Top News:
John Powers / Boston Globe:
Sox happily shed the underdog label — Isn't this somebody else's script? The Red Sox have the best record in baseball for the first time since 1946. They won their division for the first time in a dozen years and swept their Division Series. They have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
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Ben Jacobs / Hardball Times:
Why the Red Sox will beat the Indians — The Red Sox dispatched the Angels with ease because Los Angeles wasn't completely healthy and matched up terribly with Boston. — The Red Sox aren't a particularly bad matchup for the Indians in terms of what they do, they're just a better team overall.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe!
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 …
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 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:
Fox Sports, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant, Hardball Times, Boston Sports Media Watch, Washington Post and Tribe Tracker
Bob Baum / Associated Press:
Francis bests Webb, Rockies win 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:
Knuckle Curve, Associated Press, Blogging Baseball, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, 6-4-2, The Musings and Prophecies … and Bucs Dugout
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Gerry Fraley / Rocky Mountain News:
Atkins gets to Webb at right time — PHOENIX - Brad Hawpe and Kazuo Matsui, Arizona ace right-hander Brandon Webb could understand. They have worn out Webb throughout his career. — But Garrett Atkins? — Meet the Rockies' newest Webb-killer. Chapter Two of Atkins' turnaround …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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:
New York Times, NY Daily News, FanHouse, Baseball Musings, Bronx Banter, Pinstripe Alley, YanksBlog.com and WasWatching.com
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George King / New York Post:
BORAS, ALEX LOOKING AT 12 YEARS — Is Alex Rodriguez set to sign the final contract of his career? A pact that would dwarf the record-setting 10-year, $252 million he inked following the 2000 season? — According to agent Scott Boras, Rodriguez getting a 12-year deal isn't out of the question …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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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 …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
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.
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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 …
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins find a new radio home — Team announces multi-year deal with 790 The Ticket — MIAMI — For the first time in franchise history, the Marlins have a new radio home. — On Thursday the team announced that it has reached a multi-year deal with 790 The Ticket (WAXY) to broadcast its games in English.
Discussion:
FishStripes
