Top News:
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Torre 'couldn't agree to' proposed contract … As the Yankees' organizational meetings broke up Wednesday afternoon and general manager Brian Cashman prepared to fly back to New York, his cell phone rang. It was Joe Torre calling, to ask whether it would helpful, as his future with the Yankees was decided …
RELATED:
George King / New York Post:
TORRE LANDS IN TAMPA — NEW DEAL IMMINENT? — Joe Torre just landed here, in what could be the surest sign that a new deal with the Yankees brass is imminent. — Torre, wearing a dress shirt with sleeves rolled up, departed from Westchester this morning and landed here in a private jet …
Sports Illustrated:
Tom Verducci: Yankees took the cowardly way out — CLEVELAND — When he was robust and running the New York Yankees, George Steinbrenner never minded a little blood on his hands. He swung his firing axe decisively and often. I was there in Chicago at old Comiskey Park when Dale Berra cried …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Sports Illustrated:
Torre turns down Yankees — Longtime manager declines one-year, $5 million offer — Joe Torre turned down a deal to return as Yankees manager for a 13th season on Thursday. — In a conference call, Yankees president Randy Levine said the club offered him a $5 million contract for 2008 …
Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Torre Turns Down Yankees Offer — The Yankees offered Manager Joe Torre a one-year deal with a base salary of $5 million and the chance to make another $3 million in performance bonuses. But after 12 years and 12 postseason appearances (including four World Series titles), Torre turned it down.
Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Torre rejects $5M Yankees deal — Joe Torre has turned down the Yankees' offer of a one-year contract with a vesting option to continue managing the team, team president Randy Levine said this afternoon. — "We respect his decision," Levine said in a conference call. "We appreciate everything he has done.
John Harper / NY Daily News:Indecision on Joe Torre makes clear that Boss Era is over
Discussion:
New York Times, New York Post, NJ.com, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Mets Heads and Bronx Banter
George King / New York Post:OPT IN THE AIR — YANKEES 'WILL NOT PARTICIPATE' IF A-ROD CHOOSES FREE AGENCY
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Leitch / Deadspin:
Here's Your Ex: See, Now This Is Just Being Mean — Imagine you're facing one of the most important moments of your career, a moment in which you must be on top of your game and perform at your peak capacity. Everyone is counting on you; the whole world is watching. Concentration is paramount.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Game 5 starts: Beckett for Sox, his ex for anthem — Teams have been known to go to extraordinary lengths to get an edge. But the Cleveland Indians swear Thursday night's choice of pre-game singer is not a piece of gamesmanship. — Danielle Peck, a country music singer who also happened …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, Catbird in the Nosebleed Seats, Hot Stove New York, 6-4-2, Mostly Mets and American Legends
Associated Press:
Red Sox manager not miffed by Manny — LIKE THIS STORY? — CLEVELAND (AP) - Manny Ramirez's work habits are more important than his words to Boston manager Terry Francona. — With his team facing a 3-1 deficit in the AL Championship Series going into Thursday night's game against Cleveland …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:Red Sox Downplay Report That Beckett Is Hurt
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Paul Meyer / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:Remaking Of A Team — Red Sox's Farrell strong candidate for manager's job
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets' collapse weighs heavily on Green — Missed opportunity at playoffs continues to haunt right fielder — NEW YORK — Survivor's guilt it isn't. The Mets don't qualify as survivors. It is a full-fledged guilt, a guilt that weighs on Shawn Green these days, a heavy and unsettling sense …
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Notes: Guillen likely to be a free agent — Rising youngsters Jones, Balentien may replace slugger — Jose Guillen's agent says the Mariners right fielder probably will terminate his contract and become a free agent. — "That's the way it's headed," Adam Katz said during a brief telephone conversation.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Rocky Mountain News:
Hurdle-ing a rocky road — After setbacks in life, Rockies manager has learned to keep things in perspective — He is a reformed alcoholic, a failed former baseball prospect, and a failed husband (twice). All those things are very much a part of who Clint Hurdle is today …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Paul Lukas / ESPN:
Long live the bullpen car — The notion is absurd on its face: professional athletes needing a motorized vehicle to bring them approximately 100 yards. And yet that was once the norm in Major League Baseball, where that quaintest of innovations, the bullpen buggy (or car, or cart, or motorcycle), held sway for nearly half a century.
Nate Silver / Baseball Prospectus:
Ryan Braun's Defense — I've made several snide remarks about Ryan Braun's third base defense in recent weeks, most recently in my review of the 50 most valuable players in baseball. I don't have anything against Ryan Braun; it would be hard for someone with the last name Silver to root against the Hebrew Hammer.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
