Top News:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Breaking news: Meacham fired — The Yankees have decided not to renew the contract of 3B coach Bobby Meacham. Brian Cashman just handed down word via media relations director Jason Zillo. — Cashman is in a meeting with his pro scouts at the moment. The hope is to speak to him later.
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Associated Press:
Yankees fire 3B coach, special pitching instructor — NEW YORK — Third-base coach Bobby Meacham and special pitching instructor Rich Monteleone were fired Tuesday by the New York Yankees. — Meacham spent six seasons as a player with the Yankees and was hired last November when Joe Girardi replaced Joe Torre as manager.
Mark Feinsand / Blogging the Bombers:
Yanks hammer falls on Meacham — The first domino has fallen in what is expected to be a tumultuous winter of change for the Yankees. — Third base coach Bobby Meacham will not be back in 2009, though no replacement has yet been named. Luis Sojo, who has been managing the Yankees' Single-A affiliate, is a possibility.
Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Yankees to have new third-base coach in 2009 — The Yankees will not renew the contract of third-base coach Bobby Meacham, the team said today. — Also, Rich Monteleone will not return as special pitching instructor, according to a member of the organization who was told of the move …
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Meacham won't be back in 2009 — Former Yankee was third-base coach; Monteleone dismissed — BOSTON — The Yankees will not renew the contract of third-base coach Bobby Meacham, the club announced on Tuesday. — General manager Brian Cashman announced the decision through director of media relations Jason Zillo.
Discussion:
Green Pinstripes
Cliff Corcoran / Sports Illustrated:
Previewing today's playoff game … Rays at Red Sox — Series: ALCS, Game 4; Rays lead 2-1 — TV: TBS — Starters: Andy Sonnanstine (1-0, 3.18) vs. Tim Wakefield (10-11, 4.13) — By beating Jon Lester last night the Rays have completely changed the outlook of the ALCS.
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Joe Henderson / tbo.com:
Upton Emerges As Motor Driving Rays — It's no coincidence that the Rays' offensive renaissance in postseason has coincided with B.J. Upton's surge. — After his big game Monday at Boston, Upton has five homers in seven postseason games with nine RBIs. His slugging percentage is a sick .839.
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
History lesson — The narrative of a playoff baseball series is severe, see-sawing tensions like a serial novel. The Red Sox won Game 1 of the American League Championship Series - the Rays were too young and too scared; Josh Beckett and Jon Lester loomed; the series was over.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cancer takes ‘nice, humble’ ex-Cubs pitcher — Former major league pitcher Kevin Foster, who fulfilled a lifelong dream by playing for the Cubs, died Saturday at the age of 39. — The former Evanston High star died in an Oklahoma City hospital after a six-month bout with renal cell carcinoma, his brother, Mark Foster, said.
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ESPN:
Former Cubs pitcher Foster dies of cancer at 39 — CHICAGO — Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Kevin Foster has died of cancer at age 39. — His brother said Foster died in an Oklahoma City hospital on Saturday after a six-month bout with renal cell carcinoma.
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Hoffman to be offered contract soon — Padres want closer back; Giles' option likely to be exercised — SAN DIEGO — The Padres will make a formal contract offer to closer Trevor Hoffman this week, general manager Kevin Towers said. — Hoffman, who turned 41 on Monday …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Los Angeles Times:
Second-guessing of Joe Torre begins — The Dodgers manager's decisions get a thorough once-over after the 7-5 loss to the Phillies in Game 4 of the NLCS. — T.J. Simers — At times like these, it's hard not to sound like a Steinbrenner. — It's as if Joe Torre suddenly never managed in a big game before, the stage too big.
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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.
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
ModernTube: Barack Obama jumps on the Phillies bandwagon — Consideiring that Florida is also a battleground state, I'd say that nominee Barack Obama is limiting himself here by declaring his allegiance for the Phillies. Luckily, there was that time that Joe Biden mentioned the “Devil” …
Sabernomics:
Valuing A.J. Burnett — There have been some recent rumblings about A.J. Burnett opting out of the two years remaining on his current deal in order to pursue free agency. … I think he would be wise to accept the Jays' offer. I have Burnett valued at about $52 million over the next for years …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Red / Surviving Grady:
I Get Knocked Down, But I Get Up Again, You're Never Gonna Keep Me Down (Unless, Of Course, Ellsbury and The Large Father Can't Start Hitting) — Good. — That was my first impression watching the Sox get taken out behind the woodshed by, in no particular order, the entire Rays batting order …
Discussion:
The Bottom Line
