Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Royals and Giants Make It a Wild-Card World Series — A hard-luck American League wild-card team wins a long-awaited pennant at home in the late afternoon. The next night, the wild-card San Francisco Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals with a game-ending hit to clinch a pennant of their own.
Discussion:
Royals Review
RELATED:
Phil Rogers / MLB.com:
Two Wild Card teams are meeting in Fall Classic for first time under new format — 10/16/14: The Giants' Madison Bumgarner discusses his outing against the Cardinals in Game 5 and winning the NLCS MVP Award — Welcome to the wild, wild Wild Card World Series.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Baseball Prospectus and Royals Review
Andy McCulloughthe / Kansas City Star:
Royals enjoy honeymoon as the wait for the World Series begins
Royals enjoy honeymoon as the wait for the World Series begins
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Ishikawa's three-run HR in ninth clinches third league crown since '10
Ishikawa's three-run HR in ninth clinches third league crown since '10
Discussion:
USA Today, Halos Heaven and HardballTalk
John Branch / New York Times:
Shot Brings Echo of '51: Giants Win the Pennant
Shot Brings Echo of '51: Giants Win the Pennant
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, McCovey Chronicles, Red Reporter, The Good Phight and Gaslamp Ball
NY Daily News:
Could the Yankees ever be Royals? Young and athletic K.C. is everything that Bombers are not — In this post-steroids era of declining offense, especially home runs, it's a greatly changing game, with the formula for winning having shifted to athleticism, defense and, most importantly, a shutdown, power-arm bullpen.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com Sports News …:
Josh Byrnes seen as a leading candidate for job below Friedman in LA — Josh Byrnes, the former general manager of the Diamondbacks and Padres, is seen as a leading candidate for the top executive job under new club president Andrew Friedman with the Dodgers, league sources said.
Discussion:
U-T San Diego stories, True Blue LA and HardballTalk
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Sources: Dodgers ask Byrnes about GM job
Sources: Dodgers ask Byrnes about GM job
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Associated Press
William Boor / MLB.com:
Twins prospect Rosario flashes speed as Peoria, Salt River play to 11-inning draw — 10/17/14: With Zach Cooper on the mound, the broadcast explains that arriving at a set position is enough to satisfy the pitch clock — SCOTTSDALE — The Salt River Rafters and Peoria Javelinas were tied …
Discussion:
Minor League Ball and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Pitch clock set at 20 seconds for delivery used for first time at Salt River Fields
Pitch clock set at 20 seconds for delivery used for first time at Salt River Fields
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and Purple Row
Teddy Cahill / MLB.com:
Glendale-Salt River to use 20-second timer in game streamed live on MLB.com
Glendale-Salt River to use 20-second timer in game streamed live on MLB.com
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Cubs Den, True Blue LA, Purple Row, AZ Snake Pit and Brew Crew Ball
Nick Cafardo / The Boston Globe:
Hitting coaches blamed for lack of offense — Hitting coach jobs are available in Atlanta, Boston, New York (both teams), and Milwaukee, and the Cubs and Astros fired their hitting coaches then hired new ones (John Mallee in Chicago, Dave Hudgens in Houston).
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, HardballTalk, MLB Trade Rumors and Amazin' Avenue
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Is Buster Posey the next Derek Jeter? — San Francisco Giants catcher chasing his third World Series title in five seasons — So ... do you think Derek Jeter is starting to get jealous of Buster Posey? — He probably should be. Because if you just substitute wholesome family dude …
Discussion:
ESPN
Greg Johns / MLB.com:
After comeback campaign, veteran pitcher sure to draw interest this offseason — 8/17/14: Chris Young fires six scoreless innings vs. the Tigers, fanning four batters and allowing just four hits to push his record to 12-6 — SEATTLE — Chris Young's season with the Mariners didn't begin the way he hoped.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Brown's future with Phillies uncertain after trying season — 9/16/14: Domonic Brown drives a solo home run to deep right off Ian Kennedy to cut the Phillies' deficit to one run — PHILADELPHIA — Domonic Brown entered this year confident and ready to build upon his 2013 breakout season.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Club can wait until after World Series to pick up $9 million option on center fielder — 9/28/14: Denard Span's double in the bottom of the 3rd inning sets the Nationals' single-season record for hits in a season with 184 — WASHINGTON — Nationals center fielder Denard Span is still waiting …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and HardballTalk
Baseball America:
2014 Draft Report Cards: Reviewing The Draft Classes … We put the final bow on the 2014 draft with our annual team-by-team review of all the selections and how the players' professional careers have started. As instructional leagues closed, editor-in-chief John Manuel …
Discussion:
Cubs Den and Royals Review
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Dombrowski told that Iglesias ‘will be fine’ for 2015 — The Tigers' biggest acquisition this off-season probably won't be a free agent, a high-priced starter or a high-priced slugger, nor come from the minor leagues or via trade. — Their biggest acquisition this off-season already is on the team — shortstop Jose Iglesias.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, CBSSports.com and HardballTalk