Top News:
Jimmy Golen / Associated Press:
Red Sox rip Indians 11-2, win AL pennant — BOSTON (AP) — Daisuke Matsuzaka, Dustin Pedroia and these Boston Red Sox are taking a sweet streak into the World Series, too. — Boston charged to its third straight win, completing yet another October comeback by overpowering …
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Fox Sports, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Athletics Nation, One More Dying Quail and Associated Press
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William C. Rhoden / New York Times:
Are the Red Sox Ready to Become the Yankees? — Terry Francona, the even-tempered Boston Red Sox manager, was asked Friday about the departure of the Yankees' Joe Torre, whom he considers a colleague and a friend. — "It's unbelievable," Francona said of Torre's decision to reject …
Discussion:
6-4-2
Jimmy Golen / Associated Press:
Red Sox rout Tribe to reach World Series — BOSTON —Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima stood on the Fenway Park mound, posing for pictures with Boston general manager Theo Epstein, a Japanese flag and the American League championship trophy. — This is what these Red Sox rookies came halfway around …
Mike Fitzpatrick / Yahoo! Sports:
Rockies await Red Sox in World Series — Don't expect Matt Holliday and the Colorado Rockies to be intimidated by the Green Monster. — Back in June, long before their historic surge to an unlikely NL pennant, the baby-faced Rockies roared into Fenway Park and took two of three from the Red Sox — outscoring them 20-5.
Fox Sports:
Dice-K no sure thing for BoSox in Game 7 — LIKE THIS STORY? — When it comes to the ALCS, the Boston Red Sox know a thing or two about survival. — In the 2004 ALCS, of course, they became the first team in baseball history to come back from an 0-3 deficit. This year, they've fought back from down 3-1 to force a Game 7.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Drew goes from disappointment to hero in a flash … BOSTON — J.D. Drew is more popular than the Honey Bee Festival in his boyhood home of Hahira, Ga. But his along-for-the-ride demeanor hasn't always resonated with fans in 10 major league seasons. — When you make $14 million and hit 11 homers …
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 …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Signal to Noise, Deuce of Davenport, Baseball Prospectus, Sports Frog, Siberian Baseball, Vegas Watch, Baseball Musings, The Cub Reporter, Steroid Nation, Royals Review, SOX & Dawgs, Tribe Report, FanHouse, Let's Go Tribe!, Red Sox Monster, Boston Globe, Epic Carnival, The DiaTribe, The Big Lead, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Cleveland Sports News and Babes Love Baseball
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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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La Velle E. Neal III / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Twins: GM expects Liriano to be ready next year — New Twins General Manager Bill Smith said Friday that he expects lefthander Francisco Liriano to contribute next season, based on his successful rehabilitation in Fort Myers, Fla., following Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery.
Sports Illustrated:
Torre turns down FOX Sports offer — Richard Deitsch, SI.com — NEW YORK — Joe Torre's next job could have been World Series analyst. — Torre declined an offer from FOX Sports to call the World Series alongside lead announcer Joe Buck and analyst Tim McCarver, SI.com has learned.
Discussion:
Watchdog
Red Sox Monster:
Video replay: JD Drewski's 4-run bomb — When Theo Epstein rolled the dice and signed JD Drew in the off-season, legions of Red Sox fans — including this guy — groaned. "WHY!?!??" we asked. That refrain was heard again and again throughout the summer, as JD Drew performed like a terrible robot version of his supposed former self.
Discussion:
Barstool Sports, With Leather, FanHouse, Surviving Grady, Deadspin, Babes Love Baseball and The Big Lead
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.
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.
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 …
