Top News:
Arnie Stapleton / Associated Press:
Rockies rally in 13th, win NL wild card — DENVER (AP) — They played as if they never wanted the season end, and they had already gotten an extra day. — The NL wild card came down to a wild, 13-inning finish Monday night that put Matt Holliday and the Colorado Rockies into the playoffs …
Discussion:
ESPN, Epic Carnival, MLB.com, Rumors and Rants, Where have you gone …, Blogging Baseball and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres on losing end of longest one-game tiebreaker in history — DENVER - Trevor Hoffman swallowed hard and answered question after question last night after the Rockies dealt him a blown save that could haunt Hoffman and the Padres for some time. — "The finality of it all just comes roaring down pretty quick," Hoffman said.
Jacob Wheatley-Schaller / Hardball Times:
Who's going to be the MVP? — I'm way too interested in MLB awards. I'm well aware that they're completely meaningless, as the voters don't exactly look at the most advanced metrics, but they're always the center of lively debate, which I enjoy thoroughly.
Michael Knisley / ESPN:
Knisley: Rockies batter Hoffman, reach postseason … DENVER — A long, stressful, extra-inning night finally ended a long, stressful, extra-game regular season Monday in Denver, and the Colorado Rockies flew away to Philadelphia and the National League Division Series ... ... on Holliday.
Discussion:
Fox Sports
Shaun Assael / ESPN:
Source: Mets lefty Schoeneweis received steroids … Scott Schoeneweis, the veteran New York Mets reliever and a survivor of testiticular cancer, received six steroid shipments from Signature Pharmacy while playing for the Chicago White Sox in 2003 and 2004, ESPN has learned.
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Scott Schoeneweis denies report of steroid shipments — Scott Schoeneweis, fingered by an Internet report that said he received six shipments of steroids from the pharmacy that is at the center of an ongoing investigation into illegal prescription drug sales, told the Daily News last night …
Discussion:
Mets Today
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Matsuzaka gets call for Game 2 — Sox staff impressed by most recent outing — Because of a combination of Daisuke Matsuzaka's dominance in his last outing and a chance to get extra rest for Curt Schilling, the Red Sox have decided to use Matsuzaka as their No. 2 starter …
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Sox nail down ALDS rotation — Dice-K gets the nod in Game 2, while Schilling will go in Game 3 — BOSTON — Red Sox manager Terry Francona revealed his pitching plans for the American League Division Series against the Angels, and Daisuke Matsuzaka is the choice for Game 2 instead of Curt Schilling.
Discussion:
Fenway Blogger
New York Post:
METS TRY THE MAIL REVIEW — Omar Minaya's future is now tied directly to Willie Randolph. — Mets ownership has ordered Minaya to recommend either the firing or the retaining of Randolph with the proviso that the GM's job will hinge upon how the decision plays out, The Post has learned.
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:A time for change — Plenty went wrong for Mets, who face tough choices
Discussion:
New York Post, Mets Merized Online, NJ.com, MLB.com, Associated Press and Lone Star Ball
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals payroll experiencing growing pains? — The Cardinals learned this season that $101 million mixed with rampant injuries is worth only third place. In the upcoming weeks they must decide what a return to first place will cost. — With nearly $84 million already committed …
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Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Carlos Delgado vows to rebound from injury, slump — As Carlos Delgado Delgado rehabbed from elbow surgery last winter, he did so with the knowledge that he produced big numbers in his first career postseason despite the Mets' seven-game loss to the Cardinals in the 2006 NLCS.
Canadian Press:
Blue Jays look ahead to 2008 season — TORONTO - The internal projection for the Toronto Blue Jays this season was somewhere between 90-92 wins, a total that would have had them in legitimate contention for the post-season. — Had things fallen their way after that, the feeling was this group …
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Simulated game is Roger Clemens' last hurdle — The Yankees officially won't tab Roger Clemens as their Game 3 starter for another day or two, but all signs point to the Rocket taking the ball Sunday at Yankee Stadium. — Clemens threw a 49-pitch bullpen session at the Yankees' training complex …
Discussion:
New York Post
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Notes: Expectations go unfulfilled — Wilpon issues statement; players begin tending injuries — NEW YORK — If seasons are considered in isolated blocks, then there was nothing particularly wrong with the one that ended Sunday in Flushing. Baseball is a game measured in inches …
Discussion:
You can't script baseball
