Top News:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
On the edge of elimination — CLEVELAND - Fenway Park and "Sweet Caroline" can't save them now. — A global network of fans, a $143 million payroll, a front office of stat geeks, and a savvy collection of marketing persons and television executives can't help the Boston Red Sox at this hour.
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Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
Nothing odd here, and nothing even — CLEVELAND - Is this the time to remember that somebody or other once said, "Momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher"? — Is this the time to remind people that baseball teams have been coming back from 3-1 deficits in seven-game series for more than 80 years?
Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Wakefield wilts in Game 4 loss to Tribe — CLEVELAND —Casey Blake hit Tim Wakefield's pitch over the left-field fence — eerily similar to the drive Aaron Boone hit exactly four years earlier. — Another playoff loss for Wakefield and the Red Sox. — Instead of sending Josh Beckett …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
White-knuckle time — Sox on edge as Wakefield can't stave off third straight loss — CLEVELAND - The idea was to pass "Go" and win a trip to Blake Street in Denver for a rendezvous with the Colorado Rockies in the 103d World Series. Instead, the Red Sox have stumbled into Bleak House in Cleveland …
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
ESPN.com:
Yankees meetings continue; Guidry might be gone — TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees' officials resumed meetings Wednesday at Legends Field, with no decision yet on Joe Torre's future as manager. — "I can't speculate," Yankees president Randy Levine said as he entered the team's spring training home.
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Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Yankee silence doesn't bode well for Joe Torre — Eight days after the Yankees were ousted from the postseason, nine days after George Steinbrenner was quoted as saying that Joe Torre's job was on the line if the Bombers were eliminated, the Yankee high command has still not made a decision on who will manage the team next season.
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com, NJ.com, New York Post, Bronx Banter, The LoHud Yankees Blog and WasWatching.com
George King / New York Post:
'GATOR' FATE UNCLEAR — Though several Yankees officials insist decisions haven't been made about next year's coaching staff, speculation is growing that Ron Guidry won't be asked back for a third year as the pitching coach. — GM Brian Cashman says a coaching staff can't be constructed until …
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
NY Daily News:
George Mitchell's plan surprises MLB union — A lawyer for the MLB Players Association said yesterday that George Mitchell never told the union before last week that he was willing to show players evidence of doping allegations against them, although Mitchell told the Daily News in July that he would …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Duchscherer To The Rotation? — According to Buster Olney, the A's are thinking about moving 30 year-old Justin Duchscherer to the starting rotation. Duke hasn't started a big league game since 2003 (he started 20 in the minors that year). His 2007 season ended in July as he opted for surgery on his arthritic hip.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Red Sox acquire Gagne — LIKE THIS STORY? — The Red Sox scored one of the biggest coups at the non-waiver trade deadline Tuesday, acquiring right-hander Eric Gagne from the Rangers. — Gagne, 31, waived his no-trade clause to Boston in exchange for financial considerations.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
D-Backs want Clark back — Tony Clark's value extends beyond the box scores for the Diamondbacks, who leaned on the veteran first baseman for his clubhouse presence and influence on an exceedingly young roster. — Now they will work on keeping him around.
Discussion:
Mets Fever
Bill Simmons / ESPN:
There's only one October diary — Over the last 10 years, my beloved Red Sox are 24-3 when I write a running diary of one of their big games. All right, I made that number up. But with things looking increasingly bleak for the spiritless Sox after Game 3, I couldn't resist breaking out the diary for Game 4 in Cleveland.
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
The Sporting News honors Ramirez — Slugger voted as top National League shortstop by peers — MIAMI — After being named the 2006 National League Rookie of the Year, Hanley Ramirez has been voted by his peers as The Sporting News' top NL shortstop. — Just 23, Ramirez has already blossomed …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Needs and Luxuries: New York Mets — Next up in our Needs and Luxuries series, the Mets. — C - — 1B - Carlos Delgado — 2B - Ruben Gotay — SS - Jose Reyes — 3B - David Wright — LF - Carlos Gomez — CF - Carlos Beltran — RF - Lastings Milledge — SP - Pedro Martinez
