Top News:
Brendan Kuty / New Jersey Online:
Chaos! Crude Yankees fans taunt Astros' Zack Greinke's social anxiety disorder before ALCS Game 4 — NEW YORK — The NYPD officer stood on a metal bench Inside the Houston Astros' bullpen and pointed at a fan in the Yankee Stadium left field bleachers. — “Get him out!” the officer said.
RELATED:
Mark Townsend / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Justin Verlander stumbles again in closeout game, but gives Astros hope in Game 6 — The Houston Astros figured they were in good hands with Justin Verlander going into Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. — Five batters later, everything changed.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Yankees playing their worst baseball at the worst possible time — NEW YORK — The complete implosion of the New York Yankees, a 103-win team that spent Game 4 of the American League Championship Series looking like a 103-loss team, ended Friday at 12:28 a.m. local time.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and Pinstripe Alley
David Waldstein / New York Times:
How the Yankees Beat the Astros in Game 5 of the A.L.C.S. — James Paxton had an outstanding outing on the mound for the Yankees when they needed it most, and they survived to play at least one more day in the American League Championship Series. — Aaron Hicks wasn't supposed to be here.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Bradford Doolittle / ESPN:
Justin Verlander looks to close out New York Yankees in ALCS
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Matt Ehalt / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Astros manager threatens to pull team off field if fans throw objects
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Houston Astros on Yahoo! … and Halos Heaven
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
MLB Proposal Would Eliminate 42 Minor League Teams — The Professional Baseball Agreement (PBA) between Major League Baseball and minor league teams expires at the end of the 2020 season. But if a new MLB proposal were to become reality, more than three dozen cities with affiliated minor league teams …
RELATED:
David Waldstein / New York Times:
M.L.B. Said to Be Pushing for Overhaul of Minor Leagues — Major League Baseball officials have proposed a restructuring of several lower leagues, which could sever some teams' ties with M.L.B. clubs. — Major League Baseball has proposed a radical restructuring of the lower level …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and baseballmusings.com
Erik Boland / Newsday:
CC Sabathia's career ends with shoulder injury as Yankees replace him on ALCS roster — CC Sabathia discusses his emotions leaving the mound for what is likely the last time in his career and the warm ovation from the crowd — CC Sabathia's last pitch in the majors was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Jayson Stark / The Athletic:
'Jealousy isn't good' — Bryce Harper on missing this ride on the Nationals' World Series Express — “Jealousy isn't good.” — He knows what they're saying. He knows what they've done to those old Bryce Harper jerseys. He knows all about America's most convenient World Series storyline:
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News …, Yahoo! Sports, Sports Illustrated, Phillies Nation, New York Post, NESN.com, USA Today and CBS Philly
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
Recently-released Steven Wright to undergo Tommy John surgery — Steven Wright is in the process of starting over, in more ways than one. — The Red Sox announced Friday that the knuckleballer was being released, ending a stint with the organization that began in 2013.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, MLB Trade Rumors, NESN.com and MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Release Steven Wright — The Red Sox have released knuckleballing right-hander Steven Wright, per a club announcement (h/t Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald, via Twitter). Wright had been projected by MLBTR to earn $1.5MM in arbitration, had he been tendered a contract.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and Over the Monster
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Freddie Freeman Undergoes Elbow Surgery — Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has undergone surgery on his right (non-throwing) elbow, per a club announcement. He was operated on by Mets team medical director and frequent baseball surgeon Dr. David Altchek.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Where things stand as Chicago Cubs zero in on next manager — CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs fans had their first “What?!?” moment of the offseason, when the club announced former Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler would interview this week for its managerial opening.
Discussion:
Cubs Insider and Bleed Cubbie Blue
