Top News:
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Mauer handily catches AL MVP Award — Twins leader, batting champ gets 27 of 28 first-place votes — MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Mauer joined an elite group of players when he won his third American League batting title this past season. — Now the 26-year-old Twins catcher has become a member …
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Associated Press:
Mauer named AL's MVP — NEW YORK — Joe Mauer became only the second catcher in 33 years to win the American League Most Valuable Player Award, finishing first in a near-unanimous vote Monday. — The Minnesota Twins star received 27 of 28 first-place votes and 387 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Discussion:
ESPN, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, Bottom9 Baseball, MLB Rumors, Heartland Pinstripes, Lone Star Ball and Angels blog
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mauer faces Yanks challenge for AL MVP — Twins' Gold Glove catcher this year's favorite for honor — Power or presence? Homers or heroics? In the eyes of some, this season's American League Most Valuable Player Award debate will keep raging long after the Baseball Writers' Association …
Paul White / USA Today:Batting champion Mauer near-unanimous pick as AL MVP
Discussion:
Babes Love Baseball
Paul White / USA Today:Sabermetrics system: stats redefine award winners
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Source: Demarlo Hale to be named Boston Red Sox bench coach — DeMarlo Hale, who has been the third base coach for the Boston Red Sox the last four seasons, will be named the team's bench coach by manager Terry Francona, according to an American League source.
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox finalize coaching staff — An announcement may not come until later this afternoon or tomorrow, but the Red Sox have finalized their coaching staff. — Third base coach DeMarlo Hale will replace Brad Mills (now manager of the Astros) as bench coach.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
New York Mets contemplating playing regular-season games in Puerto Rico during 2010 season — Major League Baseball is negotiating with a promoter about playing regular-season games in Puerto Rico for the 2010 season, likely involving the Mets as the visiting team, the Daily News has learned.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases, MetsBlog.com, Pro Baseball Central, Athletics Nation, MLB Daily Dish and TedQuarters.net
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Rob Bradford / Full Count:
JD Drew explains his surgery — J.D. Drew's initial reaction when asked about having surgery on his left shoulder last Thursday? — “What surgery?” — But then, after a brief explanation that word had come out regarding the procedure, Drew relented. The Red Sox' outfielder hadn't wanted …
Jason Reid / Redskins Insider:
Betts has torn ACL and MCL — Although the Redskins have not yet reviewed the results of Ladell Betts's MRI that was scheduled this morning, they believe he has suffered torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments and will undergo season-ending surgery, a league source said.
Discussion:
DC Pro Sports Report
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Veteran Guardado wants to pitch in 2010 — Reliever feels strong after knee rehabilitation program — ARLINGTON — Left-handed reliever Eddie Guardado, who spent the last two years pitching out of the Rangers bullpen, wants to pitch again. — Guardado, who talked about retiring at the end …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tom Haudricourt / Baseball America:
Milwaukee Brewers Top 10 Prospects — Milwaukee Brewers … Under former scouting director Jack Zduriencik, who's now the Mariners' general manager, the Brewers focused on hitters in the draft and succeeded in advancing several to the big leagues. Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder form …
Phil Rosenthal / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' next major hire: marketing guru — Media — Sports marketing and sponsorship guru Wally Hayward's schedule was more or less booked for the next 6 1/2 years until the International Olympic Committee decided Chicago wasn't its kind of town for the 2016 Games.
