Top News:
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Phillies back Lee's gem in Game 3 rout — Given big lead, lefty fans 10 over eight; Phils take NLCS lead — PHILADELPHIA — It seemed everybody but the Phillies wondered how they might recover from Friday's eighth-inning letdown in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers.
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
In CC they trust: Sabathia to start Game 4 — Big left-hander will take the hill on three days' rest — ANAHEIM — CC Sabathia was breaking a sweat at Angel Stadium on Sunday, getting re-acclimated to the West Coast after flying across the country. He had an assignment to prepare for …
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NY Daily News:
Joe gives CC OK for Game 4 start — ANAHEIM - The worst-kept secret of the ALCS is out. — CC Sabathia played catch in the outfield at Angel Stadium Sunday in lieu of a bullpen session, saving his bullets for tomorrow, when he will start Game 4 against the Angels on three days' rest.
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Are these Yanks as good as '98 team? — ANAHEIM, Calif. — The date was Oct. 10, 1998, noted by Yankee historians as the sea-change moment in what we now recognize as a historic season. At that point, a great team was gasping for air, down 2-1 against the Indians in the AL Championship Series.
Tracy Ringolsby / Inside the Colorado Rockies:
Hawpe Not On Market — Brad Hawpe found himself watching more than playing in the post-season for the Rockies. He, however, rmeans a key part in the Rockies long-range planning. — Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd has been surprised by media reports that the Rockies wll look to trade Hawpe …
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Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Rockies' offseason has numerous numbers challenges — This week, I suspect, the Rockies will give general manager Dan O'Dowd and manager Jim Tracy new contracts. It will be a celebratory moment, full of optimism. — But soon after O'Dowd and Tracy sign on the dotted line, they'll have to confront some realities facing the team.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Veteran manager Bobby Valentine a finalist for Cleveland Indians' vacancy — CLEVELAND, Ohio — Bobby Valentine, whose New York Mets reached the World Series in 2000, is one of the finalists for the vacant Indians manager's job. — Valentine, 59, it has been learned, will come to Cleveland this week for a second interview.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Circling The Bases, 24 Hours From Suicide, MLB FanHouse and The Mets Police
Steve Bisheff / Angels Unplugged:
Why Mike Scioscia won't switch — Judging from my blog comments and e-mail, everybody in Southern California, or at least Orange County, is asking the same thing today. — Why won't Mike Scioscia move the struggling Vladimir Guerrero out of the cleanup spot?
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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David Waldstein / New York Times:
The Biggest Secret of Baseball's Unwritten Rules: They Don't Exist — Say this about Erick Aybar's feet: they were a lot closer to second base than the Angels have been to playing crisp baseball. — Yes, his feet were in the so-called neighborhood of the bag in the 10th inning of Game 2 …
James Kannengieser / Amazin' Avenue:
Non-Tender Candidate: Jeff Francoeur — When Jeff Francoeur was traded to the Mets, I figured he would play out the season and be non-tendered. A massive disappointment for his hometown Braves, this is a player who was one of the top 5 least valuable players in all of baseball in 2008.
NY Daily News:
Harper: It's all about A-Rod — ANAHEIM - Never mind that Angels closer Brian Fuentes threw one of the worst 0-2 pitches in baseball history, right in Alex Rodriguez's danger zone, practically inviting the Bombers' slugger to pop one into Yankee Stadium's short right-field porch.
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Stadium open to fans for Game 3 — Public invited into Great Hall with Yankees in Anaheim — Yankee Stadium won't be the site of Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Monday. But that doesn't mean it will be empty. — The Yankees announced on Sunday that they will open …
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