Top News:
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels' Matthews left off playoff roster — The starting center fielder, who has not played in a week, is still bothered by a left knee injury. "I'm not the happiest camper on earth right now," he says. — BOSTON — The eight-year wait that appeared to end when the Angels clinched …
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
25 man roster; Wake left off — Here's the news of the day, quickly, from Terry Francona's press conference. — Francona announced the 25-man roster for the first round of the playoffs, and it contained a surprise. Tim Wakefield, who Francona announced yesterday would be coming out of the bullpen, has been left off the roster.
ESPN:
GM tells Andruw Jones Braves won't re-sign him — ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves say they will not attempt to re-sign outfielder Andruw Jones, who can become a free agent after the World Series. — According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Braves general manager John Schuerholz told Jones …
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves, Andruw Jones to part ways — Schuerholz says team can't afford outfielder's contract expectations — Andruw Jones' career with the Braves is over. — General manager John Schuerholz said Tuesday he told Jones in a noon meeting in his office that the Braves could not afford …
Sports Illustrated:
Glavine probably leaving Mets — Veteran lefty could choose free agency or retirement — ATLANTA — Back home in Atlanta following the New York Mets' historic collapse, Tom Glavine said Tuesday he'll "most likely" decline his $9 million player option for next season.
Discussion:
Catbird in the Nosebleed Seats
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Pena named AL Comeback Player — First baseman nearly didn't make squad in Spring Training — ST. PETERSBURG — Carlos Pena has enjoyed delivering his fair share of surprises this season, but Tuesday's announcement that he had won the American League's Comeback Player of the Year Award came as no surprise.
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MLB.com:
Pena, Young win 2007 Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award — Carlos Peña of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Dmitri Young of the Washington Nationals are the recipients of the 2007 Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award, it was announced today.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
St. Petersburg Times:
'I made a horrible mistake,' Rays coach of DUI charge … ST. PETERSBURG - Pitching coach Jim Hickey, along with the rest of the Devil Rays coaching staff, was supposed to find out today if his contract with the baseball team would be extended for another year.
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Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
News: Willie Randolph will Stay — From a press conference at Shea Stadium a few moments ago, Mets GM Omar Minaya told reporters that Willie Randolph will continue to manage the Mets. — According to Minaya, he had the final decision and the team's ownership had no reservations about his choice.
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Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Pirates season in review — PITTSBURGH — It was a season of streaks, some good, some forgettable. New faces stole the show, while more familiar ones struggled to maintain consistency. — But with the book on the 2007 season closed, it should be looked at as another stepping stone moving forward.
Discussion:
Bucco Blog
ESPN:
THE REGGIE STANDARD — The question of how the Yankees always get their man, how virtually all the world's great supermodels, chefs, actors, designers eventually gravitate toward New York, can be answered in one phrase: star power. New York compared to anywhere else is like Broadway compared to Shakespeare in the park.
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Diamondbacks get new theme song — 'D-backs Swing' has fans rocking at Chase Field — The Arizona Diamondbacks are swinging hot bats and riding a wave of momentum that has carried them to the top of the National League West. They're now headed to postseason baseball for the first time since 2002.
Discussion:
FanHouse
Phil Wood / Examiner:
Expect Bowden, Nats to make significant noise in the offseason — WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Out of 30 big league clubs, the Washington Nationals ranked 28th overall in player salaries with a figure of $37.3 million. Only the two Florida teams, the Marlins and Rays, finished behind them in that department.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, The Beltway Boys, Washington Post, MLB.com, District of Baseball and Lone Star Ball
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Get ready for a slugfest — LIKE THIS STORY? — Two veteran baseball men volunteered Tuesday that the Rockies finally might go flat after winning 14 of their final 15 games, including Monday night's dramatic tie-breaker against the Padres. — If anything, I think the Phillies are more likely to crumble.
Discussion:
Washington Post
MLB.com:
Charlie Manuel, Chase Utley and Cole Hamels workout day interview — Phillies manager and players talk about bringing the playoffs to Philadelphia after 14 years — How did your friendship with Garrett Atkins evolve and do you think consciously or subconsciously you'll push each other?
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Bob Wojnowski / Detroit News:
Keeping Pudge is a must — DETROIT — When the fun games end, the dangerous games begin. And make no mistake — this is one dangerous offseason for the Tigers. — The Tigers slipped this season because of injuries and suspect pitching, and it's probably not a permanent slip.
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