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Cliff Corcoran / Sports Illustrated:
Breaking down Game 2 of ALCS — Breaking down Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. All stats for starting pitchers are for this postseason only. — Red Sox at Rays — Series: ALCS, Game 2 — TV: TBS — Starters: Josh Beckett (0-0, 7.20) vs. Scott Kazmir (1-0, 3.38)
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Boston Globe
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Dice-K sparkles as Sox take Game 1 — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It's only one game. So how come it already feels like the Red Sox are going to the World Series? — The Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 2-0, in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field last night.
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Sweet nothings — Matsuzaka, Red Sox blank Rays in opener — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - There is time for David Ortiz. In between at-bats, in between trips to the cage, the designated hitter has time to observe the game, and his teammates. His opposition. And that was where he saw the differences.
Richie Rich / Home Run Derby:The Tampa Bay Rays have gotten cocky
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, Deadspin, The Crawfish Boxes, The Heater, Red Sox Monster, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Barstool Sports and Center Field
George A. King III / New York Post:
HANK: I'M STILL IN CHARGE HERE! — TAMPA - Sitting behind his desk at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Hank Steinbrenner yesterday spit on the notion he has taken a step back in running the Yankees. — “There is one very important point here,” Steinbrenner told The Post during an exclusive half-hour session.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers leave Philly down 0-2 in NLCS — Manny homers, but starter Billingsley exits after 2 1/3 innings — PHILADELPHIA — Before the Dodgers went down in order in the first inning, Russell Martin had to pull himself out of the dirt after being flipped by a 94-mph fastball under the chin …
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Amy K. Nelson / ESPN:
Billingsley plays blame game after rough outing … PHILADELPHIA — If Chad Billingsley is going to be an ace someday, his performance both during and after the game is going to need improvement. Not only did the 24-year-old right-hander fail to get out of the third inning …
Dave Anderson / New York Times:
An Ebbets Field Confession From That ‘Brennan’ Kid — If confession is good for the soul, it's even more healing when it occurs after more than 60 years and some 3,000 miles from the site of the dastardly deeds. — Bob Natiello, who grew up in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn …
Discussion:
ShysterBall
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yanks mull coach switches — ST. PETERSBURG - The Yankees haven't held their organizational meetings yet, but a change in Joe Girardi's coaching staff could come before the team's brass meets later this month in Tampa. — According to a source, Brian Cashman has been asking some players …
Jason Parks / Baseball Time in Arlington:
Rangers Fall Instructional League Report: Part II — Tim Murphy: Yet another player that I will struggle to remain objective about (see a developing pattern here?), Murphy has a very mature approach to the game of baseball. He is extremely focused and possesses the ability to disregard …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Whispers: Helms pays off for Marlins — The Marlins, who have 17 players eligible for salary arbitration, have signed only two to multiyear contracts since getting Carlos Delgado as a free agent almost four years ago: Hanley Ramirez and Wes Helms, who agreed to a two-year contract rather than become a free agent.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Architect of Phillies, Gillick Will Listen to Anyone's Plans — PHILADELPHIA — Pat Gillick learns by listening. In his first dinner with his staff in Philadelphia, in 2005, Gillick took the time to hear a trade proposal from the waiter. As the new general manager, and perhaps …
MLB.com:
Catcher Michael Barrett clears waivers; Padres claim second baseman Travis Denker from Giants — SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres today announced that catcher Michael Barrett has elected free agency after clearing outright waivers. Additionally, the club has claimed second baseman Travis Denker off waivers …
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MLB Rumors
