Top News:
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
TLR Back, McRae Out, Big Mac Appears In — The Cardinals will announce at a Monday morning press conference Tony La Russa's decision to return for a 15th season as manager. Today's run-up, however, features mounting evidence that La Russa's return after a 2-week deliberation will be dwarfed …
RELATED:
MLB:
Sources: Tony La Russa will return to St. Louis Cardinals in '10 — ST. LOUIS — Tony La Russa is returning to the St. Louis Cardinals as manager on a multiyear contract, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney, but there will be at least one change to his coaching staff.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
McGwire could become next hitting coach — Report comes as La Russa ponders his future in St. Louis — Tony La Russa was expected to return as the Cardinals' skipper, but he could have a new hitting coach in slugger Mark McGwire. — According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, La Russa has signed a multi-year contract to return.
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa says he's close to decision on whether to return as St. Louis Cardinals manager — Technically still in limbo, Tony La Russa on Saturday said he is “speeding to a conclusion” regarding a decision whether to return for a 15th year as Cardinals manager.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
Josh Thomson / The Journal News:
Rivera plans pep talk for Hughes — NEW YORK - After a dominant regular season, Phil Hughes has struggled this postseason, breaking the bridge to Mariano Rivera on more than one occasion. — The Yankees continue to show confidence in him, but Hughes' struggles have not gone unnoticed.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
Mark Feinsand / Blogging The Bombers:
Is postponement really that big of a deal? — How big was Saturday's postponement of Game 6? Well, it really won't mean much to the Yankees unless they can't close the deal on Sunday. — If Andy Pettitte can beat Joe Saunders in Game 6, the Yankees will be headed to the World Series.
Allen Barra / Wall Street Journal:A Battle of the Bullpens — Why don't today's pitchers finish what they start?
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians select Manny Acta as new manager with 3-year contract … CLEVELAND, Ohio — Manny Acta will be named the 40th manager of the Indians today. — Acta reportedly turned down an offer to become Houston's manager to accept the Indians job, which is for three seasons with a team option for 2013.
Discussion:
Houston Chronicle, Associated Press, MLB Rumors, The Crawfish Boxes, Circling The Bases, MLB FanHouse and Federal Baseball
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Red Sox' hot stove fired up early — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email the Author — Red Sox fans and their followers have had way too much on their hands this October. — With no American League Championship Series to attend to, the flame of the hot-stove league has been lit unseasonably early.
RELATED:
NPB Tracker:
Kikuchi Stays Home — Kyodo News and reader Manzino beat me to it, but Yusei Kikuchi is staying in Japan. I'll have more later in the evening. — It's later in the evening, and here's more. — This news doesn't come as a surprise, as even though I had been reserving some skepticism …
RELATED:
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets Out of Chapman Sweepstakes — Bart Hubbuch, in a post to Twitter, says the Mets will not be pursuing free-agent LHP Cuban Defector Aroldis Chapman, who met with the Mets, among other teams, last week. — Hubbuch says the Mets made this decision after learning about his $40-$60 million price tag.
Discussion:
Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog
John Perrotto / Baseball Prospectus:
Another Chilly Winter? — What's the free-agent market going to be like this winter? A buyer's market, or a seller's? I can honestly say that I have no idea, and any team executive who gives you a more definitive answer is probably either hoping or hedging.
John Sickels / Minor League Ball:
Atlanta Braves Top 20 Prospects for 2010 — Top 20 Atlanta Braves Prospects for 2010. — All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change. Don't get too worried about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get beyond the Top 10. Grade C+/C guys are pretty …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
