Top News:
R.J. Anderson / Baseball Prospectus:
NL Wild Card Game: Cardinals 6, Braves 3 — In an unfortunate turn of events, the first-ever Wild Card Game, and official 2012 postseason opener, will be known for an umpire's call rather than the competitive and exciting play between two good teams. — The call happened in the eighth inning.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Paul Newberry / Globe and Mail:
Cardinals beat Braves in disputed one-game playoff — David Freese and the St. Louis Cardinals rediscovered their postseason touch. Chipper Jones and the Braves kept throwing the ball away. And the Atlanta fans turned Turner Field into a trash heap. — They said anything could happen in baseball's first wild-card playoff.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Braves loading up wild-card roster with pitchers — ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves had 16 position players on their roster for Friday's wild-card game against St. Louis and kept three starting pitchers active. — Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he wanted to have Tim Hudson and Mike Minor available …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Infield Fly? — With men on fist and second with one out, Andrelton Simmons hits a pop up to shallow left. Pete Kozman goes out to get the ball, but gives up and the ball drops. The leftfield ump called an infield fly rule at the last second, however, and Simmons is out.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Uggla Play — Dan Uggla may have made the worst play I have seen. He bobbles a grounder from David Freese, but keeps the ball in front of him. He has time to throw out the runner, but throws the ball to the batting circle, the batter winding up on second.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
N.L.D.S.: Reds' Baker to Try to Close Out Former Team — Only 20 managers in baseball history have guided their teams to at least 1,500 victories. Among that group, all but two have won the World Series: Gene Mauch and Dusty Baker, who takes his Cincinnati Reds into a division series against his old team, the San Francisco Giants.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and Red Reporter
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Angels Extend Chris Iannetta — The Angels have agreed to sign catcher Chris Iannetta to a three-year extension, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times reports (Twitter links). The contract is worth $15.5MM, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). The deal keeps Iannetta off …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Halos Heaven, Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish
Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com:
Twins shake up coaching staff for next season — Steve Liddle had been with the Twins since 1987, the last two seasons as their third-base coach. (Getty) — MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins shook up their coaching staff on Thursday, as they did not offer 2013 contacts to bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and AaronGleeman.com
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La Velle E. Neal III / Twins Insider:
Twins coaching shakeup: Stelmaszek, Liddle, White, McWane out. Vavra, Ullger reassigned.
Twins coaching shakeup: Stelmaszek, Liddle, White, McWane out. Vavra, Ullger reassigned.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town and HardballTalk
MLB:
Francona excited about chance to lead Indians — CLEVELAND — A year away from managing has been enough for Terry Francona, who craves a chance to get back on the field and back inside a major league clubhouse. — The Cleveland Indians just might put him there.
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Boston Globe and Associated Press
Darren Rovell / MLB:
Tigers' Cabrera embracing Triple Crown frenzy — After securing the Triple Crown on the final game of the season, Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera has been cashing in. — He gets a piece of the pie from commemorative Triple Crown shirts, coins and photos and, on Friday night …
Discussion:
NESN.com and Associated Press
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Sox's Peavy hires Berry as agent — Jake Peavy has enlisted the help of an agent who has negotiated some of the biggest contracts with the Chicago White Sox as well as some of the most lucrative deals in major league baseball recently. — Jeff Berry of CAA will represent Peavy …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Extra Bases — It's official: Red Sox fire Bobby Valentine — The Red Sox have fired Bobby Valentine after the franchise's worst season in decades. The Sox were 69-93 and finished in last place in the American League East. — Not since 1934 have the Red Sox fired a manager after only one season.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Boston Globe, Bluebird Banter, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Over the Monster and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Receive De La Rosa, Sands From Dodgers
Red Sox Receive De La Rosa, Sands From Dodgers
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Boston Globe
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Sources: Ozzie Guillen's job in jeopardy as some with Miami Marlins condemn his managerial style — Manager Ozzie Guillen and some members of his coaching staff might have worked their last game for the Miami Marlins. — Owner Jeffrey Loria is getting pressure from his top baseball executives …
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, South Side Sox and MLB Rumors