Top News:
Jeff Jacobs / Hartford Courant:
Two Futures: Joe's & Mo's — I would have fired Joe Torre after the 2006 season. — The proudest franchise in sports flat-lined and Torre didn't do anything about it. Had George Steinbrenner thanked Joe for the memories, stuffed the final $7 million in Torre's pocket and told him to take a hike …
Discussion:
Peter's Red Sox Forever
RELATED:
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
If Yankees drag it out, Joe Torre may stand a chance — The longer George Steinbrenner & Co. prolong this latest Joe Torre watch, the more I'm convinced The Boss is having trouble reconciling the reason he wants to change managers. — Torre is in trouble again because, for the third straight year …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Rivera: Torre is a factor in my free-agent future — Mariano Rivera ended his surprise appearance at Cleanup Day II by asking the assembled media at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday to make sure to "spend some money" at his Westchester restaurant this winter. — "I don't have a job," he joked.
Discussion:
New York Post
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
The Yanks Are in Flux, Starting at the Top — For years, George Steinbrenner has vowed to let the young elephants into the tent. It was his way of saying that someday, his family would take over the Yankees for him. Now 77 years old and uneasy in public, Steinbrenner is depending more than ever on input from his sons, Hank and Hal.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Peter Schmuck / Baltimore Sun:
Peters' influence provides playoffs hint of Oriole Way — If you've been paying attention for the past 10 years or so, you've probably noticed that Baltimore is no longer the center of the baseball universe. — Maybe it never was, but there was a time when the Orioles …
RELATED:
MLB.com:
MLB names League Championship Series umpires — Randy Marsh, Tim McClelland to serve as crew chiefs — Major League Baseball has named the two umpiring crews that will officiate the League Championship Series. The National League Championship Series will begin on Thursday, October 11th …
Rob Bradford / Boston Herald:Tribe throw 1-2 punch
Discussion:
Bradford Files, Associated Press, Providence Journal, Fox Sports, Boston Globe, Tribe Tracker and South Side Sox
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:Indians rate preferential treatment
Discussion:
Boston Red Thoughts, Boston Sports Media Watch, Hartford Courant and Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Mark Kiszla / Denver Post:
Classics of fall created with gut, not brains — With a straight face, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle now confidently states a goal that would have caused the Colorado mountains to crumble from laughter only a month ago: "We will not be happy if we don't get to the World Series." — And know what?
Discussion:
Hardball Times
ESPN:
The 50 greatest moments in LCS history — Baseball is about the unexpected, the surprise, the drama of one pitch or one at-bat deciding a game or a series. Let's hope we get many such moments in this year's League Championship Series. Here are our 50 greatest moments in LCS history …
David Gassko / Hardball Times:
My 2007 MVPs — The regular season is over and it's been an exciting one, but now the real season begins—no, not the postseason, the awards season. Ultimately, of course, none of these awards mean anything—they're just subjective opinion backed by a trophy—but I find it impossible to not get riled up and excited about it.
Neil Best / Newsday:
Waldman defends her on-air tears — Suzyn Waldman's teary report from the Yankees' clubhouse late Monday night has been a source of amusement on the radio, on the Internet and in print across the continent. — To her, though, there is nothing funny about that.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Rockies activate Taveras, set NLCS rotation — Fogg gets Game 3 assignment; Cook remains on DL — PHOENIX (AP) — The Colorado Rockies added center fielder Willy Taveras to their postseason roster but chose not to include right-hander Aaron Cook, who threw about 90 pitches in an instructional league game in Tucson on Wednesday.
Discussion:
Purple Row
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:Teams learn downfall of 3-days rest
Discussion:
Mets Fever, the metropolitans, NJ.com, MetsBlog.com, MLB Trade Rumors and Kranepool Society
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Alex Rodriguez opts to take his time — Alex Rodriguez doesn't have to decide whether to opt out of his contract until Nov. 10, so don't expect any quick resolutions to the two-time AL MVP's situation. — Rodriguez is expected to void the final three years and $81 million of his record 10-year, $252million deal.
Discussion:
New York Post
George King / New York Post:
CARDS HAVEN'T ASKED TO INTERVIEW OPPENHEIMER — The Cardinals have not received permission from the Yankees to interview Damon Oppenheimer for the general manager vacancy. — According to talk in St. Louis, the head of the Yankees' amateur scouting, is on the list of possible replacements for Walt Jocketty.
Andrew McCutchen / MLB.com:
Journal: McCutchen adjusting to AFL — Former first round-round pick runs into jet lag, dry heat … Send Andrew an email — Hey everyone, this is Andrew McCutchen coming from very hot Arizona. I'm very excited to be out here and to be writing to you about my experiences here.
Discussion:
Bucco Blog
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Manuel happy with new deal — Manager could be staying in Philadelphia through 2010 — PHILADELPHIA — Charlie Manuel smiled like he knew it was coming. — He earned this. — The Phillies re-introduced their manager Wednesday morning, with a $3 million contract extension that could keep …
Discussion:
The Good Phight
