Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Astros name ex-Phils GM Wade to same position … Former Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ed Wade is the new general manager in Houston. — The Astros made the announcement official at a news conference Thursday afternoon. Wade emerged from an exhaustive search that lasted nearly a month and included 11 official interviews.
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Howard Fendrich / Associated Press:
Phillies rally from 4 down to beat Nats — WASHINGTON (AP) — Jimmy Rollins and the Philadelphia Phillies put together yet another comeback victory in a season full of them, then ducked into a cramped clubhouse Thursday night and got to celebrate something they found equally exciting.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Astros to hire ex-Phillies GM Wade — LIKE THIS STORY? — Former Phillies general manager Ed Wade is the new Astros' GM. — Wade, after meeting this morning with Astros owner Drayton McLane and other team executives, will be introduced as GM at a news conference this afternoon.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Chacon, Armas, Izturis unlikely to stay — SAN DIEGO — Many changes could come to the Pirates in the coming months, but only three seem certain: Shawn Chacon will try free agency, and Tony Armas and Cesar Izturis will not have club options exercised.
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Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Hairston is Mr. Clutch once again — Padres remain one game back of D-backs in NL West — SAN DIEGO — Of course, he looks. It's September, a pennant race. He can't help himself. — No matter where he stood on Wednesday at PETCO Park — the dugout, left field or at the plate …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:
Padres win 7th straight, half-game out — SAN DIEGO (AP) — Less than a month ago, Brett Tomko was unemployed and working out at a suburban high school, trying to fix his faulty mechanics while hoping someone would sign him. — The San Diego Padres are glad they took a chance …
Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:...And Down the Stretch They Come! — The famous horse racing call …
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
Associated Press:
Rangers starter Padilla drops appeal of suspension — ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers starting pitcher Vicente Padilla dropped the appeal of his seven-game suspension and started serving it Thursday night. — Padilla was suspended Tuesday for intentionally throwing at Oakland's Nick Swisher …
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Padilla perplexing in Rangers' 4-2 loss — egrant@dallasnews.com — MINNEAPOLIS - Before Wednesday's start at Minnesota, which was probably his last of the season, Vicente Padilla promised Rangers manager Ron Washington he'd give a make-good performance and stick around as long as he possibly could.
Anthony Andro / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:Twins' Hunter considers Rangers
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Read: Management is Frustrated — At the website for Sports Illustrated, Jon Heyman writes that it's not only bloggers and fanatical e-mailers who are upset with Willie Randolph, 'who assumes the posture of a man without a care.' — According to Heyman, people within the organization …
Discussion:
Mets Lifers
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Janie McCauley / Associated Press:
Reds' Griffey to miss rest of season — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Ken Griffey Jr. will miss the rest of the season because of a strained groin, the latest in a string of injuries to Cincinnati's All-Star outfielder. — Griffey left Wednesday night's game at the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Running on empty — Lifeless Sox swept away by Blue Jays — TORONTO - Maybe if the Yankees weren't involved, it would be different. Maybe, despite another mind-numbing Red Sox defeat, this one featuring a grand slam surrendered by Jonathan Papelbon in a 6-1 loss to the Blue Jays last night …
Discussion:
The Soxaholix, Surviving Grady, Boston Herald, The Big Lead, Peter's Red Sox Forever and Baseball Musings
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Christopher Faherty / New York Sun:
Approach of Winter a Big Factor in Stadiums Race — As the Yankees and the Mets make their playoff stretch runs, the prospect of approaching winter has construction crews working full blast on the city's two new baseball stadiums. — Getting ahead on the interior construction of the Bronx …
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
DELGADO GETS SET FOR RETURN — Carlos Delgado, out since Sept. 4 with a strained hip flexor, took to the batting cage at Dolphin Stadium today for a simulated game. It's the final hurdle before he makes his return to the lineup, which he'll do at some point during this current series.
Mets Guy / Mets Guy in Michigan:
New patch to say 'Farewell' to Shea — The Mets are to wear this neat patch next season. I love how it combines the original look of Shea with the orange and blue panels and the modern neon players. — Truth be told, the Mets have mixed success with special patches.
The Professor / Rays Index:
The New Tampa Bay Rays Uniforms — We haven't really had a chance to digest them yet, and will need to see the live versions to make a true assessment. We just hope that the new Unis are not jinxed by the use of the #5. Click on the images for larger and more clear views. — And in case you missed it.
Baseball America:
Gulf Coast League Top 20 Prospects List — Subscribers can read scouting reports on all 20 players (Click here to subscribe) — The Rookie-level Gulf Coast League is always packed with tons of potential, but this season was difficult to gauge, especially from a numbers standpoint.
