Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
How one blown strike call in Game 5 illustrates MLB's need for robot umps — WASHINGTON — The dawn of the robot umpire is near, and it is time. Game 5 of the World Series exemplified this. Plate umpire Lance Barksdale actually called a decent game by the current standards for umpires …
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Scott Gleeson / USA Today:
MLB bans women who flashed their chests behind home plate during Game 5 of World Series — SportsPulse: Game 5 was setting up to be a series defining game and then the Nationals received devastating news from their ace pitcher and the Astros capitalized. As Trysta Krick details …
Discussion:
Larry Brown Sports, MLB Baseball News … and New York Post
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Game 5 umpire controversy raises a question: Should MLB use an electronic system to make calls? — The bat left Victor Robles's hands, skidded and rolled in the general direction of home plate umpire Lance Barksdale. His elbow pad came next, then his helmet.
Discussion:
The Ringer, baseballmusings.com and FanGraphs Baseball
George Miller / MLB Trade Rumors:
Max Scherzer Scratched From Game 5 Start — Nationals starter Max Scherzer, who was slated to start Sunday's World Series game five, has been scratched from his start, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. In his place, Joe Ross will take the mound for the Nationals.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball and MLB Baseball News …
Chris Chavez / Sports Illustrated:
Max Scherzer Scratches From World Series Game 5 Start Due to Back, Neck Issues — Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer will not start Game 5 of the World Series due to back and neck spasms. — Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer will not start Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night due …
Discussion:
Denver Post and MLB Baseball News …
Bradford Doolittle / ESPN:
Nats ace Max Scherzer scratched from Game 5 start with neck spasms
Nats ace Max Scherzer scratched from Game 5 start with neck spasms
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Field Level / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Astros-Nationals Preview
Astros-Nationals Preview
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, Houston Astros on Yahoo! …, Federal Baseball, Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Alex Butler / UPI:
World Series: Bregman, Chirinos help Astros gain 2-2 tie vs. Nationals
World Series: Bregman, Chirinos help Astros gain 2-2 tie vs. Nationals
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, The Crawfish Boxes, MLB Baseball News …, NBCSports.com and Yahoo! Sports
Craig Calcaterra / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
World Series Game 4 Preview: Astros turn to a rookie
World Series Game 4 Preview: Astros turn to a rookie
Bruce Haring / Deadline:
Friday Ratings: The 2019 World Series Hits A Home Run With Viewers, Winning The Night
Friday Ratings: The 2019 World Series Hits A Home Run With Viewers, Winning The Night
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk
Jason Mackey / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Sources: Pirates planning to fire GM Neal Huntington to complete house-cleaning — Many this offseason clamored for the Pirates to clean house, to go in a completely different direction. — They did, albeit in delayed, disjointed fashion. — The Pirates have fired general manager Neal Huntington …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, MLB Baseball News …, Bucs Dugout, MLB Daily Dish, baseballmusings.com and New York Post
Sports Illustrated:
Astros Owner Jim Crane Apologizes to Sports Illustrated's Stephanie Apstein, Retracts Team's Initial Statement — Houston Astros owner Jim Crane sent a letter Saturday to Sports Illustrated's Stephanie Apstein, retracting his organization's allegation that she attempted “to fabricate a story” last week.
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees Fire Pitching Coach Larry Rothschild — 10:48am: The Yankees have formally announced that Rothschild will not return to the staff in 2020. — “I want to personally thank Larry for his near decade of commitment to this organization,” general manager Brian Cashman said in the press release announcing the move.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, New Jersey Online, MLB Baseball News … and Pinstripe Alley
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
David Ross introduced as new manager of Cubs — CHICAGO — New Cubs manager David Ross and team president Theo Epstein pushed back on the notion that Ross simply will be an extension of the front office after working as a special assistant in it over the past three years. — Ross is set out to be his own man.
Dalton Johnson / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Giants' Joey Bart showcased star potential in Arizona Fall League — Joey Bart entered the Arizona Fall League with one of the hottest bats in baseball, at any level. His stick stayed scorching hot in the desert, too, until an injury kept him out of the lineup.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and Camden Chat
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
No experience needed for Mets: Skipping over Girardi, Showalter and Baker is certainly a telling sign — We may never know the real reason why Joe Girardi was not hired as the Mets manager. We may also never know why neither Buck Showalter nor Dusty Baker even got an interview with them.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, MLB Baseball News … and The Good Phight
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays will cover Chaim Bloom's duties from within — Chaim Bloom had numerous responsibilities as a senior vice president with the Rays, and now that he has left for the Red Sox his duties will be assumed by several other executives.Rather than replace Bloom directly, the Rays will have a trio of executives …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
Former major league umpire Chuck Meriwether dies at 63 — WASHINGTON — Former major league umpire Chuck Meriwether, who was behind the plate when the Boston Red Sox ended their championship drought in 2004, died Saturday. He was 63. — Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement hours before Game 4 of the World Series.
Discussion:
ESPN and Let's Go Tribe
Ashley Varela / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Aroldis Chapman, Josh Hader named Relievers of the Year — Josh Hader were selected as the AL and NL Relievers of the Year on Saturday, per an official announcement from Major League Baseball. It's the second consecutive award for Hader, who took home NL honors in 2018 as well.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Brew Crew Ball