Top News:
Gordon Edes / Yahoo! Sports:
Lidge is lights out in opener — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The fortunes of the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series have been dependent on their closers. For better and worse. — The enduring memory of the only World Series title in the team's 125-year history is closer Tug McGraw flinging …
RELATED:
NY Daily News:
Harper: Phils only clutch own throats after loss in Game 2 of World Series — ST. PETERSBURG - If the Phillies had hit like this in September, the Mets might be playing in this World Series. — Has any World Series team ever come out of a split of Games 1 and 2 feeling worse about itself than these Phillies?
Discussion:
The Griddle
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Hummel at the Series: Keys to Game 2 — Hall of Fame baseball writer Rick Hummel is covering the World Series for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. From his perspective, here are 3 things we learned from Game 1, and 3 keys to tonight's Game 2 at Tropicana Field: — 3 things we learned from Game 1 of the World Series:
Cliff Corcoran / Sports Illustrated:A closer look at the Phillies-Rays Game 2 matchup
Discussion:
Washington Post, Associated Press, Phillies Nation, The Good Phight, Bluebird Banter, Babes Love Baseball, Unfiltered and ESPN
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:With stolen base, Jason Bartlett is America's new taco hero
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Heater, SOX1FAN, Babes Love Baseball, The Big Lead, MLB FanHouse, The 'Ropolitans, Red Sox Monster and Business Wire
Ken Tremendous / FIRE JOE MORGAN:Irrelevant/Counter-Irrelevant — It's time to play no-one's favorite …
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:SportsCast — Follow the latest news out of professional sports …
Discussion:
iYankees
ESPN.com:
GM says Braves' prospects not up for Peavy trade — ATLANTA — General manager Frank Wren insists the Braves won't trade their most valued prospects, apparently not even to bring Jake Peavy to Atlanta. — Speculation about the Braves' interest in Peavy has grown since the San Diego Padres confirmed …
RELATED:
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Friars in no rush to deal ace Peavy — GM Towers will listen to offers, but won't trade righty hastily — SAN DIEGO — There won't be any movement on the Jake Peavy front in the next week or so, though that has nothing to do with the moratorium by the league office on teams making major announcements during the World Series.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Could Grace replace Brenly in Cubs booth? — Criticism could hurt odds of returning in TV booth — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mark Grace is likely to be on the short list of candidates to replace Bob Brenly in the Cubs broadcast booth if Brenly gets the managerial job in Milwaukee.
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter (TCR)
RELATED:
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
GM Melvin probably will stop at three interviews — St. Petersburg, Fla. - The Milwaukee Brewers' managerial search likely will come down to one of three candidates. — Brewers general manager Doug Melvin confirmed Wednesday that he has interviewed former Oakland manager Ken Macha and former …
Associated Press:
Selig: Baseball hopes to shorten postseason in '09 — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig hopes to shorten the postseason by two or three days next season by eliminating some off days. — MLB shifted the start of the World Series from Saturday to Wednesday beginning last year, adding four extra days off.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Tampa Bay Rays even it up — Phillies bats struggle yet again — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Squeeze plays, a wacky checked swing and a fresh face out of the bullpen. These plucky Tampa Bay Rays pulled out all their tricks at Tropicana Field to tie the World Series.
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Ken Davidoff / Ken Davidoff's baseball insider:
World Series: A couple of updates on our local clubs, and a couple of suggested stories — Checking in, before we begin pre-game news conferences and batting practice here at The Trop... - At this point, it would be a shocker if Mike Mussina did not retire.
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Boras states his case for keeping Varitek — The Red Sox and Jason Varitek have not initiated contract discussions, which is not unusual this soon after the season, said Scott Boras, the agent who represents the catcher. — Boras did not offer any specific figures Varitek is aiming for …
John Sickels / Minor League Ball:
Atlanta Braves Top 20 Prospects for 2009 — Atlanta Braves Top 20 Prospects for 2009 — All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change. Don't get too worried about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get out of the top 10. Grade C+/C guys are pretty interchangeable depending on what you are looking for.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
OK, but who's on first? — The Mets just announced that Razor Shines will replace Luis Aguayo as the third-base coach and Randy Niemann takes over for Guy Conti in the bullpen (bye Pedro). Otherwise, Dan Warthen returns as pitching coach, Howard Johnson holds on as hitting coach and Sandy Alomar is back as bench coach.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
