Top News:
Ian O'Connor / NorthJersey.com:
The Boss to Torre: Win or else — Joe Torre's 12-year run as manager of the Yankees will likely end if his team does not rally to beat the Cleveland Indians in the AL Division Series, George Steinbrenner told The Record on Saturday night. — "His job is on the line," the Yankees' owner said in a phone interview.
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ESPN:
Report: Yanks' Torre managing for his job in ALDS — As the Yankees stand on the brink of elimination in the first round of the playoffs for the third season in a row, owner George Steinbrenner says longtime manager Joe Torre needs his team to advance to the ALCS if he wants to keep managing the club.
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Joe Torre may start Jason Giambi to spark offense — With the Yankees facing elimination tonight, they are looking everywhere for a spark. Doug Mientkiewicz worked his cell phone yesterday, texting Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez, trying to get his longtime friend in the right frame of mind.
Jay Mariotti / Chicago Sun Times:
One hundred friggin' years — It's sickening enough that someone would kill a goat, hang it on the Harry Caray statue the other night and post a video of the carcass on YouTube. But you know what's really creepy? It had zero impact in reversing the most futile, maddening …
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Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
99 years of solitude — CHICAGO - Year 99 ended like all the ones before it, with a loss, only this one came so decisively that Chicago Cubs fans didn't bother booing at the end. Losing in Wrigleyville is like breathing and walking and sleeping, more function than action …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
D-Backs sweep aside Cubs — CHICAGO - The final out was about to fall into the glove of Jeff Salazar in right field when closer Jose Valverde began thumping his chest, and soon the celebration had begun anew, the smell of champagne and beer and sweat hanging heavy in the air of the cramped visitor's clubhouse at Wrigley Field.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Rockies Pregame report — A front moved into the Denver area shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday night. — Nearly three hours later, the storm hit Coors Field. — The Rockies had continued their fairy tale. — Jeff Baker, the seemingly forgotten man from the Opening Day roster …
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Jim Armstrong / Denver Post:
Rox relievers pen in Phillies — The Sunday notes, my friend, are blowin' in the wind.... Why are the Rockies a threat to play in the World Series? Lots of reasons. For one thing, their bullpen, like their ballpark, has been lights out. — The Rockies' pen in the aftermath …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Jackie MacMullan / Boston Globe:
Falling Angels need a win and a prayer — ANAHEIM, Calif. - I am a practical person who rarely jumps to unnecessary conclusions, but as I wind my way toward the home of the Almost Annihilated Angels of Anaheim, I can't think of one good reason to restrain myself from stating the obvious.
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Todd Behrendt / Fox Sports:
Where does Mets' collapse rank? — LIKE THIS STORY? — A mere 19 days ago, the New York Mets were contemplating making history in the form of the franchise's first championship in 21 years. — Today, they've got a different sort of legacy to contemplate.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Mark Herrmann / Newsday:
Here are guys who can joke about Mets' choke — The last laugh usually isn't all that funny, which is why so few people bother to pursue it. Getting the last laugh is like dancing on someone else's misery, something a few Mets might do outside their dugout.
New York Post:
SHAKE IT UP — METS WOULD GET MUCH-NEEDED JOLT FROM ROWAND AND ECKSTEIN — THE strong feeling the Mets gave even in retaining Willie Randolph was that they do not have strong feelings for him. — Their endorsement was delayed and tepid, and therefore played like an organization that a) …
Discussion:
Mets Fever
John Delcos / The Journal News:
Some free advice for the Mets — Journal News Mets beat reporter John Delcos offers his take on what moves the team should make this offseason. — While the Yankees play today to keep their season alive, the Mets are already a week into a long offseason of self-analysis of what went wrong …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Being Cards' 'lightning rod' makes Luhnow uneasy — Jeff Luhnow has heard the derisive nicknames before, from false, like "accountant," to funny, like "Harry Potter." — But the Cardinals vice president finds those jabs quaint compared to the past week, when he has been described …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
