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:
Projo Sox Blog, The Captain's Blog, HardballTalk, Ultimate Astros, baseballmusings.com and ESPN
Ian Begley / ESPN:
Yankees' Rivera sets MLB mark with 602nd save — NEW YORK — It's been said again and again over his 16-year career. And now it's official: Mariano Rivera is the top closer in baseball history. — Rivera — The seemingly ageless right-hander recorded his 602nd career save on Monday …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Yahoo! Sports, Pinstripe Alley and Yankees Daily
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Associated Press:
Red Sox wild-card lead cut to 1 1/2 after loss to Orioles — NEW YORK — Mariano Rivera stood by himself, in the centre of the diamond at Yankee Stadium. — For once, the great closer wasn't sure what to do next. — So he smiled, blew a kiss to the crowd, and then doffed his cap …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
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:
MLB Rumors, NotGraphs Baseball, Angels blog, HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
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Sam Miller / Angels blog:
As goes Vernon Wells, so goes Vernon Wells' Twitter account — Last night, I stumbled across Vernon Wells' “too blessed to be stressed” tweet. It was a relic from a simpler, more optimistic time, when no matter how badly Vernon Wells was hitting we could reassure ourselves that the sample size …
Discussion:
Drunk Jays Fans
Peter Schmuck / Baltimore Sun:
Reynolds thinks Angels' Santana hit him on purpose
Reynolds thinks Angels' Santana hit him on purpose
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Carp's 5 RBIs Lead Mariners Past Indians 12-6 — CLEVELAND (AP) — Mike Carp hit a grand slam into the second deck in right field and drove in five runs during Seattle's nine-run third inning, leading the Mariners to a rain-shortened 12-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Monday.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and Associated Press
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
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Kerry Wood out for 2011, may retire — CHICAGO — Cubs relief pitcher Kerry Wood said he has a torn meniscus in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season, and he said if the Cubs aren't interested in bringing him back next season he'll retire.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
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
Cards boost playoff hopes
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball, The Good Phight and Phillies Nation
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 and Halos Heaven
David Waldstein / New York Times:
Investor Talked to Mets but Buys Part of Yankees — Ray Bartoszek, a longtime Mets fan and former oil trader who was a finalist to buy a significant stake in the Mets earlier this year, has instead emerged as the newest limited partner with the Yankees, according to two people with knowledge of the transaction.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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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