Top News:
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
LA uses same NLDS rotation for NLCS — Against Phillies, Lowe will be followed by Billingsley, Kuroda — PHILADELPHIA — Not messing with success, Dodgers manager Joe Torre on Wednesday named the same starting pitchers for the first three games of the National League Championship Series …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
RELATED:
John Brattain / Hardball Times:
Why the Phillies will beat the Dodgers — It's been awhile. — The Dodgers haven't sniffed an NLCS since 1988—the Phillies were last in back in 1993. — It should be a good series, but I think we're going to see the City of Brotherly Love not treat the Dodgers with anything resembling filial kindness.
Discussion:
crashburnalley.com
David S. Cohen / The Good Phight:
Ten Things You Might Not Know About the Philadelphia Phillies — A media narrative is developing, and it's not kind to the Phillies. So, in light of that, here are ten things you might not, but should, know about the Philadelphia Phillies: — 1. The Phillies had the second best record in the NL this year.
Discussion:
Baseball Analysts
Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers bullpen might not include Takashi Saito — His roster spot could go to left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo. — PHILADELPHIA — Speaking of how suddenly everything changed for him, Takashi Saito laughed. — “I didn't expect this,” he said. — Saito went into Manager Joe Torre's office …
Discussion:
MLB.com
Joe Sheehan / Unfiltered:
Facts About Manny Ramirez — Fox broadcaster Tim McCarver joined the chorus-well, actually he stepped in front of the chorus, grabbed a mike, waved down the band and called for a spotlight-Wednesday, slamming Manny Ramirez based largely on the same secondhand stories that have passed around for more than two months.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Phillies Nation, Bronx Banter, Beyond the Box Score, Projo Sox Blog, NY Daily News and The Bottom Line
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Armstrong opens up about club's future — President expounds on GM search, direction of Mariners — SEATTLE — Mariners president Chuck Armstrong said this week that an intense determination to get the Mariners back on course via a “collaborative and inclusive” management style that worked …
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds clear three off 40-man roster — Cabrera refuses Triple-A assignment, becomes free agent — CINCINNATI — The Reds have moved three players off their 40-man roster this week. — Utility player Jolbert Cabrera and pitchers Adam Pettyjohn and Jon Adkins were sent outright to Triple-A Louisville.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Steve Lombardi / WasWatching.com:
RUSSO: BELTRAN/CANO DEAL IN THE WORKS? — Frank Russo, on New York Baseball Digest Radio's Yankee Special, mentioned that his connections have shared that the Mets are accepting inquiries for Carlos Beltran. And, further, according to Russo, his sources have also shared that there's a rumor …
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs pick up Harden's '09 option — Led Major League pitchers with .183 batting average against — CHICAGO — The Cubs took care of one offseason project Wednesday and picked up the $7 million option for pitcher Rich Harden for 2009. — If the Cubs had not picked up the option …
RELATED:
Art Martone / Projo Sox Blog:
Transcript: Terry Francona's Wednesday press conference — On ALCS pitching rotation — We're going to go, Daisuke, Becket, Lester, Wakefield now. We reserve the right if something crazy happens in the middle to make a change but that's the way we're set up to go. The reasoning is actually pretty simple.
RELATED:
Tim Marchman / Slate:
A Prayer for the Tampa Bay Rays — SURE, CUBS SUPPORTERS HAVE BEEN SUFFERING LONGER, BUT RAYS FANS HAVE IT MUCH, MUCH WORSE. — Throw a rock in Chicagoland these days, and you're liable to hit a mourning Cubs fan who's old enough to remember Gabby Hartnett's spry youth.
Discussion:
Deadspin
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Spending spree not in Sox GM Ken Williams' plans — White Sox unlikely to throw money at top free agents — With as many as five key free agents this off-season, change is inevitable for the White Sox. — There are several routes general manager Ken Williams can take to maintain the Sox …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
When Philadelphia Was a Winner — PHILADELPHIA — If you could relive the happiest moment of your childhood, what would it be? I'm lucky, I suppose, because I never have to think twice. — It was Oct. 8, 1983, a quarter of a century ago Wednesday. I was 8, and nothing mattered as much as the Philadelphia Phillies.
RELATED:
