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12:45 PM ET, October 15, 2008

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Kazmir will start Game 5  —  In a surprising move, Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon announced this morning that he will start Scott Kazmir in Thursday's Game 5 of the ALCS at Fenway Park.  —  James Shields, who was originally scheduled to pitch Game 5, has been bumped back to Game 6.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Rays pulling tarp off upper-deck seats at the Trop  —  The nosebleed seats in the upper deck of Tropicana Field will no longer be draped in blue when the Tampa Bay Rays come back home — whether that's for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series or Game 1 of the World Series.
Brant James / St. Petersburg Times:
Even for Red Sox, it's ‘hit the panic button’  —  BOSTON — On Monday night, “panic” was overstating it.  After another blowout loss that dropped them one game from elimination in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series, “panic” was about right, second baseman Dustin Pedroia said.
Discussion: Walkoff Walk
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Acclaim for the Rays Comes With a Caveat  —  BOSTON — Darryl Strawberry has been only mildly interested in the postseason because the Mets and the Yankees are not playing.  But he has watched the highlights, so he has not been able to avoid seeing B. J. Upton and Evan Longoria, the hitting tykes from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Discussion: ShysterBall
Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
Up against a youthful dream team  —  If patriotism is supposed to be the last refuge for scoundrels, then referencing history is the last refuge for shocked fans who have just seen their team fall behind, three games to one, in an American League Championship Series.
Cliff Corcoran / Sports Illustrated:   Previewing today's playoff game
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Organization feeling out trade offers for Padres staff ace Peavy  —  Kevin Towers said last month it would be “very, very difficult to trade Jake Peavy” because of the ace pitcher's value to the Padres.  Nonetheless, the general manager is open to trade offers for Peavy …
RELATED:
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Enough postseason, let's get to Peavy  —  So I'm getting the distinct impression that most of you on the Braves/MIB blog would like to be done already with this postseason so we can get on to important stuff: the Braves' pursuit of starting pitchers and a power-hitting outfielder.
Discussion: ShysterBall and MLB.com
Paul Pringle / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers tap into anger about their unruly home fans  —  Dodgers fans cheer for Manny Ramirez after he hits a double in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series against Philadelphia.  Team spokesman Charles Steinberg conceded the issue of alcohol-fueled rowdiness “is not solved.”
George A. King III / New York Post:
RANDOLPH OPEN TO COACHING RETURN  —  COULD REPLACE MEACHAM WITH YANKEES  —  BOSTON — The Yankees need a third-base coach, and Willie Randolph needs a job.  —  So the chance is there for the former Mets manager to return to The Bronx.  —  In a move that shows the honeymoon between Joe Girardi …
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Meacham won't be back in 2009  —  Former Yankee was third-base coach; Monteleone dismissed
Discussion: Green Pinstripes and NJ.com
Associated Press:   Yankees fire 3B coach, special pitching instructor
ESPN:
Griffey has left knee surgery, performed by Reds' team doctor  —  Chicago White Sox outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. on Tuesday had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, which bothered him for most of the 2008 season.  —  The surgery was performed by Cincinnati Reds' team doctor.
Discussion: Baseball Musings
Gregg Doyel / CBS SportsLine.com:
This guy looks like Nomar but is it really him?  —  LOS ANGELES — This guy is walking around the Dodgers' clubhouse and the Dodger Stadium batting cage, and I swear I've seen him before.  You have, too.  He has those sausage thighs and that beak of a nose and when he steps into the batter's box …
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Q&A: MetsBlog and Minaya on Luis Castillo  —  Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog: I had a lot of questions about Luis Castillo, as you can imagine.  —  Michael from Tennessee asked, “If you had to do it again, would you give Luis Castillo another four-year contract?”
The Numbers Guy:
A Sports Numbers Reading List  —  Here's a reading list of articles about sports numbers, from the use of questionable math as a rallying cry, to overhyped football records:  —  Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon, normally numerically savvy, has received lots of attention for motivating …
 
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 More News: 
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Rockies prospect Weathers faces Tommy John surgery
Discussion: Baseball America
Daniel Barbarisi / Providence Journal:
A younger Baldelli gets a feel for the bigs
Eddie B / Detroit Tigers Thoughts:
Final Elias Rankings - American League Catchers
 

 
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