Top News:
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Your Morning Phil: Sveum, Girardi and a farewell — On Baseball — Talking baseball while pitying the fools who passed on Peyton Manning in their fantasy leagues: — 1. Dale Sveum seems likely to be fired today, and to his credit hasn't come close to pulling an Eric Wedge.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
What's in the immediate future for the Yankees? — HOUSTON — Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera faded to black, the ceremonies and tears finally at an end. — Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter exited to mystery. Are they the once and future double-play combo?
Discussion:
Pinstriped Bible, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and River Avenue Blues
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Andy Pettitte caps career with CG win
Andy Pettitte caps career with CG win
Discussion:
Associated Press and The Crawfish Boxes
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Alvarez in the Ninth — Henderson Alvarez comes out for the top of the ninth inning, pitching a no-hitter in a scoreless game. He'll face the pitcher's spot, Don Kelly, and Andy Dirks as the Tigers and Marlins continue to look for offense. — Update: Alex Avila pinch hits and grounds back to the pitcher.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Fish Stripes and Bless You Boys
RELATED:
Clark Spencer / MiamiHerald.com:
Henderson Alvarez closes Miami Marlins season with no-hitter — After the lone run scores on a wild pitch, Henderson Alvarez secured the fifth no-hitter in team history on the last game of the season. — Detroit Tigers catcher Brayan Pena was the first to sense it when the pitch squirted past his glove.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Yanks Top Astros 5-1 in 14, Enter Uncertain Future — HOUSTON — Mark Reynolds hit a tiebreaking homer in a four-run 14th inning, and the New York Yankees went into an offseason of uncertainty Sunday with a 5-1 victory over the Houston Astros, whose 15-game losing streak was the longest at the end of the season in more than a century.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, CBS New York and Canadian Press
RELATED:
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Dodgers shut down Matt Kemp — LOS ANGELES — Just days before their first playoff appearance in four seasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers learned Sunday they'll be without center fielder Matt Kemp throughout the postseason. — A Sunday morning MRI to Kemp's injured left ankle showed significant swelling …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Sims, Elander earn top Minor League honors — ATLANTA — Rookie left-hander Alex Wood appears headed for a key role on the Braves' postseason pitching staff, and in the final week of the regular season, two more of Atlanta's top picks in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft were recognized earlier …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Five Teams That Could Sign Jose Abreu — Major League Baseball and the U.S. government have given Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu the green light to sign. — International scouts already have formed strong opinions about Abreu, who has been one of the most heavily-scouted Cuban players in recent years …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, Bucs Dugout, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals set RISP record — • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285 — In a fitting finish to a record-setting season with runners in scoring position, the Cardinals went four for nine in such situations Sunday and scored all their runs in a 4-0 win over the Cubs with two outs.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
TSN.ca:
Blue Jays host Rays with wild card spot on the line — The Sports Network — (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays appeared headed toward a postseason spot this weekend, but losing the first two meetings of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays has their playoff fate in a cloud.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, Minor League Ball, Canadian Press, baseballmusings.com and DRaysBay
RELATED:
Rick Eymer / MLB.com:
Headley played through knee pain, will have surgery — Operation to repair third baseman's torn meniscus slated for Tuesday — SAN FRANCISCO — Playing through a knee injury all season, without complaining or making excuses, is another reason Chase Headley is one of the leaders of the San Diego Padres, manager Bud Black said Sunday.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Oakland Shuts Out Seattle 9-0 in Finale — SEATTLE — Sonny Gray threw five shutout innings in his final start before the playoffs, Oakland had a pair of four-run innings and the Athletics closed out the regular season with a 9-0 win over Seattle in Eric Wedge's final game as Mariners manager.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and Athletics Nation
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Mike Piazza returns to enter Mets Hall of Fame as chilly relationships begin to thaw — Will his return to Queens on Sunday for the induction signal the beginning of a phase in which the former Met catcher inches toward becoming a more regular presence? — This happens when a memory is so intense …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Metsblog and ESPN
RELATED:
Mark Herrmann / Newsday:
Mike Piazza to be inducted into Mets Hall of Fame Sunday
Mike Piazza to be inducted into Mets Hall of Fame Sunday
Discussion:
Metsblog
Canadian Press:
Fresh off new $90M deal, Pence leads Giants over Padres — SAN FRANCISCO — Hunter Pence followed his first long-term contract with his first game-ending hit with San Francisco. — Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles