Top News:
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Baseball's crown event is beyond repair — PHILADELPHIA - This World Series is unsalvageable. It is a disaster borne of people who think cowbells and haircuts make them fans, owners who are so greedy that they accept late-October baseball and late-evening start times …
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
In a first, World Series game suspended — Fall Classic to resume when ‘weather conditions are appropriate’ — PHILADELPHIA — For the first time in Major League Baseball history, a World Series game was suspended, as rain put a halt to Game 5 of the Fall Classic in the sixth inning …
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Rule change ensures Series continues — Prior to 2006 amendment, tying run would've been nullified — PHILADELPHIA — The Rays were not, technically, down to their last out in the top of the sixth inning on Monday night. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig made that clear in a news conference …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:World Series Analysis: Rays try to stay vs. Phillies alive in Game 5
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Sabathia's free agency could set up a big payday for Padres ace — C.C. Sabathia's pending massive payday on the free-agent market could embolden Jake Peavy to seek extra money if the Padres try to trade Peavy to a team he doesn't prefer. — That's how Peavy's agent Barry Axelrod drew it up yesterday.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Sabernomics:
Who Gets Jake Peavy's Surplus? — It turns out that Jake Peavy thinks he does, and I think he's right. — Last week, I discussed how the Padres' ownership of Peavy's contract rights for the next four seasons would allow the team to reap the benefits of the difference between his expected income generation and his salary.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Mets look to farm prospects to lure Street, Putz — Francisco Rodriguez's agent will be at the — general managers' meetings next week in Dana Point, Calif., and the representative for Brian Fuentes likely will be there, too. The Mets have little to lose by meeting with both in their search for Billy Wagner's replacement.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, MetsBlog.com, Mets Merized Online, Dom D's Mets Fan Blog, Mets Fever and 24 Hours From Suicide
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' budget may be tight for big names — CUBS: Tight budget for big names — The Cubs' off-season may be quieter than in recent years, especially if Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood re-sign quickly, eating up a big chunk of general manager Jim Hendry's budget.
RELATED:
Mike Berardino / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins' larger payroll doesn't rule out roster changes — PHILADELPHIA - The Marlins haven't seen their payroll hit $40 million since 2005, the days of Carlos Delgado and Al Leiter. — That could change in 2009. — According to an industry source, the Marlins are telling teams …
Los Angeles Times:
Take a trip to Baseball Heaven — It's a place where the grass is real, the players are friendly and all the things that made the sport great are on display again. — Chris Erskine, Man of the House — First of all, in Baseball Heaven no one spits. No seeds, no chew …
Discussion:
ShysterBall
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Several factors affect White Sox in free agency — SOX: Tough to shake up, stir this mix — The 15-day free agent filing period begins immediately after the World Series, but the White Sox's off-season agenda has been set for months. — Whether general manager Ken Williams can shake …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Bill Conlin / Philly.com:
On a rainy night in Philly, MLB drops the ball — 'ONE DAY it started raining, and it didn't quit for four months. We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin' rain . . . and big ol' fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath.
NY Daily News:
Madden: Hamilton is the one that got a-Ray — PHILADELPHIA - All season long, the Tampa Bay Rays weaved their rags-to-riches story on a formula of pitching, defense, speed and just enough hitting. They did not have a deep enough lineup to overcome the -for-29, 15-strikeout performance …
