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Fox Sports:
Francona expected to leave Red Sox — Terry Francona will meet with Red Sox management on Friday morning, and the expected resolution is that he no longer will be the team's manager, major league sources say. — While Francona's departure is not certain, it is the likely outcome …
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Francona, Red Sox meeting this morning; he will be out as manager — What seemed evident yesterday is expected to become final today with the Red Sox and Terry Francona parting ways after eight seasons. — The manager will meet with GM Theo Epstein and ownership at 10 a.m. today …
Discussion:
The Detroit Tiger Weblog, Pinstriped Bible …, SawxBlog, Deadspin, ESPN, Baseball Nation and New York Yankees Fan Blog
Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun Times:
Francona wants out of Boston; White Sox are logical landing spot — TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 5: Manager Terry Francona of the Boston Red Sox looks on during batting practice prior to MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays September 5, 2011 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Discussion:
Full Count, WEEI, NESN.com, Over the Monster, HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Post-mortem leaves question of Francona's future unanswered — For nearly 33 minutes yesterday, Red Sox manager Terry Francona sat next to general manager Theo Epstein on a small stage in a crowded room at Fenway Park and took questions about how the 2011 team had so utterly failed.
Discussion:
Associated Press and The Soxaholix
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
As Francona departs, who is next? — Here at Fenway Park for the stakeout. — John Henry and Terry Francona are inside. DeMarlo Hale is here, too. — It's probably just a matter of how they word the press release at this point. — When Theo Epstein last hired a manager …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Steve Silva / The Buzz:
Terry Francona reportedly could be out as Red Sox manager
Discussion:
Baseball Nerd
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Dream year ends in tatters
Discussion:
Bats, NESN.com, Yahoo! Sports, The Big Lead, Deadspin, ESPN, Associated Press, Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports
Jackie MacMullan / ESPN:
Unlikable Red Sox flunked chemistry — Somehow the team became what it once abhorred — arrogant, complacent and entitled — You can wring your hands all you want over whether Jonathan Papelbon served up the wrong pitch to Robert Andino or why Marco Scutaro hesitated just long enough …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Report: Red Sox pitchers drank beer during games on their off days
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated and Al's Ramblings
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays pick rookie Matt Moore to start Game 1 of AL Division Series — ARLINGTON, Texas — Of course they are. — In picking among three potential starters for today's opening game of the best-of-five AL Division Series, the Rays made the most unconventional and boldest choice …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Sports Illustrated, Bats and Brew Crew Ball
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers need to swing for the fences on new deal with Matt Kemp — The Dodgers will probably need to pay close to $200 million to keep the star center fielder in Los Angeles. And they'll need to move quickly. The question is, do they have the resources?
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Los Angeles Times
Jennifer Mann / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards broadcaster McLaughlin cited for drunk driving — Cardinals broadcaster Dan McLaughlin has been cited for drunken driving for the second time after a stop by Chesterfield police on Sunday. Police said McLaughlin, 37, was stopped at 10:13 p.m. on Baxter Road and Isleview Drive after he crashed his vehicle.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and The Big Lead
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Analysis: 2011 MLB Playoff Teams By Player Payroll — Baseball is broken. That's what they say. It's only teams with high payrolls that have a shot. Well... With heart-stopping excitement that the baseball gods gave us on the final day of the 2011 MLB season now in the books, the postseason is now set.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Ben Lindbergh / Baseball Prospectus:
NLDS Preview: Phillies vs. Cardinals — Why the Phillies Will Win: The Phillies boast the best pitching staff in baseball and can throw three of the NL's top 10 starters in four of five possible games. Should they fail to sweep, they'll be forced to hold their nose, avert their eyes, and hand the ball to... Roy Oswalt.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
A.J. Daulerio / Deadspin:
The Photos Of Yankees GM Brian Cashman That Broke Up A Marriage — No, there are no photos of Cashman's actual dong to show you—not that we know of—but now the story of Cash's dong's wayward habits is news. The Yankees general manager's relationship with the woman in these photos …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com and IT IS HIGH!
Associated Press:
Offense drops to two-decade low — NEW YORK — If you thought the 2011 season seemed like a throwback, you were right. — Offense dropped to a level not seen since Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling were dominating on the mound. — Nearly two decades later, Justin Verlander …
Discussion:
ESPN
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