Top News:
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Survival test — Sox call on Beckett to keep them alive — Is Terry Francona pointing the way toward victory to Game 5 starter, Josh Beckett? The Sox certainly hope so. Beckett knows how to overcome 3-1 deficits - he did it in '03 with Florida. (BARRY CHIN/GLOBE STAFF)
Discussion:
Peter's Red Sox Forever
RELATED:
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Boston turns to Beckett to save season — Righty shut out Cubs in 2003 NLCS to keep Marlins alive — CLEVELAND — Josh Beckett has been here before. The fate of Boston's season is being placed upon his shoulders, and history would appear to indicate that the pitcher is up to the task.
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Red Sox' Ramirez 'not trying to show anybody up' — CLEVELAND - Manny Ramírez crushed a batting practice ball, sending it up about 12 rows into the seats in left-center field. He sent the next one a handful of rows into the seats in left. Then, on the final ball in his set …
Discussion:
FanHouse
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Cashman confirms: If A-Rod opts out, he's done as Yankee — Although no decision was made regarding Joe Torre's future during the second day of the Yankees' organizational meetings, it appears that the group of front-office execs was able to agree on something. — If Alex Rodriguez opts out, his time in pinstripes will be over.
RELATED:
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Indecision on Joe Torre makes clear that Boss Era is over — CLEVELAND - So the newly formed Yankee hierarchy hasn't made a decision on Joe Torre after two days around a conference table in Tampa, not to mention the week the various bigwigs had to consider their positions?
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Orioles name Kranitz pitching coach — Veteran instructor spent 22 years working in the Cubs' system — BALTIMORE — The Orioles filled one of their few remaining high-profile coaching slots on Wednesday when they reached a deal with former Florida pitching coach Rick Kranitz.
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Hunter interested in joining Nationals — Twins' potential free agent-to-be has close ties with Young — WASHINGTON — After the World Series comes to an end, Twins outfielder Torii Hunter is expected to file for free agency, and he said on Wednesday that he has an interest in playing …
Phil Birnbaum / Sabermetric Research:
New Bill James study on Pythagoras — In the light of lots of discussion on why the Diamondbacks beat their Pythagorean Projection, and what that means, Bill James wrote up a new study on whether such teams improve beyond expected in the following season. — Bill sent the study …
Discussion:
The Griddle
Canadian Press:
Blue Jays promote LaCava — TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays promoted player development director Tony LaCava, one of GM J.P. Ricciardi's most trusted executives, to assistant general manager, player personnel on Wednesday. — LaCava, 46, has drawn interest from other teams …
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
Paul Meyer / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Remaking Of A Team — Red Sox's Farrell strong candidate for manager's job — John Farrell's candidacy for the Pirates' manager's job seems to be picking up some momentum. — And it could be that, if Farrell's the man, he could have a hand in hiring the Pirates' next scouting director, too.
Discussion:
Honest Wagner
MLB.com:
Dontrelle Willis to host "Weekend With The D-Train" to benefit the Children's Home Society — The "D-Train" Dontrelle Willis is set to host two events this weekend to benefit the Children's Home Society. — SATURDAY, Oct. 20: Day With The D-Train: Willis will host 30 children …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
GM Huntington to evaluate players — Club's front office, manager decisions put on back burner — PITTSBURGH — Pushing pending front-office hires to the back burner for a few days, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington began a three-day set of meetings on Tuesday that will target …
Discussion:
FanHouse
Baseball Think Factory:
2008 ZiPS Projections - Pittsburgh Pirates — Not the prettiest projections in the world, but did anyone really expect otherwise? It's unfair to put any blame on the recently hired Frank Coonelly, but considering how competitive baseball is, this seems pretty much what one should expect …
