Top News:
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
Youth served as Phil Hughes bails out Roger Clemens — On the night that could have ended the Yankees' season, a night that could have ended one of the great managing careers in the history of the Yankees and baseball at the same time, Joe Torre came walking slowly, limping slightly …
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Andrew / The Grand National Championships:
Roger Clemens has no heart. — My dad and I were watching the start of the Yankees-Indians game. Roger Clemens was the starter and he was scuffling. I said to my dad. "Roger's gonna fake an injury." — He was surprised at my projection, but I went on. Any time he stuggles, he taps out early.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
George Steinbrenner's threat doesn't bother Yankee players — George Steinbrenner's threats to Joe Torre's job are part of life in pinstripes, several Yankees said yesterday, not necessarily a potential season-ending distraction as they try to stay alive in the playoffs.
Discussion:
New York Post
Keith Law / ESPN:
How Rockies, Diamondbacks match up … Two unexpected sweeps give us a four-day respite before the start of the NLCS, which is in its first year with a new schedule (including a new off day between Games 4 and 5). — Although the Diamondbacks had the better record and will have home-field advantage …
Discussion:
Fox Sports
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Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Rockies' gem of a season has been an inside job — OK, so maybe the Rockies are a year or two ahead of schedule in their build-from-within program. — Nobody is complaining, though. — They put on the strongest season-ending drive to land a postseason spot in history …
Discussion:
Blue-Collar Baseball
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Schilling the toast of the town again — ANAHEIM, Calif. - Trailed by his wife, who was toting a small video camera to preserve a few more memories for a lifetime, Curt Schilling walked into the postgame interview room wearing a champagne-soaked T-shirt that read, "The Season Begins Now."
Discussion:
Boston Herald
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Red Sox sweep in to ALCS — Schilling shines as Boston finishes off the Angels — ANAHEIM, Calif. - Unlike the late Frank Sinatra, your Boston Red Sox get plenty of kicks from champagne. — The Red Sox enjoyed another bubbly bacchanal yesterday clinching their Division Series …
Discussion:
Providence Journal, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Boston Sports Media Watch and The Soxaholix
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:Sox look heaven sent
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, The House That Dewey Built, Red Sox Monster, Pearly Gates, Over the Monster and 6-4-2
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Looking back on 2007 — Beat reporter Bill Ladson answers fans' questions — What was your biggest disappointment and your most pleasant surprise in 2007? — My biggest disappointment was the Nationals' offense, which I thought would be good enough despite losing Alfonso Soriano and Nick Johnson.
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
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Curt Schilling / 38 Pitches:
What a series. — They may have been banged up, no denying that, but regardless of the 3-0 result that's a good team. To say anything else diminishes the incredible job done by a lot of people, some not wearing uniforms. — Regular season or post season the guy that starts a series …
Barry Rozner / Daily Herald:
Piniella, Cubs could seek an upgrade at third base — Congrats John McDonough. — Nice going Jim Hendry. — Heck of a job Lou Piniella. — Now what? — The Cubs won a division, which gave the fans something to enjoy but not much for which to be proud.
C.J. Moore / MLB.com:
Cook, Hirsh may be ready for NLCS — Pair of Colorado pitchers working back from injuries — DENVER — The Rockies thought starting pitchers Aaron Cook and Jason Hirsh were out for the season. But they didn't realize their season would extend to the National League Championship Series, and now the two starters are ready to return.
Red Sox Monster:
Jose Mota said wha?? — By and large, this whole experiment of having playoff baseball on TBS has been interesting... and not all that great. How not all that great, you ask? Well, if you can transcribe what reporter Jose Mota says in this clip, I'll give you a dollar: — Uh, so tripping over his tongue, or what?
Richie Rich / Home Run Derby:
Can Freddy Sanchez hit a wiffle ball? — Recently, Construda found a sick wiffle ball pitcher over on the YouTubes. — When this guy throws, the ball dances all over the place before hitting the strike zone almost every time. I'd say it was unhittable. — Here's the clip.
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Ibanez may fill Tigers' needs — Could there be a better solution to the Tigers' leftfield needs than Raul Ibanez? — Detroit president/general manager Dave Dombrowski acknowledged last week that he will look for a left-handed hitter this winter. Ibanez was among the top outfield run producers …
