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Jorge Arangure Jr / ESPN:
Wright's challenging words might be too late … NEW YORK — Between the signs of resignation and the half-hearted attempts at optimism, there was one yet slight sign the New York Mets might have some life left in their floundering season. As a despondent Mets clubhouse emptied …
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New York Post
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Lisa Olson / NY Daily News:
Mets' plight reaches new, creative lows — When all the hair balls have been coughed up, when all the gags and chokes at Shea have been silenced, the Mets will be remembered for one thing. — They went down creatively, ingeniously. — It's not easy to blow a season in such astonishing fashion.
Mark Hale / New York Post:
METS HAVE VIEW FROM THE FLOP — ALL CHOKED UP & LOOKING UP AT PHILS — In the clubhouse afterward, David Wright confirmed his humiliation. The choked-up third baseman's words were enough. — "Personally I'm embarrassed," Wright said after a fifth straight defeat slid the Mets into second place.
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Mets fall to Marlins, out of first place; could miss playoffs — On the outside looking in and out of first place for the first time since May 16, the Mets and their epic collapse have reached the reddest possible alert. — As Carlos Beltran aptly put it, "It's hard to believe, but it's happening."
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Rivera blows save, Yanks lose in 10; Red Sox clinch East — BALTIMORE - For the first time since 1997, the Yankees will enter the postseason as the wild card team, as their streak of nine consecutive AL East titles was snapped last night with an ugly loss to the Orioles.
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Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Red Sox clinch AL East crown — BOSTON (AP) — Jonathan Papelbon danced barefoot in the infield. Daisuke Matsuzaka smiled and bowed to a group surrounding him. And the sound system played "Don't Stop Believin'." — Ecstatic fans joined in to savor Boston's first division title in 12 years …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
No postseason for Buchholz — Red Sox rookie hurler shut down due to shoulder fatigue — BOSTON — As it turns out, top pitching prospect Clay Buchholz will not be a secret weapon for the club come October. Citing some weakness and fatigue that developed in Buchholz's right shoulder during September …
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Paul Lo Duca hurts knee, vows to play — Paul Lo Duca insists he will try to play in the Mets' must-win game today despite leaving last night's 7-4 loss to Florida in the eighth inning with a bruised left knee. — Lo Duca was struck by a foul ball in the seventh and temporarily remained in the game …
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New York Post
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Mike Puma / New York Post:
MAINE WILL TRY TO STOP SINKING FEELING — John Maine will make his fourth career postseason start today - at least it will feel that way for the right-hander when he walks to the mound at Shea Stadium for the most important outing of his career. — The Mets' season is on double secret probation …
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FishStripes
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rookie Clement delivers walk-off win — First hit of the night a game-winning home run against Texas — SEATTLE — Mariners manager John McLaren talked before the game about the thunder in rookie Jeff Clement's bat. — For the second time in three days, Clement delivered a stunning clap …
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David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:Clement's blast in 9th chases Rangers
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Associated Press
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Kazmir to management: Get us some help — TORONTO - Scott Kazmir, like others, hopes better days are ahead for the Devil Rays, who with a 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Friday guaranteed they'll again finish with the majors' worst record. — But the young ace said Friday they need …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Despite ERA, Myers could have role in '08 — Left-hander Mike Myers' ERA has swelled by more than 1.5 runs in his 15 appearances since he joined the White Sox last month. But that hasn't stopped pitching coach Don Cooper from strongly considering Myers as a part of the Sox's bullpen for 2008.
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MLB Trade Rumors
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: New scouting director expected — Ed Creech, the Pirates' scouting director since late 2001, is expected to be removed from that post after this season. — Two team sources said that, although general manager Neal Huntington has just begun his new job …
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Where have you gone …
Daniel Malloy / Boston Globe:
Delcarmen now is set up well to succeed — His 35th homer of the year - a solo shot in the eighth - earned David Ortiz a pat on the head from Mike Lowell. Ortiz went 3 for 4, rapping a double to go with his homer. Lowell was 2 for 4. (BARRY CHIN/GLOBE STAFF)
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MLB Trade Rumors
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Theo: "Last resort" to shut down Buchholz — Theo Epstein just met in the dugout with reporters and said that shutting down rookie Clay Buchholz was "obviously not a first choice, obviously not a second choice, but a last choice. Ultimately, the decision with the medical staff was something we have to do.
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Rob Maaddi / Associated Press:
Hamels pitches Phillies into 1st place — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jimmy Rollins was reminded of his bold preseason prediction countless times, especially when it seemed the Philadelphia Phillies were going nowhere. — Many snickered. Others criticized. Few outside the locker room believed.
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Federal Baseball
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