Top News:
Associated Press:
Estrada, Blue Jays Romp in ALDS Opener at Texas, Bautista HR — ARLINGTON, Texas — Marco Estrada took a shutout into the ninth inning, Jose Bautista hit a long, punctuating three-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays opened their AL Division Series rematch with a 10-1 romp over the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Diana Mehta / Globe and Mail:
Man alleged to have tossed beer during Jays game comes forward — The man alleged by police to have hurled a beer can at a Baltimore outfielder during Tuesday's dramatic playoff between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Orioles has come forward. — “I contacted Toronto police earlier this evening …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
After Buck Showalter's Plan Fizzled, Questions: How? Why? Huh?
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Camden Chat, Baseball Prospectus, Halos Heaven, DRaysBay, NBCSports.com, ESPN and USA Today
Rachel Brady / Globe and Mail:
Orioles' Jones says he and outfielder Kim were targets of racial slurs
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, The Good Phight, baseballmusings.com and Todays Knuckleball
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Still Tied — The game between the Orioles and Blue Jays goes …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and Lone Star Ball
Hanley Ramirez / The Players' Tribune:
A Message to Red Sox Nation — PHOTOGRAPH BY BILLIE WEISS/BOSTON RED SOX/GETTY IMAGES — The playoffs start tonight. You ready? I know you're ready. — I know exactly how you feel right now. You wanna know something? Before I was a Red Sox player, I was a Red Sox fan. For real.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, NESN.com and Full Count
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Memory Lane: Francona Faces Past as Indians Meet Red Sox — CLEVELAND — When Terry Francona looks across the diamond at Boston's dugout, the Indians manager will have emotions to suppress. It won't be easy. — He's got friends over there — one of his closest in manager John Farrell …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Let's Go Tribe, Over the Monster, Pinstripe Alley and Beyond the Box Score
Baseball Prospectus:
Something Borrowed: Who to Root for If Your Team Made You Blue — Who to Root for If Your Team Made You Blue — The Wildcard round is in the books. The Division Series loom. And fans of 22 teams sit at home, wondering who they can squint at and see something recognizable as their own.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Reuters:
Bumgarner's Arm, Gillaspie's Homer Lift Giants Past Mets — (The Sports Xchange) - Conor Gillaspie broke a scoreless tie with a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning on Wednesday as Madison Bumgarner threw a four-hit shutout as the Giants beat the New York Mets 3-0 in the NL wild-card game.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and South Side Sox
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New York Daily News:
Brian Cashman not expecting free agent splash but stresses need to ‘fortify’ Yankees' pitching staff — The Yankees' offense was the biggest problem in 2016, but when Brian Cashman sits down with the rest of the front office in the coming days and weeks to formulate a winter plan …
Discussion:
Newsday, lohud.com and Pinstripe Alley
Associated Press:
Nats' Scherzer Wants to Do ‘Exact Same Thing’ vs. Dodgers — WASHINGTON — Max Scherzer remembers being urged to try to slow everything down for his postseason debut five years ago. — Take an extra breath, they said. Be calm as can be, they said. Dial down the intensity, they said.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and Federal Baseball
Associated Press:
Manfred: Cards-Astros hacking decision during offseason — NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball plans to have a decision during the offseason on possible discipline stemming from the investigation of a St. Louis Cardinals employee who hacked into a Houston Astros computer system.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Athletics Outright Matt McBride, Chris Smith — The A's announced this afternoon that they've outrighted catcher Matt McBride and right-hander Chris Smith off the 40-man roster. Both well-traveled minor leaguers have enough professional experience to elect free agency.
Associated Press:
Brad Ausmus Returning as Detroit Tigers' Manager in 2017 — DETROIT — Brad Ausmus will return next year for a fourth season as manager of the Detroit Tigers. — The team announced Wednesday that it is exercising the 2017 option on his contract. Detroit was eliminated from playoff contention Sunday …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Bless You Boys and Yahoo Sports
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates Acquire Brady Dragmire From Blue Jays, Designate Phil Coke — The Pirates announced that they've acquired right-hander Brady Dragmire from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash. In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, lefty Phil Coke has been designated for assignment.
Discussion:
Blue Jays from Away and Bucs Dugout
