Top News:
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Boras urges Rays to be prepared to overspend — The Rays likely aren't going to sign free-agent-to-be Barry Bonds, whose surliness and greater-than-thou attitude wouldn't be a fit in their young impressionable clubhouse, though it would be an interesting issue if, unable to find work elsewhere …
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Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Disastrous ninth stings Rays — Pena goes deep twice, but Reyes stumbles vs. Sox again — ST. PETERSBURG — They're still the Red Sox. — On Saturday night, division-leading Boston allowed Tampa Bay to feel like kings for all of an inning before reminding all why the Red Sox are at the top …
Associated Press:
Boston 8, Tampa Bay 6 — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — No speeches. A toast. And then it was back to work for the Boston Red Sox. — The Red Sox became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot, rallying on ninth-inning home runs by Jason Varitek and Julio Lugo to beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 8-6 Saturday.
Bob Baum / Associated Press:
Webb pitches Arizona past fading Dodgers — PHOENIX (AP) — Chris Young says he will play anywhere in the Arizona batting order, and he has. Leadoff, though, is an especially sweet spot for the Diamondbacks' rookie. — Young hit David Wells' first pitch 468 feet into the upper deck …
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Conor Nicholl / MLB.com:
Notes: Bannister will be shut down — Rookie righty will wrap up impressive season after next start — DETROIT — Brian Bannister will make his last start of the season on Tuesday, manager Buddy Bell announced before Friday's game against the Tigers. — Bannister was originally scheduled …
Discussion:
Royals Review
Associated Press:
Alou's hit streak up to 26, Mets win — MIAMI (AP) — The New York Mets made themselves at home in Miami — again. — Oliver Perez pitched eight innings, Moises Alou extended his hitting streak to a team record-tying 26 games and the Mets strengthened their hold on the NL East by beating the Florida Marlins 7-2 Saturday.
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:Mets fight off rain delay, rally to hold off Marlins
Discussion:
New York Post
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Angels denied by Mariners — One win from clinching AL West title, LA falls to Seattle — ANAHEIM — Opportunity lost was the downbeat theme of the day for the Angels, who let a second chance to clinch the American League West title at home slip through their normally sure hands.
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yankees May Bend Limits for Chamberlain in Playoffs — The Yankees' rules for using Joba Chamberlain mandate that he not pitch on consecutive days. But there may be an amendment for the postseason. Manager Joe Torre said the Yankees were reconsidering their October plans for Chamberlain.
Discussion:
Yankees 2000
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Dan Rosenheck / New York Times:
In Theory, Diamondbacks Are Winning Way Too Often — Mention the Pythagorean Theorem to a baseball statistician, and he will probably not even recall the grade-school equation relating the lengths of the sides of a right triangle. Instead, he'll think of the formula derived by Bill James …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Vincent M. Mallozzi / New York Times:
Fans in a Froth for the Mug in Which Bernie Brewer Bathed — The controversy over Bernie Brewer's beer mug has come to a head in Milwaukee. — Todd Achtner, a lifelong Brewers fan, is leading an online charge to bring back the beer barrel, mug and chalet belonging to Bernie Brewer.
Associated Press:
C. Duncan: Sibling rivalry may have led to injury — ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan believes the sports hernia that ended his season a few weeks early may have been a result of a heated offseason sibling rivalry in the weight room.
Discussion:
Bronx Liaison
Rick Gano / Associated Press:
Soriano's 2 HRs, 5 RBIs help Cubs win — CHICAGO (AP) — Alfonso Soriano's slow start is long forgotten. Now that summer is turning to fall, Soriano is where he expected to be — leading the Chicago Cubs as they make a serious postseason run. — Soriano hit two homers Saturday …
Discussion:
GoatRiders of the Apocalypse
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
B&B In Extra Innings — Gallardo and Smoltz each pitch excellent games as starters, and the bullpens are holding each of the offenses scoreless as the Brewers and Braves go to the tenth inning tied at two. Neither pen has allowed a hit yet. — Update: It's a good day for Har home runs …
Discussion:
Associated Press
Ben Platt / MLB.com:
Lasorda grateful for 80 amazing years — Dodgers icon most proud of leading U.S. to Gold medal — Saturday is a milestone for one of the most beloved figures in baseball. Tommy Lasorda, baseball's grand ambassador and Hall of Famer, turned 80 years old.
Discussion:
It's Mets For Me
