Top News:
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
RELATED:
John Perrotto / Unfiltered:
ALCS Game 4 pre-game tidbits — Pre-game tidbits from Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday night between the Rays and Red Sox at Fenway Park: —Red Sox manager Terry Francona reconfigured his lineup after his team lost two games in a row to fall behind 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
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.
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:History lesson — The narrative of a playoff baseball series …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Boston Globe, Baseball Musings, The Heater, Red Sox Monster, SOX & Dawgs, tbo.com and Babes Love Baseball
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.
RELATED:
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.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:Meacham won't be back in 2009 — Former Yankee was third-base coach; Monteleone dismissed
Discussion:
Green Pinstripes
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 …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
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Dan Hayes / North County Times:
PADRES: Padres make Peavy available for trade — It has been 10 months since the Padres did everything in their power to keep Jake Peavy from testing free agency, signing him to a $52 million contract extension. But one season and 99 losses later, the team has let it be known …
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 …
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.
RELATED:
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Rockies prospect Weathers faces Tommy John surgery — Right-handed reliever Casey Weathers' fast-track to the big leagues was put on hold. — The Rockies' former first-round draft pick was diagnosed with “an acute tear of the ulnar collateral ligament” in his right forearm, minor-league director Marc Gustafson said Tuesday.
Discussion:
Baseball America
Eddie B / Detroit Tigers Thoughts:
Final Elias Rankings - American League Catchers — As a warning, you will know less after reading this post than you did before. I'll start by posting the rankings. I wouldn't put any stock at all into Rodriguez, Zaun, and Olivo's status without reading on.
Associated Press:
Lowell done for the year, set for surgery on hip — BOSTON (AP) — Mike Lowell will undergo surgery on his right hip Monday, depriving the Red Sox of last year's World Series MVP for the rest of their season. — The third baseman, who is not on Boston's roster for the AL championship series …
Daniel Barbarisi / Providence Journal:
A younger Baldelli gets a feel for the bigs … BOSTON — Rocco Baldelli wasn't the only member of his family on the field at Fenway yesterday. His little brother, Dante, 10, stood wide-eyed just outside the cage while the elder Baldelli and the rest of the Rays took batting practice.
