Top News:
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
L.A. vs. N.Y. for top free-agents … ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Baseball executives envision this country's horrific economic meltdown adversely affecting this free-agent class, though it might not cost three superstars who baseball people believe are too good to be affected.
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Mariners GM leaves Milwaukee legacy — Zduriencik helped draft many pieces of the NL Wild Card winners — MILWAUKEE — In his now-former life as the Brewers' amateur scouting director, Jack Zduriencik was so sure about a high school kid from Tucson named J.J. Hardy that the Brewers might …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
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Gregg Bell / Associated Press:
New M's GM begins search for manager — SEATTLE (AP)—Jack Zduriencik grew up in western Pennsylvania. During summer vacations in college he would follow his father into the steel mill just across the state line in Youngstown, Ohio, as many sons in that proud, blue-collar region did four decades ago.
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Which Braves prospects are untouchable? — Philadelphia — I'm in chilly Philly and Braves officials are not. But neither are officials from most other teams, save for the participating Phillies and Rays. — Gone is the day when all major league teams sent all their top officials …
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
L.A. vs. N.Y. for top free agents (cont.) — Braves are early leaders for Peavy — Padres ace Jake Peavy is seen as accepting a trade to at least any of his top five choices — the Braves, Cubs, Cardinals, Dodgers or Astros — and perhaps a few others, though his no-trade provision allows him to reject any deal.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Jesse Spector / NY Daily News:
Smoltz could follow Rocket's path — Could John Smoltz be the next Roger Clemens? — No, the longtime Atlanta Braves ace isn't going to face a Congressional panel, be investigated for perjury or have lurid details of his personal life cause him great embarrassment, but Smoltz could follow …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Yankees Say They Would Have Left Bronx if Pushed — WASHINGTON — Randy Levine, the president of the Yankees, told a Congressional hearing Friday that if the city had not issued tax-exempt financing for the team's new stadium, it would have left town. — “It's been no secret for many years” …
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Ashby Jones / Wall Street Journal:
The Happy Heckler Can't Be Heard Now in the Din at Tropicana Field — As Tampa Bay Rays Draw a Noisy Throng, Robert Szasz Gets Drowned Out — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For the past six years, the taunts of a lone Tampa Bay Rays fan could be heard echoing across cavernous Tropicana Field …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers finish managerial interviews — Skipper to be named next week; scouting post on deck — MILWAUKEE — Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has finished interviewing managerial candidates and plans to name his choice immediately following the World Series.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Kotaku:
Activision Taps Ratner For Star-Studded World Tour Ads — Thank you , Activision, for distracting Brett Ratner from ruining any more comic book movie franchises, at least for the small amount of time he spends working on the television ads for Guitar Hero World Tour.
MLB.com:
Dodgers retain entire Major League coaching staff for 2009 — LOS ANGELES — The 2008 National League West Division Champion Los Angeles Dodgers today announced they have retained their entire Major League coaching staff for the 2009 season. The staff, led by manager Joe Torre …
Discussion:
6-4-2
Tim Marchman / The New Republic:
It's LOOGY Time — In praise of the ballplayer who best embodies the absurdist quality of the game. — A World Series—even one hosted in such grim locales as St. Petersburg's moldy Tropicana Field or Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park, the Ford F-250 of ballparks—is all about stars.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
