Top News:
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Russell Martin: ‘I hate the Red Sox’ — NEW YORK — Adding fuel to baseball's bitterest rivalry, New York Yankees catcher Russell Martin said he hates the Boston Red Sox and would relish adding to their misery by helping to eliminate them from the playoffs during this weekend's series between the two teams.
Discussion:
New York Times, New York Yankees Fan Blog, ESPN.com, New Jersey Online and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Rod Barajas isn't so different from Russell Martin — Martin got off to a fast start with the Yankees, but the catchers' statistics have been similar over the course of the season. — Dodgers catcher Rod Barajas has his mask knocked off after being hit with a foul ball against Arizona during the ninth inning of a game last week.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and MLB.com
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Spoiling for a fight — NEW YORK - Facing the Red Sox, even in a race to the postseason, often makes players dance around questions. Not so for Russell Martin. — “Anything to get the Red Sox out,” the Yankees catcher said yesterday before facing the Rays. “That would be awesome for me.”
Discussion:
Toeing the Rubber, Associated Press and Boston Globe
Associated Press:
Red Sox Still Have Edge for Wild Card Despite Flop
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Associated Press
John Tomase / Clubhouse Insider:
Source: Sox made play for Mets' Capuano
Discussion:
Boston Herald, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Over the Monster, WEEI and MetsBlog.com
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Source: Boston eyed Chris Capuano
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, New York Post, Red Sox Monster, New Jersey Online, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Tiebreakers could come into play
Discussion:
Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
What if there's a tie? — As of this morning, the Red Sox …
Discussion:
FenwayNationWorld
Beth Harris / Associated Press:
Dodgers dent Giants' playoff hopes with 8-2 win — LOS ANGELES—Matt Kemp went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer and a career-high three doubles in his final home game of the season, Juan Rivera homered and drove in three runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat San Francisco 8-2 Thursday night …
Discussion:
True Blue LA and Associated Press
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Beth Harris / Associated Press:
Giants lose to Dodgers 8-2, denting playoff hopes — LOS ANGELES—Time is running out on the San Francisco Giants' playoff hopes, and they didn't help themselves by failing to win on a night when first-place Arizona was idle. — The Los Angeles Dodgers won 8-2 to clinch the series Thursday night …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
AP: Florida's Leo Nunez has been playing under an assumed name — Leo Nunez(notes) is apparently not who we thought he was. — The Associated Press reports that the Florida Marlins closer and Dominican native has been playing under an assumed name for all seven of his years in Major League Baseball …
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Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
The Marlins place Leo Nunez on the restricted list
Discussion:
MiamiHerald.com, The Big Lead, MLB Daily Dish and Yahoo! Sports
Mitch Albom / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers Justin Verlander undoubtedly most ‘valuable’ player … Go on. Get out your scale. — Forget that we are from Detroit. Forget that we love the Tigers. Put your guys on one side and Justin Verlander on the other. — And let's see who's MVP. — Forget that Verlander is the best theater in baseball right now.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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ESPN:
Manny Ramirez seeks reinstatement — Manny Ramirez, upon learning he will not be able to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic because he's on MLB's inactive list, told ESPNdeportes.com Thursday that he will formally request reinstatement. — Ramirez said that upon reentry …
Discussion:
Rays Index, NESN.com, HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, MLB Rumors, ESPN and MLB
RELATED:
Dan Connolly / Orioles Insider:
Guerrero chasing Dominican hits record; wants to play few more years
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
Sports closer to art than science — I won't be going to see “Moneyball.” The movie celebrates the plague ruining sports: sabermetrics. — That is not intended as a shot at Bill James, Billy Beane or Michael Lewis. — James (the inventor of sabermetrics) and Beane …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Crashburn Alley, THE BOOK, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Deadspin and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Joe Posnanski / Joe Blogs:
Moneyball The Movie
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Amazin' Avenue, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Baseball America and THE BOOK
Associated Press:
Mets rally for six runs in 9th inning to top Cardinals — ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals blew a four-run lead in the ninth inning and hurt their wild-card hopes when shortstop Rafael Furcal misplayed a potential double-play grounder, allowing the New York Mets to rally for an 8-6 win Thursday.
Discussion:
Associated Press
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Cardinals Extend Lance Berkman
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, MLB Daily Dish and Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Lee, Downs Power Astros to 9-6 Win Over Rockies — HOUSTON (AP) — Carlos Lee doubled and drove in four runs, pinch-hitter Matt Downs knocked in three more and the Houston Astros beat Colorado 9-6 Thursday night, extending the Rockies' losing streak to a season-high eight games.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Jeremy Lundblad / ESPN:
Numbers tell tale of sickening month — Historically bad September starting pitching is at the root of epic Red Sox collapse — The Boston Red Sox took another step toward collapse with Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. — The Red Sox dropped to 5-16 this month …
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, Providence Journal and Projo Sox Blog
MLB.com:
MLB and MLBPA will bring All-Star Series to Taiwan in November — MLB Players to Compete Against the Chinese Taipei National Team — Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) today announced that a team of Major Leaguers will travel to Taiwan …
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets brass begins to look at 2012 season, decisions to be made on Terry Collins, coaching staff — ST. LOUIS - The Mets returned to New York Thursday night for one final home stand, ready to intensify planning for 2012. According to team insiders, the front office will soon solidify decisions about next year's on-field leadership.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, ESPN, New York Times and MetsBlog.com
Associated Press:
Encarnacion hits walkoff homer as Jays beat Angels — (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette) — TORONTO—Edwin Encarnacion hit a game-ending home run in the 12th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Los Angeles 4-3 on Thursday night, dealing the Angels another blow in their chase for a playoff berth.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Roger Mooney / Boston Herald:
Rays playoff chances take another hit — NEW YORK — The situation could not look any bleaker for the Rays at about 4 p.m. Wednesday. They just lost a game they couldn't lose and they were facing CC Sabathia in the night portion of their day/night doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.
Discussion:
DRaysBay and Associated Press
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