Top News:
Matt Young / Houston Chronicle:
Astros have plans for Ric Flair if Yankees series goes to Game 7 — The Astros-Yankees American League Championship Series gets to a Game 7, the Astros will have pro wrestling superstar Ric Flair call out “Play Ball!” before the game in a video message. — Astros right fielder Josh Reddick …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and The Crawfish Boxes
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ESPN:
Prices for World Series tickets at Dodger Stadium soar — Ticket prices and sales were soaring Friday, hours after the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a World Series berth for the first time in 29 years. — The average asking price for tickets to games in Los Angeles was $3,164 a ticket …
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Justin Verlander ready to save Astros' season vs. Yankees: ‘I love these opportunities’ — HOUSTON — The New York Yankees were trying to bounce back from a 2-0 deficit against the Detroit Tigers in the 2012 American League Championship Series when then-private citizen Donald Trump posted a tweet that read …
Whitney McIntosh / SBNation.com:
Dodgers bullpen sets record for consecutive scoreless innings in a postseason
Dodgers bullpen sets record for consecutive scoreless innings in a postseason
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, True Blue LA, Over the Monster and baseballmusings.com
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Justin Verlander: Examining his 4 must-win games with Detroit Tigers
Justin Verlander: Examining his 4 must-win games with Detroit Tigers
Discussion:
Detroit News and Bless You Boys
Associated Press:
Yankees manager Joe Girardi hopes day off doesn't stop momentum
Yankees manager Joe Girardi hopes day off doesn't stop momentum
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and ESPN
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Tigers Inform Anibal Sanchez His Option Will Be Declined — In a widely expected move, the Tigers will decline their $16MM option on right-hander Anibal Sanchez in favor of a $5MM buyout, general manager Al Avila told reporters today (Twitter link via Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press).
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, FanRag Sports and Bless You Boys
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Adding Ron Gardenhire a good move for Detroit Tigers going forward
Adding Ron Gardenhire a good move for Detroit Tigers going forward
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Evan Drellich / NBCSports.com:
Are Red Sox playing a waiting game before naming their new manager?
Are Red Sox playing a waiting game before naming their new manager?
Discussion:
FanRag Sports, MLB Trade Rumors, SI.com, Over the Monster and Bucs Dugout
The Athletic:
Ron Gardenhire to be next Tigers manager, pending completion of contract
Ron Gardenhire to be next Tigers manager, pending completion of contract
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, NBCSports.com, Bless You Boys, CBS Detroit, MLB Trade Rumors, Twinkie Town, AZ Snake Pit, New York Post and FanRag Sports
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers to hire Ron Gardenhire as new manager
Detroit Tigers to hire Ron Gardenhire as new manager
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Bless You Boys
USA Today:
Dusty Baker will not return as Nationals manager — Dusty Baker will not return to manage the Washington Nationals in 2018, the club announced Friday in a startling move for a club that won 97 games and consecutive division championships. — Baker spent two seasons as Washington's manager …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Federal Baseball
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David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Win or Leave — The Nationals announced Dusty Baker will not manage the team in 2018: … It's not clear if the Nationals let him go or Baker decided he didn't want to stay. I was not a big fan of Baker as a manger with the Giants and Cubs, but he seemed to get better with age.
Discussion:
NESN.com, MLB Daily Dish and Lone Star Ball
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
7 pivotal moments from Cubs' 11-1 loss in Game 5 of the NLCS — Tribune writers Mark Gonzales and David Haugh break down the Cubs' season-ending 11-1 loss to the Dodgers on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — Here are 7 pivotal moments …
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Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers rout Cubs 11-1 to advance to first World Series since 1988
Dodgers rout Cubs 11-1 to advance to first World Series since 1988
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and The Week
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez is the utility man of the hour
Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez is the utility man of the hour
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Whitney McIntosh / SBNation.com:
Kiké Hernandez hits first postseason homer and a grand slam in first 3 innings of Game 5
Kiké Hernandez hits first postseason homer and a grand slam in first 3 innings of Game 5
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, True Blue LA, FanRag Sports and baseballmusings.com
ESPN:
Nats' Daniel Murphy has surgery to repair cartilage in knee — Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy underwent surgery to repair damage to the articular cartilage in his right knee, the team said Friday. — The Nationals said that Murphy will immediately begin the rehabilitation process and …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Associated Press:
With young stars, Cubs likely not fading after NLCS loss — CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs' season had just ended when Anthony Rizzo made a bold prediction. — No, he didn't promise another championship. — “We're gonna consistently compete here for years to come,” Rizzo said.
Scott Gleeson / USA Today:
Oakland A's give 9-year-old wildfire victim new baseball memorabilia — Nine-year-old Loren Jade Smith lost his large collection of Oakland A's memorabilia earlier this month when his family's Northern California home was destroyed by wildfires. — Smith's collection has now multiplied, thanks to the A's and the baseball community.
Thomas Boswell / Chicago Tribune:
Bryce Harper is a year from free agency. So what's he really worth? — The Nationals' Bryce Harper stands in the on-deck circle before his at-bat against the Cubs in Game 5 of the NLDS on Oct. 12, 2017. — The Washington Post — Every baseball season brings new data, and revisions to reputations.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
Dodgers bullpen goes from ‘The Slump’ to the sublime just in time — LOS ANGELES — How do you tell the story of a breakout star that isn't a person but a collective of mostly anonymous bit players? You can start by looking at the sum, rather than the parts.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ben Zobrist ready to make amends: 'I've never been more excited for an offseason' — Photos of Cubs infielder Ben Zobrist. — Chicago Tribune — Less than an hour after the 2017 season concluded, Cubs switch-hitting infielder-outfielder Ben Zobrist was eager for what awaits him this winter.
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
Yonhap News Agency:
Phillies' outfielder Kim Hyun-soo returns home after ‘disappointing’ 2nd season … Philadelphia Phillies' South Korean outfielder Kim Hyun-soo returned home Thursday after what he called a “disappointing” second season in Major League Baseball (MLB). — Kim batted .231 with home runs …
Discussion:
BaltimoreBaseball.com, MLB Trade Rumors and Camden Chat