Top News:
Los Angeles Times:
Manny Ramirez made the Dodgers important again — He single-handedly made the team a force to be reckoned with. — T.J. Simers — MANNYWOOD — The Dodgers are finished two weeks ago, Jose Lima still standing as the team's postseason hero over the last 20 years, if it isn't for Manny Ramirez.
RELATED:
Steve Lowery / Philly.com:New free-agent Manny ready for all (rich) suitors
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Tonight could be end for Varitek — Contract expiring; status is in doubt — Jason Varitek wouldn't acknowledge it yesterday, but tonight's game at Fenway Park could be the team captain's last in a Red Sox uniform. Given a contract that expires after this season, and a markedly poor offensive year …
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Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
Maddon's curve: Kazmir — It was an offday, so the story was 175,000 times more important than it would have been otherwise. — Bulletin: Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon announces that Scott Kazmir, not James Shields, will start tonight's Game 5. Thanks, Joe, for giving us scribes …
Marc Narducci / Boston Herald:
Rays' Scott Kazmir says he isn't under extra pressure — BOSTON — One win away from a berth in the World Series, Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon isn't playing it safe. — Maddon said during a news conference on Wednesday that he is switching his rotation for Thursday night's Game 5 …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs intent on keeping GM Hendry — Team declined Seattle's request to talk to GM — The Cubs are intent on keeping general manager Jim Hendry, despite the ongoing uncertainty of their franchise sale. — According to major league baseball sources, Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney recently declined …
RELATED:
Seattle Times:
Three candidates get second interview for Mariners' GM job — The Mariners are bringing back Jerry DiPoto, Tony LaCava and Kim Ng as they begin the final round of interviews today for their vacant general manager's job. — DiPoto, 40, is director of player personnel for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:Yankees poised for offseason shopping spree
Discussion:
It is about the money, stupid
Hal McCoy / Dayton Daily News:
Can the Reds be the 2009 Phillies? — There are defining moments in every baseball game, usually a defining moment. — As for the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday night in the NLCS, it was the first batter of the game. — LA pitcher Chad Billingsley slipped two quick strikes past Jimmy Rollins.
Discussion:
Red Reporter
RELATED:
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:Phils reach first World Series since '93
Discussion:
The Good Phight, Babes Love Baseball, THE BASEBALL SAVANT, Phillies Nation, umpbump.com, ESPN and Mike's Baseball Rants
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Tom Tresh dead at 71 — Tom Tresh, who burst onto the big-league scene in 1962 and won Rookie of the Year honors as a fill-in shortstop for the Yankees after Tony Kubek was called into military service, died Wednesday at his home in Venice, Fla., of a heart attack. He was 71.
RELATED:
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Nationals show interest in Willie Randolph — The Washington Nationals are interested in adding former Mets manager Willie Randolph to their coaching staff, Newsday has learned. — Washington, which fired five of its coaches following a 59-102 showing in 2008, would like Randolph to serve …
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Mientkiewicz, Michaels among targets — Pirates' GM would like to retain versatile veteran leaders — PITTSBURGH — As general manager Neal Huntington prepares to shape the Pirates' 2009 roster, he said he plans to approach both outfielder Jason Michaels and utility man Doug Mientkiewicz …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
Remembering the '93 Phillies and the early days of rap-rock — When Carlos Ruiz squeezed his mitt tight around Nomar Garciaparra's pop fly on Wednesday night, it did more than send the Phillies to their first World Series in 15 years. It also marked the official start of what will be …
Rick Chandler / Deadspin:
Bring Me The Head Of Mr. Met — Imagine taking your kids to Disneyland, and watching in horror as someone runs up and yanks the head off of Donald Duck. Mets fans were traumatized in a similar fashion last night, as Fox News inadvertently broadcast the live decapitation of Mr. Met …
Scoop Jackson / ESPN:
The true meaning of B.J. Upton — Be real: Evan Longoria, regardless of what happens to the Rays, is the new face and future of baseball. He's everything the game needs, everything it's supposed to be about. David Wright should be ticked. — Sitting 15 to 20 feet away from him in the dugout during …
