Top News:
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.
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
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Seeing Drew value in J.D. … The most expensive postseason home run in history was a game-changing, heat-seeking laser, and it was worth every last minted nickel. And as J.D. Drew [stats] uncharacteristically raised his fist, when the ball disappeared over the center field wall …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
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.
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.
Discussion:
ESPN
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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.
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Insulted Torre appears ready to snub Yanks — RYE BROOK, N.Y. — The conversation between Joe Torre and Yogi Berra occurred in midsummer 2007, sprinkled mostly with baseball-related small talk. Suddenly the Yankee manager asked the Yankee legend a telling question. — "How long were you gone?"
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.com:
Report: Indians' Byrd bought $24K of HGH — Paul Byrd, who pitched the Cleveland Indians to the brink of the World Series with a victory in Game 4 of the ALCS on Tuesday, bought nearly $25,000 worth of human growth hormone and syringes, according to a published report.
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.
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Scott Boras: Yankee decisions will impact Alex Rodriguez — Joe Torre's messy exit from the Bronx this week and the uncertain status of free agents Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada could impact Alex Rodriguez's decision on whether to opt out of the final three years of his contract, Scott Boras told the Daily News on Saturday.
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS
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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 …
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.
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Zimmer irate after Yankees string out Torre — BOSTON - Don Zimmer feels bad for his good friend Joe Torre. — Bad enough that he called him Thursday night, after his rejection of an incentive-laden offer left him unemployed as the former manager of the Yankees, and offered to help.
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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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.
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Katie Liesener / Boston Globe:
Sox help Boston literally make a name for itself — (Photo by Charlie Nye/Getty Images for The Boston Globe) — For his firstborn son, George Hill IV wanted the perfect name to capture the family's colorful legacy: His great-grandfather George was a banker who handled finances for the Red Sox.
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