Top News:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
A Nation worries about its ace — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - While New England slept, the Tampa Bays Rays evened the American League Championship Series last night, winning a 5-hour-27-minute marathon, 9-8, on B.J. Upton's sacrifice fly in the 11th at 1:35 this morning.
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Jack Curry / New York Times:
In Long Night of Home Runs, Upton's Sacrifice Pulls Rays Even — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Red Sox pushed, but the Rays shoved back. The Red Sox slapped the Rays, but they smacked back. It was a game the Red Sox wanted to win but one the Rays desperately needed to win.
Discussion:
THE BASEBALL SAVANT
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
The lineup explained — The Red Sox, as posted previously, made some alterations to their lineup tonight, most notably taking out right fielder J.D. Drew and inserting Coco Crisp. The move had nothing to do with Drew's health, either his long-ailing back or his right shoulder, which was struck by a Grant Balfour fastball last night.
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)
Jack Curry / New York Times:
To Ortiz, the Rays Appear To Be Feeling the Pressure — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — David Ortiz of the Red Sox saw faces, lots of faces, on Friday night. They were different from the faces Ortiz had noticed before. To Ortiz, the Tampa Bay Rays' expressions made them seem tentative.
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
Shooting from The Lip: Mets, Yanks should stay away from Manny — Both the Mets and Yankees, who are a little desperate these days as they watch the baseball postseason go on without them, should stay away from Manny Ramirez. Let the Dodgers pay him. And have him.
Discussion:
24 Hours From Suicide
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Ben Shpigel / Bats:
Manny on the Mets — LOS ANGELES — We're in this brave, new world in which Manny Ramirez actually asks reporters if they have any more questions for him. Seriously. And this came after a session of about 10 minutes by his locker. A few of us stuck around, and when Manny caught wind …
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.
Ian / SOX & Dawgs:
Please Don't Quit Your Day Jobs — I am not sure there are really any words to explain this from the end of the TBS postgame coverage after Game 2 of the ALCS between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. — At least they all agree they were brutal.
Wallace Matthews / Newsday:
Mets are legends in their own minds — There's a feeling around the Mets that somehow they are the uncrowned champions of the National League, the best team with the worst luck, or some such nonsense. — They tell themselves they should have been in the 2006 World Series …
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
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
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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