Top News:
NY Daily News:
George Steinbrenner may clean house, hire Tony La Russa — After 12 playoff appearances, four World Championships and some heartbreaking disappointments, it looks like Joe Torre has managed his last game as a Yankee - and his successor may well be Tony La Russa.
RELATED:
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yanks fall to Indians in 4 games; Joe Torre era could be over — Another October, another first-round exit for the Yankees. And while not as shocking as the last two, this likely will be the one that results in massive changes, starting up top with the anticipated end of the Joe Torre era.
Georgeking / New York Post:
IT'S AN INDIAN BUMMER — THE TORRE ERA IS LIKELY OVER AFTER GAME 4 FLOP — According to several people with knowledge of the situation, Joe Torre's fate will be decided in a few days. And when it is, it's highly likely that George Steinbrenner won't ask Torre back to manage.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, New Jersey Online, MLB Trade Rumors, Fox Sports, NJ.com, Boy of Summer and Associated Press
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards antsy over La Russa's decision — Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said Monday that the team's wait on a decision from Tony La Russa whether to return for a 13th season as manager has a limit that may be quickly approaching. — "We need to know something relatively soon …
Discussion:
ESPN
Joe Posnanski:
The Great Wedge ... This is an ode to Eric Wedge. Monday night in New York, he did absolutely nothing that I, as a fan, agreed with. Nothing. He started Paul Byrd when I was sure he should have gone with C.C. Sabathia on short rest. He played Kelly Shoppach because he's Paul Byrd's personal catcher …
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
RELATED:
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:Cleveland Indians reach AL Championship Series with Game 4 victory over New York
Discussion:
In Dayton We Trust
Andrew Marchand / ESPN.com:
Boras: Big plans if A-Rod opts out — If Alex Rodriguez opts out of his contract with the Yankees — and as of Monday night's loss to Cleveland, it's still a big if because Rodriguez wasn't giving any hints and said he hasn't even thought about it — his agent Scott Boras will prepare …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Jack Curry / New York Times:
Extra Work Is Not Enough for Rodriguez — Alex Rodriguez's brown eyes were moist and bloodshot, obvious evidence of how he had reacted on a gloomy Monday night. Rodriguez had watched the Yankees lose to the Cleveland Indians, 6-4, ending a potentially memorable season and perhaps ending his career with them, too.
Discussion:
FIRE JOE MORGAN
MLB.com:
Tigers exercise option on Ivan Rodriguez for 2008 — DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has exercised its option for the 2008 season on catcher Ivan Rodriguez. — "The Tigers are pleased to have Pudge back for the 2008 season," Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Tigers pick up Pudge's $13M option — DETROIT (AP) — The Tigers decided Ivan Rodriguez was worth another $13 million. — Detroit exercised an option Tuesday on the All-Star catcher's contract, retaining him for a fifth season at a hefty price. — The Tigers could have bought …
Joe Posnanski:
Jeters never prosper ... Hype is a funny thing. It can rattle your nervous system even when you KNOW the hype is wrong. Take Derek Jeter. I know, intellectually, that the whole "Derek Jeter is Captain Clutch, Conqueror of Pressure, Count of Men on Base, Knight of the Round Ball …
RELATED:
Awful Announcing:
Suzyn Waldman Cries On-Air Following Yankees Defeat — I understand that Fans get upset when "their" team loses, and sometime cry. But a broadcaster live on-air? I think that's unprecedented. Well that's exactly what Yankees radio announcer Suzyn Waldman did during the postgame show on WFAN last night.
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Bell leaving Royals to become White Sox's minor-league field coordinator — Former Royals manager Buddy Bell sure didn't last long in his new job as a senior advisor to general manager Dayton Moore. — Bell plans to leave the Royals at the end of the month to become the minor-league field coordinator for the Chicago White Sox.
Discussion:
Royals Authority
Sports Illustrated:
Fall guy (cont.) — Managerial Odds Board — 1. Mattingly. Lacks experience but has The Boss in his corner. Even money. — 2. Girardi. NL Manager of the Year with Florida turned down $1.5 million a year from Orioles. 3-1. — 3. La Russa. A perfect fit for the old Steinbrenner.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Jeff Blair / Globe and Mail:
Toronto to hire Denbo — NEW YORK — Gary Denbo is one member of the New York Yankees who already knows what he'll be doing in 2008. — The Toronto Blue Jays are expected to announce as early as today that they have hired the Yankees' organizational hitting coach as the replacement for Mickey Brantley …
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
For Angels, the evidence is overpowering — Absence of a middle-of-the-lineup home run threat was glaring during division series loss to Boston. Players, and Scioscia, hope to see that need addressed this winter. — There is power in numbers, a point the Boston Red Sox hammered home during …
