Top News:
Associated Press:
Heavenly result for Devil-less Tampa Bay Rays … Devil ... be gone! — For 10 years, they were a lousy team with a fiendish nickname: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Then the club exorcised the “Devil” from its name, and suddenly Tampa Bay is in the World Series.
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Fred Goodall / Associated Press:
Young Rays enjoy being on big stage — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—The manager wears thick-rimmed glasses and listens to everything from the Rolling Stones to the Four Tops. Mohawk is the haircut of the moment. Inspirational quotes decorate walls of the Tampa Bay Rays clubhouse — and we're not talking conventional baseball wisdom.
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Rays, Phillies are evenly matched — Position-by-position breakdown of the Fall Classic, including a prediction — It may not be the matchup that TV executives and corporate America wanted. — It lost intrigue when Manny Ramirez, Joe Torre and Red Sox Nation were booted to the curb in league championship play.
Marc Narducci / Philly.com:For Rays, the rookie Price is right
Discussion:
Washington Post, AZ Snakepit, The Heater, Associated Press, Press Association, Boston Herald, Phillies Nation and Baseball Musings
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Agent: Prior wants to pitch for Padres — Right-hander and native San Diegan hopes feeling mutual — SAN DIEGO — More than four months removed from shoulder surgery, Mark Prior is at the stage in his recovery when he's starting to play catch. — Soon enough, the 28-year-old right-handed pitcher hopes …
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Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Brewers interview Randolph — St. Petersburg, Fla. - I just heard from a very reliable source that former New York Mets manager Willie Randolph was scheduled to be interviewed today for the Brewers' managerial opening. — That makes perfect sense because I've written from the beginning …
Frank Della Femina / New Jersey Online:
Derek Lowe interested in Red Sox, not Yankees, report says — Rumors of a Derek Lowe-to-Yankees move this offseason started before the Dodgers were even eliminated from the playoffs. However, a recent article in The Boston Globe suggests Derek Lowe has the Boston Red Sox atop his list of places of interest.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Hendry signed to four-year extension — Third-longest-tenured Cubs GM won consecutive division titles — CHICAGO — Jim Hendry, who has guided the Cubs to the postseason three times during his six full seasons as general manager, has been given a four-year contract extension through the 2012 season.
Discussion:
Red Hot Mama
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Mailbag: How will the rotation change? — Beat reporter Mark Bowman answers Braves fans' questions — Let's say that the Braves are able to get Jake Peavy in a trade. Do you think they would then go out and get another top-notch pitcher like Derek Lowe or Ben Sheets?
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
New York Post:
BEER & A POTSHOT FOR JOBA — SOX INSULT BEFORE DUI — By AUSTIN FENNER in Lincoln, Neb., and LEONARD GREENE in New York — Taunts about his team's lousy season prompted Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain to storm out of a Nebraska strip joint just before he was busted for alleged drunken driving, associates said yesterday.
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Harvey Araton / New York Times:A Survivor of the Fast Lane Has a Message for Chamberlain
Discussion:
ShysterBall
Katie Strang / Newsday:Details of Joba's night out
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, New Jersey Online, River Avenue Blues, The Bronx Stop and NY Daily News
Associated Press:
Cards decline Mulder's $11 million option for '09 … ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals intend to cut ties with often-injured left-hander Mark Mulder, paying a $1.5 million buyout rather than exercising an $11 million option on his contract. — General manager John Mozeliak …
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Phillies fan compiles scorekeeping streak — GLEN ROCK, PA. - When Bob Bogart married in 1989, his streak was in its infancy, about 500 games. — His new bride couldn't have known it would keep going, that it would last 19 more years and counting, that it would be acknowledged by his heroes.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Can Brewers sign Sabathia? — Beat reporter Adam McCalvy answers fans' burning questions … I realize that CC Sabathia will be tough to sign, but is it really that out of the question? Small market or not, three million fans is still three million fans.
Mike Florio / ProFootballTalk.com:
ESPN ISSUED INTERNAL “DO NOT REPORT” WARNING ON FAVRE STORY — When we asked for PFT Planet to chime in regarding the possible reasons for ESPN's decision to avoid the story of Brett Favre's coaching internship with the Lions, we never expected to hear from someone at ESPN. — But we did.
