Top News:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Stitching the Red Sox together — GM Epstein points to deals, player development — His Red Sox are safely in the playoffs, but the ever-diligent Theo Epstein was still working the phone at Fenway Park yesterday. (JIM DAVIS/GLOBE STAFF) — It's different now.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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Dave McKibben / Los Angeles Times:
Angel Stadium's a sellout; some fans may be too — With prices for playoff series tickets soaring, many are considering cashing in on their season-ticket investment. — After 3 million of them streamed through the turnstiles for five consecutive years, Angels fans have proved to be some of the most devoted in Major League baseball.
Discussion:
6-4-2
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
The matchups — Differences in how the teams positioned themselves into postseason by nick cafardo — Lineups — There are noticeable differences in style, but the most pertinent difference might be health. Boston has Manny Ramírez (strained left oblique) and Kevin Youkilis …
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
Playoffs Today — After an exciting finish to the regular season, three of the four League Division Series start today. I really like the schedule for the games. TBS provides a 3 1/2 hour window for each, which should be fine for all except the Yankees-Cleveland series.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Terence Moore / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves make big mistake letting Andruw go — Commenting on this blog will re-open Wednesday morning. — Bad move. — Terrible move. — Actually, this is an atrocious move for the Braves, because manager Bobby Cox had it right for eternity when he said of Andruw Jones, who ranks 1a …
Discussion:
Sabernomics
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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:
Amazin' Avenue, Mets Today, MetsBlog.com, Catbird in the Nosebleed Seats and Shea Nation
Geoff Young / Hardball Times:
Why the Rockies will beat the Phillies — The simple explanation, of course, is that the Rockies cannot lose. They are invincible. Look it up, there is not one single person on their roster named Vince. — Lame jokes aside, the Rockies are playing out of their heads right now …
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Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
In Todd, Rockies trust — Helton helps end Colorado's 12-year playoff drought — When the Arizona Diamondbacks clinched the National League West title at Coors Field last weekend, Jeff Cirillo offered some good-natured needling to friend and former teammate Todd Helton.
Discussion:
Blue-Collar Baseball
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Turning to damaged Rocket & mediocre Moose is eerie tale — At first glance it seems the Red Sox did the Yankees a favor, choosing the playoff series with the extra off-day. By doing so they denied the Indians a chance to potentially utilize their co-aces, C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona, on full rest for four of the five games.
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Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:May be A-Rod's last shot to help Bombers opt into Series
Discussion:
New York Post
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:Joe Torre aces 'toughest' test, but will he be back?
Discussion:
New York Post
Yahoo! Sports:
Angels CF Matthews, RHP Colon left off postseason roster — ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA (TICKER) — Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. and righthander Bartolo Colon will be left off the team's postseason roster, the team announced on Tuesday.
Discussion:
Catbird in the Nosebleed Seats
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:25 man roster; Wake left off
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, FanHouse, SOX & Dawgs, Baseball Prospectus, Over the Monster and Associated Press
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Paul Lo Duca says he wants to keep playing at Shea — Paul Lo Duca returned to Shea Stadium yesterday to clean out his locker and made it clear he hoped to be back next season. Problem is, he wants a multiyear deal that the Mets seem reluctant to give to him.
Discussion:
FanHouse
Michael O'Keeffe / NY Daily News:
Barry Bonds' ex-mistress details star's steroid use, temper — In the days before he became violent, in the days before he threatened to chop off Kimberly Bell's head and leave her body in a ditch, Barry Bonds would stand in front of a mirror and fret about how steroids were changing his body.
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Pitch-f/x adds insight to watching games — Technology offers information on the machinations of pitching — The pitch to right-handed hitter Troy Tulowitzki was 88 mph with a four-inch break and an 11-inch "Pitch-f/x" value, and it was hit to the gap in left-center for an RBI double.
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers sign Leyland through 2009 — Skipper has 183-141 record in two seasons at the helm — DETROIT — The Tigers followed through with the first task on their offseason to-do list on Tuesday and signed manager Jim Leyland to a one-year extension, putting him under contract through 2009.
Discussion:
TigerBlog
New York Post:
MR. AUTUMN-ATIC — JETER NEVER FAILS TO SHINE WHEN CALENDAR TURNS TO FALL — THE night Derek Jeter reached the 200-hit level for the fourth straight season and the sixth time in his career, he was never asked about it, and, of course, he never brought it up.
Discussion:
Yankees 2000
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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