60-day disabled list — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Bill Bavasi announced today that the club has selected right-handed pitcher Jorge Campillo …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Gonzalez could be Girardi's successor — CINCINNATI — Joe Girardi's shaky status as manager of the Florida Marlins continues to play a key role in the Cubs' search for a new manager. — If Girardi is fired, sources say Atlanta Braves third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez …
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Only integrity is revealed — Judge plays hardball but reporter won't give — He has already sat down with his 6-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son and explained that their daddy might be going to jail. This is the part that cuts hardest at San Francisco Chronicle reporter Mark Fainaru-Wada …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Michael Lewis / New York Times:
The Ballad of Big Mike — I. Looking for the Next Anti-Lawrence Taylor — As he drove into Memphis in March 2004, Tom Lemming thought that everything about Michael Oher, including his surname, was odd. He played for a small private school, the Briarcrest Christian School …
Discussion:
freedarko.com
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-Backs stifled in finale vs. Dodgers — Quentin's RBI double the only score as LA wins on walk-off — LOS ANGELES — Say this for the Diamondbacks on the day they were officially eliminated from any postseason contention: They went down fighting. — The D-Backs held the Dodgers' hitters …
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Baseball America:
Appalachian League Top 20 Prospects List — Subscribers can read scouting reports on all 20 players (Click here to subscribe) — While Danville and Elizabethton again dominated the Rookie-level Appalachian League and met in a rematch of last year's championship series …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter