Top News:
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Deep trouble — Homer-happy Rays pound Lester, Sox — Two minutes and four pitches into yesterday's game, Jon Lester had already plowed through the first three batters of the Tampa Bay order. It was a prompt dispatching of the Rays in the first inning, and it seemed …
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Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
It's Sox stagger, not swagger — BOSTON - Could it be the Red Sox have lost their aura? Their swagger? Their fear factor? — All of the above? — PHOTO GALLERY: VIEW PICS FROM ALCS — We'll see how this all plays out, but the way these youth-infused, experience-challenged …
Associated Press:
Notebook: Wakefield dominance vs. Rays over … BOSTON (AP) — Tim Wakefield's domination of Tampa Bay was bound to end. — It did, this year. — The Boston knuckleballer was 19-3 lifetime against the Rays entering this season, then went 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA in three matchups with them.
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster
Cliff Corcoran / Sports Illustrated:Closer look at Game 3 of the ALCS, NLCS Game 4
Discussion:
MLB.com, SOX & Dawgs, St. Petersburg Times, Over the Monster, Associated Press and The Heater
John Nadel / Associated Press:
Victorino, Stairs lift Phillies over Dodgers — Philadelphia one win away from World Series — LOS ANGELES - The Philadelphia Phillies used their favorite staple, the long ball, to move within one win of the World Series. — Shane Victorino and much-traveled pinch-hitter Matt Stairs hit …
Discussion:
USA Today, ESPN, Royals Review, Mike's Baseball Rants, Washington Post, The Good Phight and Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
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John Gonzalez / Philly.com:
Hamels shows confidence — LOS ANGELES - At first, I thought maybe I hadn't heard him right. But as Cole Hamels kept jabbering and puffing out his chest, I realized that I had heard him correctly. At which point I wondered if, before the interview, he had taken some pulls of moonshine from a secret hip flask.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Homers put LA on brink of elimination — Blake's go-ahead shot negated by Phils' eighth-inning rally — PHILADELPHIA — Shane Victorino and Matt Stairs launched two-run homers in the eighth inning Monday night to power the Phillies to a crushing 7-5 comeback win over the Dodgers …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
The Secret to Success: A Reliable Bullpen — LOS ANGELES — A bizarre thing happened Sunday night at Dodger Stadium, and it had nothing to do with that little disagreement near the pitcher's mound. When Nomar Garciaparra laced a fourth-inning single off Philadelphia's J. A. Happ …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:Playoffs Today — It should be a nice afternoon for a game in Boston …
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Eddie B / Detroit Tigers Thoughts:
Final Elias Rankings - American League Relief Pitchers … Kyle Farnsworth appears to be short of Type B Status. To add insult to injury, he ends up behind the likes of Gary Glover. Naturally, Casey Fossum was also well short of Type B. Among the free agents, who should the Tigers look at?
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Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Pujols has surgery on right elbow — Slugger expected to be ready for Spring Training after rehab — Albert Pujols underwent surgery on his troublesome right elbow on Monday, but it was not the long-feared “Tommy John” reconstructive surgery on the joint.
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Who can file for free agency? — Beat reporter Carrie Muskat answers Cubs fans' questions … I noticed that Ryan Dempster is eligible to become a free agent this offseason. Are the Cubs going to re-sign him? Who else is eligible for free agency? — Steve K., Wheaton, Ill.
Discussion:
Hire Jim Essian!
New York Post:
MEMO TO BOMBERS: GO GET PHILS' GILLICK! — LOS ANGELES - One of the most persistent rumors that circulated among baseball officials during the season was that Pat Gillick was going to move from Philadelphia GM to Mariner president and recruit Brian Cashman to be Seattle's GM.
Discussion:
iYankees
Associated Press:
Final Yankee Stadium homer ball to be sold — CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The last home run hit at Yankee Stadium will be sold at an auction this weekend in New York after the man who snagged it decided he could use the money to pay off some debt and send his kids to college.
Discussion:
iYankees
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Josh Kalk / Hardball Times:
A peek at David Price — After carving up the Southeastern Conference, David Price was the No. 1 overall selection by the Rays in 2007. Price didn't sign until the deadline, so he didn't pitch in the minors until this year. Price started out at high Single-A ball in the Florida State League …
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Hughes garners Fall League honor — Yankees right-hander named AFL Pitcher of the Week — On Monday, Yankees right-hander Phil Hughes was selected as the Arizona Fall League's Pitcher of the Week for the circuit's first week of action. — Hughes won his start in the Peoria Javelinas' AFL opener …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Mailbag: What is Kearns' future? — Beat reporter Bill Ladson answers Nats fans' questions … What do you think Austin Kearns's future is with the Nats? — It's one of the burning questions of the offseason. I think Kearns is going to stay with the Nationals, because I don't see another team taking on his $8 million contract.
