Ballbug: Robin Ventura mum on staying with White Sox; report says it's up to him (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)

12:10 PM ET, September 29, 2016

Top News:

Teixeira Hits Game-Winning Slam, Yankees Stun Red Sox 5-3 — NEW YORK — His playing days dwindling, Mark Teixeira gave himself a moment to savor Wednesday night and rescued the New York Yankees in the process. — Teixeira hit a game-winning grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning …

Discussion: baseballmusings.com, Over the Monster, Surviving Grady and Lone Star Ball

Associated Press:

Kim Hits Pinch-Hit HR, Orioles Beat Jays 3-2 — TORONTO — Hyun Soo Kim hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth inning off Roberto Osuna, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Toronto 3-2 on Wednesday night to move within one game of the AL wild card-leading Blue Jays.

Discussion: Camden Chat and Yahoo Sports

Jay Schreiber / New York Times:

Baseball Playoffs: Thursday Update — The Boston Red Sox lost dramatically on Wednesday night on a two-out ninth-inning grand-slam home run by the Yankees' Mark Teixeira. But they captured the American League East title anyway because the Toronto Blue Jays also lost on a dramatic ninth-inning home run …

Discussion: Lookout Landing and Amazin' Avenue

Associated Press:

Miami Leads Fernandez From Marlins Park; Mets Win 5-2 — MIAMI — The Marlins walked half a block alongside a hearse carrying their ace away from Marlins Park at the start of a funeral motorcade Wednesday, and then peeled away with watery eyes to go back inside and play a game.

Discussion: ESPN, Faith and Fear in Flushing, Amazin' Avenue and Fish Stripes

Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mozeliak: ‘Porous’ defense will be addressed in offseason

Discussion: MLB Daily Dish and MLB Trade Rumors

Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Cardinals' Aledmys Diaz hits emotional grand slam, honors Jose Fernandez

Discussion: Viva El Birdos, NESN.com, Bleacher Report, SI.com and Baseball Is Fun

Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:

Robin Ventura mum on staying with White Sox; report says it's up to him — Photos of the manager and former White Sox third baseman. — Chicago Tribune — If Robin Ventura is truly in control of his own future with the White Sox, the fifth-year manager wasn't ready to reveal his fate …

Discussion: South Side Sox and CBS Chicago

Bob Nightengale / USA Today:

White Sox will retain Robin Ventura, if he wants to return — The Chicago White Sox have decided to retain manager Robin Ventura and will sign him to new contract providing Ventura wants to return, a high-ranking White Sox official told USA TODAY Sports. — The official spoke on the condition …

Discussion: CBS Chicago, South Side Sox, The Athletic, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Trade Rumors and Yahoo Sports

Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:

Royals beat the Twins, are eliminated from the playoffs after Baltimore beats Toronto — Salvador Perez cradled his newborn son, Johan, in his arms as he paced a corner of the clubhouse on late Wednesday night. For a moment, he rocked the boy, back and forth, a smile appearing on his face.

Discussion: Royals Review and Kansas City

Associated Press:
Royals Win, but Officially Eliminated From Postseason

Discussion: Twinkie Town

Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated Longform:

David Ortiz — David, you decided before this season that this would be your last year. But nobody has ever walked away from this game with more than 30 homers and more than 100 RBIs, which you're doing in your last year—and you're slugging over .600. So why are you walking away?

Discussion: Boston Sports Media Watch

Josh Norris / Baseball America:

2016 Northwest League Top 20 Prospects - Tooled-Up Outfielders Lead The Way — A year ago, No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson helped Hillsboro win its second straight Northwest League championship en route to earning top prospect honors. He's already a big leaguer after being traded to the Braves.

Discussion: Lone Star Ball

Associated Press:

Jaso Hits for Cycle as Pirates Beat Cubs 8-4 — PITTSBURGH — Coming around second base in the seventh inning of the Pittsburgh Pirates' 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night, John Jaso stumbled. — Then, he went for it. — Ninety feet later, Jaso was safe at third base …

Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue and Bucs Dugout

Associated Press:

Diamondbacks Beat Nationals in Rain-Shortened Game — By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSSEPT. 29, 2016, 12:12 A.M. E.D.T. — WASHINGTON — With Stephen Strasburg not expected to pitch in the National League Division Series and Joe Ross not yet fully stretched out after a two-month layoff …

Discussion: Federal Baseball and CBS DC

Associated Press:

Cano's Homers Mariners Top Astros 12-4 to Press Playoff Bid — HOUSTON — Robinson Cano continued his dominance against the Houston Astros on Wednesday to keep Seattle's playoff hopes alive. — Cano hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and the Mariners kept pressure …

Discussion: The Crawfish Boxes and baseballmusings.com