Top News:
ESPN:
Research Notes … ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Down by nine games in early September, down by seven runs on the final day of the season. — And yet somehow, these Tampa Bay Rays made it to the playoffs. — Evan Longoria capped a startling comeback by hitting his second home run of the game …
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Amazin' Avenue, Baseball Nation, DRaysBay and ESPN
RELATED:
Ben Walker / Associated Press:
What a finish! Rays, Cards clinch playoff spots — Fans thrilled to a frenzied finish all over the majors on Wednesday night with a startling rally by the Tampa Bay Rays coupled with a Boston Red Sox collapse to get the Rays their American League wild card spot.
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Boston Globe, Phillies Nation, Baseball Prospectus, Yahoo! Sports and Boston Globe
Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Bill Buckner Strikes Again — The Boston Red Sox' odds of reaching the playoffs peaked on Sept. 3. Following a 12-7 win against the Texas Rangers, they held a 9-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays with 24 games to play, giving them a 99.6 percent chance of making the post-season.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, The Soxaholix and Red Sox Monster
Fox Sports:
Red Sox ultimately can't weather Rays — BALTIMORE — In 2007, the Tampa Bay Rays decided to add a little excitement to their drab, domed ballpark. — The team concluded that an over-the-wall catch was about the most scintillating play that could occur during the course of a baseball game.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, ESPN, Bats and Sports Illustrated
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Braves Complete Colossal Collapse, Lose to Phils — ATLANTA (AP) — With the season on the line, the Atlanta Braves couldn't get the final three outs. — Now, they'll have the whole winter to ponder an unprecedented collapse. — Braves closer Craig Kimbrel surrendered the tying run in the ninth …
Discussion:
Talking Chop, Phillies Nation, The Good Phight and TSN.ca
RELATED:
Paul Newberry / Associated Press:
One final loss, an epic collapse by the Braves — ATLANTA—Nearly an hour after one more loss in a historic collapse, Freddie Freeman walked through the Braves clubhouse still wearing his No. 5 uniform, as if he couldn't believe he'd be taking it off for the final time this year. — Indeed, the season is over.
Associated Press:
Kemp Makes History in LA's 7-5 Win Over D-Backs — PHOENIX (AP) — Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer to become the first Dodgers player in 70 years to lead the NL in home runs and RBIs, and Los Angeles held off a late rally to beat the playoff-bound Arizona Diamondbacks 7-5 on Wednesday night.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Hitless in last 46 at-bats, Velez sets dubious mark — PHOENIX (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Eugenio Velez has broken a modern-day major league record for a non-pitcher by going hitless in his final 46 at-bats. — Velez grounded out to second as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning …
Jon Paul Morosi / mlbbuzz:
Wakefield: “I definitely want to come back” in 2012 — No matter what happens to the Red Sox in their 162nd game - or 163rd, for that matter - Tim Wakefield isn't ready to call it a career. — Wakefield, 45, said in an interview Tuesday that he fully expects to return to the Red Sox next year.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Red Sox still working to add last-minute Game 163 starter, targeting Bruce Chen
Discussion:
Projo Sox Blog, Rays Index, Baseball Nation and Al's Ramblings
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Will Not Acquire Starter
Discussion:
WEEI, Rays Index, Fox Sports, joy of sox and Baseball Nation
Andrew Keh / New York Times:
Reyes Hits, Then Sits and Eventually Celebrates — Citi Field was expected to be the stage Wednesday for a bit of drama featuring one of baseball's most effervescent characters. — Jose Reyes was entering the last day of the regular season locked in a battle with Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers …
Discussion:
JSOnline
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Jose Reyes pulled after hit
Discussion:
ESPN, Faith and Fear in Flushing, New Jersey Online and Baseball Nation
Associated Press:
Perfect Greinke Gives Brewers Home-Field Advantage — MILWAUKEE (AP) — Zack Grienke capped a perfect season at home to help the Milwaukee Brewers clinch home-field advantage in the first round of playoffs with a 7-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Cardinals smoke Astros in final game — HOUSTON (AP) — Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals earned at least a tie for the NL wild card, beating the Houston Astros 8-0 on Wednesday night. — The Cardinals and Atlanta began the day even in the wild card race.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Associated Press and baseballmusings.com
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
MLB announces 2011 postseason schedule — CC Sabathia has started 12 games over the last four postseasons — in 2007 with the Indians, 2008 with the Brewers, and the last two years with the Yankees. He has pitched in November and is happy to hear that no one will pitch that month in 2011.
Discussion:
Hardball Times and Baseball Prospectus
Espn.Com / MLB:
Marlins start ‘new era,’ introduce skipper Guillen — MIAMI — Ozzie Guillen was introduced as the Florida Marlins' manager at a news conference before their final game of the 2011 season and last ever at Sun Life Stadum. — “Welcome to a new era in Marlins baseball,” owner Jeffrey Loria said …
Discussion:
Fish Stripes and ESPN.com
RELATED:
Joe Frisaro / The Fish Pond:
Guillen's deal for four years
Discussion:
Palm Beach Post, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Larry Granillo / Baseball Prospectus:
Farewell, [Current Marlins Stadium Name]
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Tolman ends tenure as Indians bench coach — Cleveland plans to shift Alomar to role alongside Acta next year — DETROIT — Tim Tolman has decided the time has come to leave the Indians' bench. — On Wednesday, Cleveland announced that Tolman and the team mutually agreed that he would step …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
