Top News:
San Francisco Chronicle:
Cleveland pitcher spent thousands on human growth hormone — Paul Byrd, the veteran pitcher who has helped the Cleveland Indians reach the brink of the World Series, bought nearly $25,000 worth of human growth hormone and syringes from a Florida anti-aging clinic that was targeted …
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ESPN:
Report: Indians pitcher Byrd admits to taking HGH — Paul Byrd, who pitched the Cleveland Indians to the brink of the World Series with a victory in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday, reportedly admitted to taking human growth hormone under a doctor's care.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Byrd says doctor prescribed HGH — FOXSports.com, Updated 3 minutes ago — LIKE THIS STORY? — Yes, Indians right-hander Paul Byrd admits to taking human-growth hormone. In his upcoming book, "The Free Byrd Project," he even writes about resisting the temptation to use an increased dosage with the hope of throwing harder.
Brad Hamilton / New York Post:
BOSS JR. FIRES A SPITBALL AT 'INGRATE' JOE — Flashing some of his father's famous feistiness, Hank Steinbrenner fired back yesterday after hearing Joe Torre say he was insulted by the team's offer to manage the Yankees for a 13th season. — "Where was Joe's career in '95 when my dad hired him?" said the new Boss.
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New York Times:
The Joe Torre Story: Voices From the Bleachers — To the Sports Editor: — I have never been good at goodbyes. I cried my eyes out, for example, when Johnny Carson left "The Tonight Show." I positively cannot face Sundays now that Tony and Carmela Soprano are not around.
George King / New York Post:
BOSSES READY TO GO TO 'MAT' — STEINBRENNER III PREFER MATTINGLY AT YANKEES' HELM — The Steinbrenner family's top choice to follow Joe Torre will be the first person interviewed for the vacant Yankees' manager's job. — Don Mattingly will meet with Yankees brass this week in Tampa, Fla., to talk about replacing Torre.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Red Sox romp; Game 7 awaits — Stock up on espresso and Red Bull. The autumn of dreams can be a sleepless season. — The Red Sox and Indians will play a seventh game at Fenway Park tonight to crown the 2007 American League champion. It'll be $103 million man Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. Cleveland's Jake Westbrook.
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
On a major roll, Sox turn to Dice-K — Daisuke Matsuzaka cheered his team to victory in Game 6. Now the Japanese star gets a chance to send the Sox to the World Series. (JIM DAVIS/GLOBE STAFF) — We go back to Nov. 14 when the Red Sox outbid the Mets, Yankees, and Rangers for the right to negotiate with Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Unlikely Star Helps Red Sox Force Deciding Game — The Red Sox were desperate to win and keep their season from vanishing, desperate for a hero. It could have been Curt Schilling, who has dominated in elimination games. It could have been David Ortiz or Manny Ramírez, who have thrived in October, too.
John Horton / Cleveland Sports News:
Fans fight creeping doom as Game 7 looms … Uh-oh. — That World Series trip that seemed such a lock for the Tribe just a few days ago? Maybe hold off on making those reservations. There's been . . . ummmm . . . some complications. — The Boston Red Sox battered the Indians on Saturday night …
Discussion:
Blue-Collar Baseball
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Pitching is D-Backs' off-season focus — No one expects the Diamondbacks to win 90 games again while being outscored by their opponents. — The Diamondbacks certainly don't see that happening, but that's because they don't expect to be outscored in 2008.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Chris Isidore / CNNMoney.com:
Agent: A-Rod may leave Yankees — Scott Boras, the agent for star baseball player Alex Rodriguez, says turmoil surrounding search for new manager may keep him from staying in New York. — NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Scott Boras, the agent for star New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez …
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa has fans on his side — At the most recent Winter Warm-up, a Cardinals true believer stood up during Tony La Russa's address to the fans and reminded him of a promise La Russa had made. Bedecked in an official jersey, the man said that La Russa wore No. 10 as a pact to bring the 10th world championship to St. Louis.
Yahoo! Sports:
Boston Red Sox — B: — S: — O: — Other Game Links — Indians hope to make themselves at quirky Fenway — The Green Monster. Pesky's pole. The triangle in dead center. Hardcore, insult-spewing fans breathing down your neck. Fenway Park is a scary place for any visiting team.
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yankees Say Bowa Can Pursue Seattle Job — Now that Joe Torre is finished as the Yankees' manager, his coaching staff may begin to scatter. Larry Bowa, the third-base and infield coach for the past two seasons, said yesterday that he was considering an offer from the Seattle Mariners.
Discussion:
ESPN.com
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yanks To Pursue Rowand? — A source of mine with Yankee connections had some good info for me today. Much was discussed yesterday in Tampa. — For starters, the Yanks are expected to make "eye-popping" offers to retain Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera before the World Series ends.
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