Top News:
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:
Pinstripe Alley, Amazin' Avenue and Lookout Landing
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Associated Press:
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:
Yahoo Sports, Over the Monster, Surviving Grady, baseballmusings.com 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:
Yahoo Sports, Bluebird Banter, Camden Chat and Lookout Landing
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
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs give Theo Epstein a five-year extension — Cubs' President Theo Epstein discusses his five-year contract extension. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — President Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs have agreed on a five-year contract extension.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Nation, FanGraphs Baseball and CBS Chicago
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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
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
White Sox will retain Robin Ventura, if he wants to return
White Sox will retain Robin Ventura, if he wants to return
Discussion:
South Side Sox, CBS Chicago, The Athletic, MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo Sports and MLB Trade Rumors
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:
Amazin' Avenue, ESPN, Faith and Fear in Flushing, Fish Stripes and St. Louis Post-Dispatch
RELATED:
Andre C. Fernandez / miamiherald:
Marlins outfielder turned down invitation for ride on Jose Fernandez's boat
Marlins outfielder turned down invitation for ride on Jose Fernandez's boat
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, ESPN, NESN.com, Fox Sports, USA Today and Bleacher Report
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
Jon Heyman / Todays Knuckleball:
Indians' Brantley could miss significant time in 2017 — Sources familiar with Cleveland Indians outfielder Michael Brantley's shoulder surgery suggest they believe it is quite serious, and that he could in fact miss significant time next season. Word based on those sources is that “they had to re-anchor the muscle to the bone.”
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and Bleacher Report
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:
AZ Snake Pit, Federal Baseball and CBS DC
New York Daily News:
Mets closer Jeurys Familia becomes first Dominican-born pitcher to save 50 games — MIAMI — They were not sure Jeurys Familia could do the job. In April 2015, when Terry Collins and Dan Warthen approached him about closing after Jenrry Mejia was busted for PED use, they knew Familia …
Discussion:
Newsday, Amazin' Avenue and New York Post