Top News:
MLB.com:
Martin: ‘I hate the Red Sox’ — NEW YORK — Russell Martin's views on the American League Wild Card chase won't win him any buddies in Boston, but his sentiments should gather plenty of support in the Bronx. — Martin said on Thursday that he'd love to see the Yankees play spoiler …
Discussion:
YFSF
RELATED:
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 Yankees Fan Blog, New Jersey Online, ESPN.com and HardballTalk
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
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
RELATED:
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
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Lincecum prefers short-term deals
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
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:
Providence Journal, Beyond the Box Score and Projo Sox Blog
RELATED:
Ken Belson / New York Times:
Wild-Card Races in Boston and Atlanta Slow to Excruciating Crawls
Discussion:
Deadspin
Associated Press:
Red Sox Still Have Edge for Wild Card Despite Flop
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Associated Press
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Source: Boston eyed Chris Capuano
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, New York Post, Red Sox Monster, New Jersey Online, MLB Rumors, Clubhouse Insider and MLB Daily Dish
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
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Which free agent holds the most value? — Agent Scott Boras could become the biggest challenge the St. Louis Cardinals face in re-signing Albert Pujols. — No, Boras does not represent Pujols. Dan Lozano is Pujols' representative. — Boras does, however, represent Prince Fielder …
Conor Glassey / Baseball America:
2011 Northwest League Top 20 Prospects — The Blue Jays joined the short-season Northwest League this year with an affiliate in Vancouver and wasted little time making an impact. The Canadians boasted the league's top prospect in lefthander Justin Nicolino, and though he was promoted …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
2011 Pioneer League Top 20 Prospects
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com, Red Reporter, True Blue LA and Halos Heaven
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 …
RELATED:
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
The Marlins place Leo Nunez on the restricted list
Discussion:
MiamiHerald.com, The Big Lead, MLB Daily Dish and Yahoo! Sports
Jamey Newberg / MLB.com:
Newberg Report: Perez has bright future — Eighteen-year-old righty aims to rebound after tough campaign — Part 25 in a season-long series projecting a hypothetical 25-man roster made up solely of prospects from the Texas Rangers' Minor League system. — When Johan Santana was 18 years old …
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:
TSN.ca and Associated Press
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Cardinals Extend Lance Berkman
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, MLB Daily Dish and Yahoo! Sports
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Nationals' Bo Porter drawing managerial interest, will interview with the Marlins — The most pressing question concerning the Nationals' on-field staff revolves around whether Manager Davey Johnson will return next season. But the Nationals may have another question to answer …
Discussion:
Fish Tank blog, HardballTalk, MLB.com and MLB Rumors
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
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:
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:
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 …
