Top News:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Melvin confident with Hernandez — Manager set to start former Series MVP — CHICAGO - The Diamondbacks will be stepping out of one raucous environment and into another today at Wrigley Field, and Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin is pleased to be handing the ball to veteran Livan Hernandez in such a situation.
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Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
The one left behind — Deer-hunting season opened in Oregon about a week ago, so Wally Backman stocked his RV with food and ammo and headed for Pueblo Mountain. It's serene up there - about 6,000 feet above sea level, only eight miles to the Nevada border and a world away from the National League playoffs.
Rick Gano / Associated Press:
Diamondbacks finish 3-game sweep of Cubs — CHICAGO (AP) — Short on stars but brimming with young talent, the Arizona Diamondbacks pulled off a sweet playoff sweep and celebrated like October regulars. — For the anguished Chicago Cubs, it's another cry of `Wait Til Next Year.'
Discussion:
Fox Sports
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
Playoffs Today — Two National League teams go for sweeps today in the National League Division Series. The Diamondbacks and Cubs start the evening at Wrigley with Livan Hernandez facing Rich Hill. As the Arizona Republic points out: … Livan is showing his real age …
Discussion:
Baseball Analysts
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Joba, Yankees can't avoid the plague … CLEVELAND — The word "bizarre'' doesn't do justice to some events on a baseball field. Randy Johnson once struck and killed a dove with a fastball. A black cat walked in front of the Chicago Cubs' dugout in the summer of 1969, portending the team's late collapse against the Mets.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Nationals Journal, Hot Stove New York, Knuckle Curve, FanHouse and New York Post
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Again, the Indians Create the Buzz — It is natural to be drawn to Joba Chamberlain, to the irresistible story of the rookie fireballer from Nebraska who saved the Yankees' season. But nobody expected the bugs from Lake Erie to care. — Yet they were attracted to Chamberlain …
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
A walkoff winner — Homer in 9th by Ramírez puts Sox up 2-0 — Manny Ramírez watched his home run sail over the wall early this morning. (JIM DAVIS/GLOBE STAFF) — It felt like summer all day, but the Red Sox brought back some of the autumnal magic after midnight …
Discussion:
Hartford Courant, Boston Herald, Boston Sports Media Watch, Los Angeles Times and The Soxaholix
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Return of Ramirez is power boost to lineup … Bat struck ball with a thunderous, unmistakable crack, and it was as if the words themselves were echoing off the angular walls at time-dipped Fenway Park [map]. — Manny's back. — "It feels great, man," Manny Ramirez [stats] …
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Mets' Glavine declines $13 million option for 2008 — Schuerholz silent on Braves' interest — Tom Glavine took the first step toward a possible return to the Braves on Friday when the left-hander declined a $13 million option with the New York Mets. — The move made Glavine eligible …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Analysis: Tracy's future with Pirates was not in cards — Chaotic clubhouse, emotional attachment to Dodgers key to failure — June 24, Anaheim, Calif.: The Pirates are less than 24 hours removed from a 10-1 loss, and strength coach Frank Velasquez is working out feverishly in the exercise room …
John Brattain / Hardball Times:
Yost infection — Sometimes you find the best information in the oddest places. For instance: I find blogs a treasure trove of useful information. The thing is, as you know, I also write for a mainstream outlet. The demographic of the readers there is a lot different from the ones here …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Mark Hale / New York Post:
GLAVINE TURNS DOWN OPTION — As expected, Tom Glavine turned down his option yesterday to return to the Mets in 2008. — Glavine had a $13 million vesting option. The deadline for his decision was yesterday, but he was a long shot to accept the option. Even by declining it, he can still return to the Mets.
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Neil Hohlfeld / Houston Chronicle:
Nottebart, Houston franchise's first no-hit pitcher, dies — Area resident, who made history in '63 as a Colt .45, succumbs at 71 — Don Nottebart, who pitched the first no-hitter in Houston franchise history for the Colt .45s in 1963, died Thursday in Cypress.
Discussion:
The Griddle
Sports Illustrated:
Friday's five cuts — Thoughts on bug stoppages, Clemens, Rowand, more — 1. Plenty of major league games with far less on the line have been stopped due to bug infestations. I can't believe both the Yankees and Indians didn't argue for a stoppage of play Friday night, but especially New York …
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Cards exercise option on Isringhausen — St. Louis' all-time saves leader will be back for one more year — John Mozeliak made his first official transaction as interim general manager of the Cardinals on Friday, as the club elected to exercise its 2008 contract option on reliever Jason Isringhausen.
Leitch / Deadspin:
Ryan Dempster LIkes You Topless: Ryan Dempster Will Make You Root For The Cubs — A reader named "Al" sends in the above picture, and the following story, after the jump. — I just had my first Wrigley bleacher experience after being a lifelong Cubs fan who grew up in Hawaii.
Discussion:
Home Run Derby
