Top News:
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Inside Baseball: 25 heroes for 2015; plus notes from all over MLB — Here goes, our 25 heroes of 2015 ... Not only did he win the winter, he won the summer, too. It was his relentless pursuit of Josh Donaldson, a player who wasn't believed to be available, that netted the probable AL MVP.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, MLB Daily Dish and Talking Chop
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Heyman's Latest: D-Backs, Freeman, O's, Samardzija — Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has published his latest Inside Baseball column and begins by taking a look at his 25 “heroes” of the 2015 season. Here are some highlights from the rest of the piece... - Adding a top-tier starting pitcher …
Discussion:
Full Count
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets move closer to playoffs with 6-4 over Reds, magic number down to three — METS 6, REDS 4 — CINCINNATI — Daniel Murphy had been locked in for the last week, but he knew the Mets were missing those big, clutch hits. So when he rounded second in the seventh inning and drove toward third …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, New York Post, New Jersey Online and Amazin' Avenue
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Marc Carig / Newsday:
Mets' bats come alive as 6-4 win shaves magic number to 3
Mets' bats come alive as 6-4 win shaves magic number to 3
Discussion:
Newsday, Amazin' Avenue and NorthJersey.com
Associated Press:
Cole Outpitches Lester, Leads Pirates Over Cubs 3-2 — CHICAGO — Gerrit Cole outpitched Jon Lester as the Pittsburgh Pirates hung on for their seventh straight win, beating Chicago 3-2 Friday to delay the Cubs' playoff celebration. — Pittsburgh increased its lead for the NL's top wild card …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, Bleed Cubbie Blue and CBS Pittsburgh
David Adams / Reuters:
For a Major League Hair Cut, Baseball Players Pick Miami's Juice — MIAMI — Before Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez takes the mound Friday night seeking to make pitching history, his pre-game ritual will involve a trip to the barbershop. — Not just any barber, however.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
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Michael Lananna / Baseball America:
2015 New York-Penn League Top 20 Prospects — NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE TOP 20 PROSPECTS — In their first season in the short-season New York-Penn League, West Virginia won the league championship, taking down Staten Island in two games. — It wasn't an easy road for the Black Bears …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues and Bucs Dugout
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
“I've pitched fine on the road,” Gray said. “I just can't find that whatever it is to make an adjustment and pitch in this place.” — The Denver Post — Jon Gray (55) of the Colorado Rockies works in the first inning against the San Diego Padres during a National League west game at Coors Field.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Jeff Sullivan / Fox Sports:
The attempted reinvention of Elvis Andrus — There's no simple explanation for why the Rangers are in first place in the AL West. I mean, there kind of is, if you accept “they have the best record” as an explanation, but for explaining that record — it's complicated.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Lone Star Ball
Mike Petriello / MLB.com:
Fastball velocity of 97.26 mph best in NL since All-Star break — 9/15/15: Carlos Martinez permits one run on four hits over eight innings, striking out nine and walking just two in the Cardinals' win — There was a time when it wasn't certain Carlos Martinez would ever even be in the St. Louis Cardinals' rotation.
Discussion:
101Sports.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Name Frank Wren Senior VP Of Baseball Operations — The Red Sox announced this afternoon that former Braves GM Frank Wren has been hired as the team's senior vice president of baseball operations. Wren, 57, worked with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski previously in the Marlins and Expos organizations.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Associated Press:
Manfred Meets With Rose on Reinstatement Application — NEW YORK — Pete Rose has made his case for reinstatement with Commissioner Rob Manfred, who promised a decision by the end of December. — Major League Baseball said the meeting with the career hits leader and his representatives took place Thursday …
Associated Press:
Crowned! Royals Clinch AL Central by Beating Mariners 10-4 — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No unexpected wild-card ride into October this year. The Kansas City Royals are division champs for the first time in three decades — and they want a whole lot more. — Johnny Cueto earned his first win …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, Royals Review, South Side Sox, baseballmusings.com and Lookout Landing
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Greg Holland Has “Significant” Tear In UCL; Tommy John Surgery Likely
Greg Holland Has “Significant” Tear In UCL; Tommy John Surgery Likely
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Baseball Prospectus, Royals Review and MLB Daily Dish
Jeff Sullivan / Fox Sports:
The importance of not having bad players — Think you could be a general manager? I think, in the beginning, a lot of people think they could do the job. Then, later on, they come to learn of the complexity, and fewer remain so confident. Being a general manager is incredibly difficult, support staff be damned.
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
John Manuel / Baseball America:
Unheralded September Callups Have Their Own Stories — In the Year of the Prospect, many rookies were expected and hotly anticipated. — BA staffers got giddy when Kris Bryant made the majors, even more for Addison Russell and Carlos Correa, and continued during a season that saw Kyle Schwarber …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors