Top News:
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Arm and hammer — Beckett dominant as Red Sox attack buries the Rockies — Never mind that cute business of putting baseballs in a humidor. If the Colorado Rockies hope to make the 103d World Series competitive, they may have to stuff the Red Sox in a meat locker and throw away the key.
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Alex McPhillips / MLB.com:
Pedroia's leadoff homer makes history — Sox infielder first rookie to lead off World Series with long ball — BOSTON — It took Dustin Pedroia exactly two pitches to make a mark on his first World Series. — Josh Beckett had hardly finished striking out three Rockies before Pedroia …
John Perrotto / Baseball Prospectus:
World Series Game One Report — BOSTON—Dustin Pedroia shied away from using the word momentum. The travel-size rookie second baseman has been the igniter of the Boston Red Sox's offense through an unprecedented postseason stretch, helping it put double digits on the scoreboard in three straight playoff games.
Discussion:
Mike's Baseball Rants
Gerry Fraley / Rocky Mountain News:
Morales left flustered by new role — BOSTON — Rockies manager Clint Hurdle hesitated before shifting rookie left-hander Franklin Morales from the rotation to the bullpen. — "Very rarely do I like to take somebody and put him in a different role," Hurdle said before the World Series opened Wednesday night at Fenway Park.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
All-powerful performance — Sox hit highs in Game 1 — Before the first pitch was thrown, oddsmakers, hardball cognoscenti, and an entire Nation of Red Sox loyalists declared that the 2007 World Series would be won by Boston, with ease. — Game 1 did nothing to dispute this popular notion.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:Solid as a rock — Beckett, bats come out blazing vs. Rockies in Game 1
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
O'Neil finds his place in Hall of Fame — Late Negro League icon honored with statue and award — BOSTON — Buck O'Neil may be gone, but he's certainly not forgotten. — The acclaimed late Negro League icon will be honored with a statue and an award in his honor, the National Baseball Hall …
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks' Manager Pick Not as Easy as 1, 2 or 3 — There are no more scheduled interviews for the Yankees' managerial opening, and the baseball operations staff will use Thursday to debate the three candidates. — But Don Mattingly came in as the favorite of the principal owner …
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NY Daily News:
Hank Steinbrenner preaches patience for new manager — BY MARK FEINSAND in New York and PETER BOTTE in Tampa — Patience is a virtue. Just ask Hank Steinbrenner. — George Steinbrenner's oldest son preached patience with whoever lands the Yankees' managerial job …
Discussion:
New York Post
Tim Graham / Inside the Dolphins:
CROWDER LEARNS HE WON'T NEED TRANSLATOR IN LONDON — Maybe he was joking, but gregarious Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder confessed today he didn't know until Tuesday that people spoke English in London. — Crowder, a former Florida Gator and Atlanta native, apparently isn't sure …
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Twins plan to pick up Nathan's option — Reliever has had 35-plus saves in four straight seasons — MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins are going to pick up Joe Nathan's $6 million option for the 2008 season in the coming days, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on its Web site on Wednesday night.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
David Gassko / Hardball Times:
Have pitchers become more fragile? — Are today's pitchers all pansies? There are a lot of people that seem to think so. As the number of innings a starter is expected to pitch has gone down over the past few decades, many critics have piled on to what seems like some serious coddling.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Luis Castillo, Duaner Sanchez on mend — BOSTON - The Mets' Luis Castillo had his troublesome right knee cleaned during a recent surgical procedure, and should be 100% by Jan.1. The Mets are expected to make a strong push to re-sign him, although they will wait to at least explore what second basemen are available via trade.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Mark Armour / Baseball Analysts:
My No-Longer Lovable Red Sox — As the Boston Red Sox get ready to play another World Series, for the first time in several decades their players will do so without the added burden of overcoming someone else's history. While the 2004 Red Sox likely had the support of most fans around the country …
Discussion:
The Griddle
Eriq Gardner / Slate:
HOW COLORADO'S FIELDING WIZARDRY WILL CHANGE BASEBALL FOREVER. — Baseball is usually seen as a clash between pitchers and hitters—a test of wills between the guy on the mound and the slugger at the plate. The defense, on the other hand, is praised and scorned in extreme circumstances …
