Top News:
Howard Bryant / ESPN:
Indians must slay another behemoth to advance … BOSTON — There was a famous moment before the 2001 World Series when Curt Schilling was asked if his Arizona Diamondbacks would be affected by the mystique and aura of the venerable New York Yankees. — "When you use words like 'mystique' and 'aura …
RELATED:
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Zeroes could abound — Pitchers' duel on tap … The last time he headed to the mound at Fenway Park [map], Josh Beckett [stats] solidified his status as one of his generation's greatest postseason pitchers with a performance that was arguably the Red Sox [team stats]' best in October play in 40 years.
Discussion:
Hartford Courant, Boston Globe, Hardball Times, Boston Sports Media Watch and Washington Post
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Beckett aims to tame Tribe in Game 1 — Boston ace opposes fellow Cy Young candidate Sabathia — BOSTON — When the stadium lights set Fenway Park aglow on Friday night, all eyes will be trained on the mound. Boston will be graced with one of the premier pitching matchups of this season …
Discussion:
Fenway Blogger
Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
David Ortiz to Yanks: Letting Joe Torre go would be error — BOSTON - The ultimate Yankee killer believes George Steinbrenner may do more to hurt the Bombers than any heartbreaking home run he could hit against them. — Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has been the Yanks' personal tormenter since …
Discussion:
New York Post
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Hello? Any Diamondbacks fans out there? — PHOENIX - The view from Section 307, Row 40, Seat 13 - the one that not a single person of the four million living in the Phoenix metropolitan area cared to inhabit Thursday night during the biggest baseball game of the Arizona Diamondbacks' season - was quite nice.
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball
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Bob Baum / Associated Press:
Francis shuts down Arizona in Game 1 — PHOENIX (AP) — Make it 18 out of 19 for the remarkable Rockies. Neither a ruckus by the Arizona crowd nor a four-day layoff could slow them down. — Jeff Francis outpitched Brandon Webb, Brad Hawpe got the big hit and Colorado won …
Discussion:
ESPN, Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated, Associated Press, 6-4-2, Blogging Baseball and The Musings and Prophecies …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Diamondback Fans Are Still Waiting to Catch the Fever — If the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks hailed from, say, New York or Boston, the defining story lines in their National League Championship Series would have captured the imagination. Two division rivals …
George King / New York Post:
A SEAT AT THE TAMPA TABLE — JOE MIGHT MAKE MEETINGS; NEEDS TO PONDER A PAY CUT — If the Yankee brain trust can't agree on an alternative to Joe Torre next week in Tampa, and Torre wants to take a paycut, there is a chance Torre could return for a 13th year as the Yankees' manager.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
Scott Boras exaggerating A-Rod's value to YES — If Yankees brass wants to get Alex Rodriguez's signature on a contract, it better change its network's name from Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network to A-RodVision. — Scott Boras, Rodriguez's agent, believes his client's star power …
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Schuerholz stepping aside as GM — He'll become Braves' president; assistant Wren takes over as GM — An era is ending for the Braves. John Schuerholz is stepping aside as general manager. — The team's venerable general manager will announce at a 3:30 p.m. press conference …
Discussion:
Arizona Republic, Nationals Journal, The Zo Zone, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Deadspin, Rain Delay, Cincinnati Reds and Red Reporter
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:Report: Schuerholz expected to step down
Discussion:
Baseball America, Sabernomics, MLB Trade Rumors, FanHouse, Baseball Musings, Bucs Dugout, Knuckle Curve and Hot Foot
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Q&A: Arroyo discusses 2007 season — Follow-up effort in Cincy, offseason plans part of chat — CINCINNATI — The results didn't come quite as easily in 2007 for Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo. — Trying to follow up his All-Star 2006 season — his first year in Cincinnati — Arroyo was 9-15 with a 4.23 ERA in 34 starts.
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
ALCS Matchups — Tying for the best record in baseball at 96-66 this season, the Red Sox [team stats] and Indians should have one very entertaining ALCS. Strong, sometimes excellent, pitching is a mark of both clubs, with the Indians having an unparalleled duo atop their starting rotation …
Discussion:
Peter's Red Sox Forever
Fred Mitchell / Chicago Tribune:
GM job of no interest to Stone — Steve Stone has confirmed his interest in becoming a significant voice in a new Cubs ownership group but said he would not want the duties or title of general manager. — "Probably from about a year ago, I have said to everyone who has asked me …
Justice B. Hill / MLB.com:
A-Rod, Rollins win Legacy Awards — Honor given to Most Valuable Player in both leagues — Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins have won the Oscar Charleston Legacy Award as the Most Valuable Player in their respective leagues for leading their teams into the postseason.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
MLB.com:
Phillies make three roster moves — The Phillies made three transactions today. — Righthander Kane Davis was designated for assignment. Davis, 32, was signed as a minor league free agent last October. He spent the season with triple-A Ottawa where he went 3-3 with four saves and a 3.06 ERA in 41 relief appearances.
Discussion:
The Good Phight
