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Ronan Tynan's tongue causes trouble as Yankees sack Irish tenor's appearance — Irish tenor Ronan Tynan sings a first-rate “God Bless America,” at Yankee Stadium, but his attempt at telling a joke offended a Jewish doctor who found it to be anti-Semitic. — Tynan apologized, telling WNBC …
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EXCLUSIVE: Yanks Bench Tenor After Jewish “Joke” — Tynan: “I was too stupid with my mouth” — Irish tenor Ronan Tynan is belting out red-faced apologies today for alleged anti-Semitic remarks he made to a Jewish doctor looking at an apartment in his East Side building — comments, he said, that were merely a joke.

Yankees yank Ronan Tynan from lineup after anti-Semitic remark — First the Yankees told Challenger the Eagle to take a hike after almost divebombing Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi during the 2003 World Series. — Now the team is telling another Yankee Stadium postseason tradition …

Analysis: Torre Had Faith, to a Fault, in Dodgers' Loss — With six pennants, four world championships, and a lifetime .540 winning percentage as a manager, Joe Torre's ticket to Cooperstown has already been punched. However, if this year's Dodgers give him his first pennant for a team …
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Homers help Hamels, Phils win Game 1
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Dodger Thoughts, Phillies Nation, True Blue LA, The Good Phight, The Joy of Sox, The Zo Zone and New York Times

Dodgers decline option on Ohman — Dealing with injuries, left-hander made only 21 appearances — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers made the first decision of an offseason that hasn't even started yet on Friday by declining the $2.2 million 2010 option on left-handed reliever Will Ohman …
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Good seats still available — The Yankees are in the ALCS for the first time since — ahem — 2004. But Yankee Stadium may not be sold out tonight for Game 1 against the Angels. That's embarrassing for the business side of the organization. — Whether it's the economy or the outrageous ticket prices …

ALCS Game 1: Angels at Yankees — YANKEES — Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (1-0, 1.37 ERA) — ANGELS — WEATHER: Double sweatshirt, at least. Temps in the 30s, winds whipping around the Stadium and the threat of rain looming over the whole thing. Check out the forecast here.

Rays to stay busy during the offseason — Key dates, decisions loom for Tampa Bay's front office — All that's left to do now is sit back and watch. — After a history-making 2008 season, the Rays couldn't recapture that magic to vault them back to the postseason in '09.
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MLB Rumors


Ex-Yank exec Swindal opening baseball academy — He lost the keys to the Yankee empire two years ago, but Steve Swindal is quietly making his baseball comeback in the sport's talent-rich Dominican Republic. — Saturday, more than 100 talent evaluators are expected to attend a baseball showcase …
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The Yankee Universe


Wakefield's surgery set — Tim Wakefield is set to undergo surgery on a herniated disc in his back Wednesday, with the possibility of the operation being moved up slightly. — Wakefield has said that doctors told him that the procedure would not hinder his preparation for next season.


For one day, Mike & Mad Dog reunite — in the ALCS, just like old times, the buildup to tonight's Game 1 will include a nostalgic media touch: a mini-reunion of “Mike and the Mad Dog” on WFAN. — Just after 1 p.m., Chris Russo is scheduled to visit Mike Francesa's “Mike'd Up,” …


Major-league catchers developing leadership skills behind the plate … NEW YORK — By day, Haig Nalbantian and Rick Guzzo specialize in finding the most efficient ways to train future business executives. — For years, they have consulted some of the nation's largest companies.
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