Top News:
ESPN:
Mazzone out after two seasons in Baltimore — Leo Mazzone, who came to the Orioles with a reputation as one of the best pitching coaches in the modern era, was fired Friday after only two seasons in that role. — "I spoke with Leo today and told him I appreciated his efforts here," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said in a statement.
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Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Mazzone will not return to O's in 2008 — Pitching coach guided Baltimore's hurlers for past two years — BALTIMORE — The Orioles parted ways with pitching coach Leo Mazzone on Friday, allowing the veteran to pursue other opportunities for next season. — Baltimore will still …
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Mazzone will not return in '08 — O's pitching coach fired after two seasons with team — After two years as the Orioles pitching coach, Leo Mazzone has been fired with one year remaining on his deal. — The club made the announcement this afternoon in a news release.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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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Jack Curry / New York Times:
Ortiz Says Losing Torre Would Hurt Yankees — As Joe Torre's future as the manager of the Yankees remained unresolved, the latest player to express support for him did so from enemy territory. David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox praised Torre, called him a crucial figure on the Yankees …
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
Sources: Mitchell's report to reveal many names … Sources familiar with the latest developments in the George Mitchell steroids investigation said Friday that the report will name many players, including some big names and some names that have not surfaced to date.
Amy K. Nelson / ESPN:
Upton call draws ire of bottle-heaving fans … Hurdle's Take On Controversial Playoff Game — PHOENIX — All the talk about the D-backs' lackadaisical fans leading up to Game 1 of the National League Championship Series must have irked those sitting in left field Thursday night …
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Randy Miller / phillyBurbs.com:
Schilling, Rivera on shopping list — With big offseason plans dancing in their heads, the Phillies will closely monitor how the Joe Torre saga plays out in New York. — If Yankees owner George Steinbrenner makes good on his threat to fire Torre as manager, closer Mariano Rivera is threatening …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Latest Phillies Rumors: Lowell, Rivera, Schilling — Let's catch up on the rumors and minor moves involving the Phillies recently. — One offseason objective is, of course, third base. Abraham Nunez was an easy buyout decision; Pat Gillick will import a new third baseman this winter one way or another.
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delawareonline
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, MY BASEBALL BIAS, NY Daily News, FanHouse, Bronx Banter, YanksBlog.com, Baseball Musings, Pinstripe Alley and WasWatching.com
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Paul Meyer / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
New general manager not rushing process — General manager Neal Huntington is making progress on finding a new manager for the Pirates but don't expect the name to become public anytime soon. — Huntington first would like to appoint an assistant general manager to help him in the managerial search.
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Baker interviews with Reds — LIKE THIS STORY? — Former San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker has interviewed with the Cincinnati Reds for their vacant manager position and could be emerging as the leading contender for the job, major league sources tell FOXSports.com.
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 …
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Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:Scott Boras exaggerating A-Rod's value to YES
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 …
Leitch / Deadspin:
Sproing!: Doc Rivers Likes The Fresh Influx Of Talent — SPROING! — Doc Rivers Likes The Fresh Influx Of Talent — As you can see, Doc Rivers is excited to be coaching Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen this year. Very excited.
