Top News:
Carl Crawford / ESPN:
Crawford diary: 'Sorry for the year I've had' — Boston Red Sox left fielder Carl Crawford has kept a diary all season for ESPNBoston.com. In this final installment, he talks about how a Tampa Bay Rays comeback would devastate him, what Boston needs to do to get to the playoffs and how he handles hecklers.
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Yahoo! Sports:
Epstein's blunders paved way for Boston's collapse — It is difficult to figure out the proper spelling of how a choke sounds. Is it ggggaaahhh? Or ccccccchhhhh? Maybe aaaaaack? In lieu of a proper answer, perhaps it's best to go with something anyone can spell and on which everyone should agree: B-O-S-T-O-N.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Projo Sox Blog, The Yankee Analysts, HardballTalk, ESPN and Ultimate Astros
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Theriot gets a rare start — PHILADELPHIA • Ryan Theriot found his way into the starting lineup Sunday night for only the third time this month as he received an opportunity against Philadelphia Phillies lefthander Cole Hamels. — Unseated as Cardinals starting shortstop …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
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Associated Press:
Cards boost playoff hopes — Cardinals 5, Phillies 0 — Philadelphia — Allen Craig hit two homers and drove in three runs, Chris Carpenter gave up eight hits in eight innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals improved their playoff chances with a 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday night.
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball, The Good Phight and Phillies Nation
Sports Illustrated:
The current favorites for Fielder … Brewers star first baseman Prince Fielder is generally considered one of the three mega free agents of the 2011-12 offseason, along with Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes. But so far Fielder's impending free agency hasn't garnered quite the publicity as the other two.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Wells doesn't expect to opt out of contract — BALTIMORE - The ink was barely dry on the seven-year, $126 million contract extension Vernon Wells signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in December 2006 before it was being called one of the worst contracts in baseball.
Discussion:
NotGraphs Baseball, Angels blog, HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
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Peter Schmuck / Baltimore Sun:
Reynolds thinks Angels' Santana hit him on purpose — Orioles third baseman was plunked on head by Los Angeles starter Saturday — First baseman Mark Reynolds was out of the starting lineup Sunday for precautionary reasons after he was hit in the head by Los Angeles Angels pitcher Ervin Santana …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Joe Frisaro / The Fish Pond:
High-profile names on Marlins wish list — Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Jose Reyes headline the list of potential free agent position players expected to hit the market after the World Series. — Already, all three have been mentioned as possible targets of the Marlins.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish, Purple Row and MLB Rumors
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Tribe finalizes Thome deal with Twins — MINNEAPOLIS — The Indians brought Jim Thome back to Cleveland once already. Whether or not the team will try do so again this coming offseason remains undetermined. — First, Thome has to decide if the time has come to hang up his spikes …
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Bill Mitchell / Baseball America:
2011 Arizona League Top 20 Prospects — The Rookie-level Arizona League expanded for a third straight year, increasing to 13 teams in 2011 with the Diamondbacks adding a third short-season affiliate to play at their new Salt River Fields training complex. The addition of four clubs since 2008 …
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com
Associated Press:
Verlander improves to 24-5 with 12th straight win — OAKLAND, Calif. — Justin Verlander won his 12th straight start, pitching three-hit ball over eight innings to become the first pitcher in nine years to reach 24 wins and lead the AL Central champion Detroit Tigers over the Oakland Athletics 3-0 Sunday.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and Athletics Nation
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price “fine” after taking line drive off chest — A team trainer tends to David Price as manager Joe Maddon and concerned teammates look on in the third inning. — BOSTON — LHP David Price got a big scare, a bruise on his chest and an afternoon visit …
Discussion:
Rays Index and Empyreal Environs
Jim Armstrong / On the Rox:
Stewart: Denver is ‘where I want to be’ — With his lost season in the books, Ian Stewart looms as a classic case of a player who needs a change of scenery. — But, for the record, he doesn't want one. — “The Rockies are where I want to be,” said Stewart. “Honestly, I don't need a chance of scenery.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Globe and Mail:
Blue Jays better Yanks in rubber match — Adam Lind stroked two solo homers and starter Brandon Morrow was brilliant over eight innings as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 3-0 on Sunday. — It was a glorious afternoon for a late summer game and Lind gave the 34,657 fans …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
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