Top News:
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Joe Girardi first to interview — Just got back from spending the day outside Legends Field. Joe Girardi was in as the first candidate to interview for the managerial job. He met with 10-12 people from the baseball side of the Yankees organization, then met for about an hour with George …
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MY BASEBALL BIAS
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George King / New York Post:
STEINBRENNERS OPTING TO TALK WITH A-ROD — The Yankees are making plans for a face-to-face meeting with Alex Rodriguez in the hope they can persuade their All World third baseman and cleanup hitter to stay in The Bronx and not opt out of his contract to become a free agent.
Associated Press:
Yanks interview Girardi; Bobby V unlikely — LIKE THIS STORY? — TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Bobby Valentine likely won't be asked to interview with the New York Yankees as they search for a new manager. — The Yankees began the interview process Monday, with former Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi spending …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Red Sox roar into World Series — The game was played on the 32d anniversary of Carlton Fisk's World Series walkoff homer and though the score indicated little drama, the final play was no less spectacular. — At 11:56 last night, Casey Blake hit a towering shot toward the 420 (foot) …
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Boston Herald, Boston Sports Media Watch, Red Sox Monster, The Big Lead and The Soxaholix
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Denver News, Colorado Breaking News …:
Rockies Fans Overwhelm System, Ticket Sales Suspended — Rockies Spokesman Booed By Fans Outside Coors Field — DENVER — Like DIA in a huge snowstorm, Colorado's sales of World Series tickets were shut down Monday after fans overwhelmed the computer system with a blizzard of requests.
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FanHouse
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Colleen Slevin / Associated Press:
Ticket demand crashes Rockies' computers — DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies suspended World Series ticket sales Monday after overwhelming demand crashed their computer system. — "Right now we're shutting the system down," club spokesman Jay Alves announced outside Coors Field, drawing boos from fans.
Tim Kurkjian / ESPN:
Starting Ortiz at Coors a big question for Boston … The Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies. One team has one of the richest traditions in baseball history, and the other has been around for only 15 seasons. One team made a terrific comeback to win the ALCS, while the other made a miracle comeback to make the playoffs.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa back for at least two more years — The Cardinals this afternoon announced that Tony La Russa has agreed to a two-year contract to remain as the club's manager. — La Russa traveled from Oakland to St. Louis on Sunday and spoke at today's 1 p.m. press conference at Busch Stadium.
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Jeff Gordon / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Sanity restored with La Russa's return — It's official. Sanity has been restored at New Busch Stadium. Tony La Russa, the most successful manager of his baseball era, will direct the Cardinals again in 2008. — La Russa's return will keep Dave Duncan in charge of the pitching staff …
Camden Chat:
Memo from me to Kevbo: GET OFF MY PLANE — Traitor. — The game's not over, but really I don't know how much I actually care who wins. Boston's up 3-2 going into the 7th. — Kevin Millar threw out the first pitch. Baltimore Oriole Kevin Millar went to Fenway Park to give the Red Sox mojo because he was a 2004 hero.
Discussion:
Our Book of Scrap
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Jeff Pearlman / ESPN:
Three years later, Backman still trying to get to the bigs — "It seems like everywhere Wally goes, good things happen." — PRINEVILLE, Ore. — In this blue-collar town of 9,090 residents, two pizzerias, Boss Hogg's Smokes and the Dixon Saddle Shop ("Saddle Repairs While You Wait!") …
ESPN:
It's a miracle ... '04 Red Sox, Joe D. top the list — What constitutes a miracle? Leaving theology aside for the moment — or rather, forever, at least in this space — a baseball miracle is anything that would, if depicted in a movie, require a serious suspension of belief.
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Rob Neyer Interview — Can you tell us a little about yourself? — I was born in 1966. I grew up in the Midwest, mostly near Kansas City. Today I live in Portland, Oregon, with my wife and stepson, who's almost 16. — Growing up, were you always a baseball fan? Who was your favorite player as a kid?
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Agent expects Marlins to keep Willis — MIAMI BEACH — Dontrelle Willis expects to return to the Marlins rotation next year, the pitcher's agent said Sunday after talking to the team's front office. — Matt Sosnick, Willis' agent, said he spoke to baseball operations president Larry Beinfest …
Helene Elliott / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers need to take Series notes — Colorado's high rise, built on the backs of the Dodgers, was constructed with a mix that is needed in L.A. — Ned Colletti couldn't bring himself to do more than "glance here and there" as the Rockies romped through the playoffs and into the World Series.
Discussion:
6-4-2
Lynn DeBruin / Rocky Mountain News:
Artist captures Rockies' brush with greatness — Five paintings of players, stadium commissioned — He has captured John Elway in his Super seasons, Mickey Mantle in his prime and Kirk Gibson's memorable trot around the bases. — Now, renowned sports artist Malcolm Farley colorfully …


