Top News:
ESPN:
Dusty Baker gets three-year deal to manage Reds — Dusty Baker has agreed to a three-year deal to manage the Cincinnati Reds, beginning with the upcoming season, ESPN has learned. — Baker, a former Cubs and Giants manager and current ESPN analyst, will continue to work with ESPN through …
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Hal McCoy / Dayton Daily News:
Jocketty considers offer from Reds — Former Cardinals general manager would take front-office job and become Krivsky's boss. — The Cincinnati Reds are pursuing former St. Louis Cardinals General Manager Walt Jocketty, offering him one of the titles currently held by President …
Joe Sheehan / New York Times:
Great Regular Season? Great, but So What? — The numbers make you scratch your head. Since Major League Baseball went to its current postseason format in 1995, including the recent division series, the teams with the better regular-season record are 41-43 in postseason series.
Alex McPhillips / MLB.com:
Lonborg gets his day in the sun — Sox pitcher speaks about Impossible Dream club, 2007 team — BOSTON — No, Jim Lonborg's control didn't desert him on Saturday night at Fenway Park. Not quite. — Minutes after he delivered Game 2's ceremonial first pitch, wide of home plate …
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Sox put a chill on Indians in opener — Beckett cruises to win as bats erupt early — They have assumed their place as America's Team, favorites to win the World Series, and the only legitimate television draw still active in baseball's Octoberfest. — Gone is the agita that walked hand …
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Steve Buckley / Boston Herald:
Sox looking superior — In key areas, Indians outclassed … By the middle innings last night at Fenway Park [map], Game 1 of the American League Championship Series between the Red Sox [team stats] and Cleveland Indians was beginning its slow, steady descent into something about as competitive …
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Byrnes: D-backs 'not fazed' by Rox — Outfielder says luck, beneficial calls have propelled Colorado — DENVER — Arizona outfielder Eric Byrnes doesn't share the opinion that Colorado is in command in the National League Championship Series just because the Rockies have built a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Unbeatable Rockies find yet another way to win … PHOENIX — The names go flying by them now, right out of a Hottest Teams of All Time newsreel. — Boog Powell's 1970 Orioles ... Gabby Hartnett's 1935 Cubs ... . George Brett's 1977 Royals ... Mike Schmidt's 1977 Phillies ... Fred Merkle's 1916 Giants ...
Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
In rare moment, John Sterling actually criticizes Joe Torre — All that's missing in this Joe Torre media circus is Zippy the Pinhead wearing an interlocking NY tattoo. — This is some freak show - whether it was a suddenly screaming George Steinbrenner threatening to fire Torre in the pages …
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Battle Lines Drawn if Rodriguez Opts Out — Alex Rodriguez hit 42 home runs and had 46 stolen bases in 1998, becoming just the third player in the vaunted 40-40 club. He was set up to soak the Seattle Mariners in salary arbitration, except for one detail: against the advice of his agent …
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
Playoffs Today — The Indians send their second ace to the mound tonight to try to earn a split against the Red Sox. Fausto Carmona comes off a strong September and a strong start against the Yankees to try to stop a team undefeated in the post season. In his way stands Curt Schilling, known for his post-season prowess.
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
For Wren, 'it worked out' — BOSTON - Frank Wren hoped things were going to work out differently in July 1995, when he lost out - by the slimmest of margins - to Chuck LaMar for the Devil Rays' GM job. — But it turned out that things couldn't have worked out any better for Wren, who Thursday was promoted to GM of the Braves.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Steve Phillips: A-Rod has no place with Mets — Steve Phillips regrets one thing about the Mets' short-lived but highly publicized flirtation with Alex Rodriguez seven years ago. The former Mets GM is sorry the "24-plus-one" label assigned to A-Rod because of his agent's demands …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Murray Chass / New York Times:
G.M. Moves: Old School vs. New Thinking — When general managers hold their annual meeting in three weeks in Orlando, Fla., they will have to wear name tags to identify themselves and the clubs they work for. It has been that kind of crazy period for general managers.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards meet with White Sox assistant GM — The Cardinals entered the second phase of their search for a successor to Walt Jocketty, with Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and President Mark Lamping meeting with Chicago White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn in Jupiter, Fla., Friday.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
