Top News:
Murray Chass / New York Times:
A Family Divided Against Itself by the A.L.C.S. — Linda Goldman, fervent Red Sox fan and Boston-area resident, came home yesterday to visit her parents and her sister, Bonnie Bernstein, fervent Indians fan and Cleveland-area resident. — "She's supposed to come here for dinner Thursday night …
RELATED:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Manny, Sox unfazed by pressure — Slugger says team is confident despite trailing, 3-1, in ALCS — CLEVELAND — How is Manny Ramirez holding up amid the pressure of his Red Sox trailing, 3-1, to the Indians in the American League Championship Series? — So well that Ramirez held …
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
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 …
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:
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.
Tom Smith / TimesDaily.com:
Three arrested in connection with copper theft cases — Last Updated:October 17. — Three Colbert County men, including a former Major League baseball pitcher, have been arrested in Muscle Shoals in connection with separate cases of copper theft, police said.
Discussion:
Kranepool Society
Jim Caple / ESPN:
Extra off days are not good for baseball … There is only one October ... but there are nine potential days with no postseason games whatsoever. — Thanks to the new playoff format, baseball gave the American League teams everyone's dream holiday: a full day off in Cleveland in October.
Ted Berg / SNY.tv:
Help from the Far East — Scoping out the Japanese free-agent market — A reader e-mailed me a question yesterday that I planned on holding for an upcoming offseason mailbag post, but after watching Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima pitch in Monday night's ALCS Game 3, I decided this would be as good a time as any to answer him.
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
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
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 …
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 …
