Top News:

Umpire Tim McClelland makes the worst call of all time — Just when you thought the 2009 postseason umpiring couldn't get any worse, Tim McClelland goes ahead and makes what ends up as the worst call — or non-call — of all time. — Yes, you read that right. The worst call of all time.
Discussion:
It's About The Money, Fack Youk, TheNoonerBlog.com, Bugs & Cranks, Bats, Major League Jerk and 3:10 to Joba
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AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: ANGELS v YANKEES — THE MODERATOR: Tim, whatever you want to say. — TIM McCLELLAND: As far as the two calls that I had at third base. The first one with Swisher leaving too soon. In my heart I thought he left too soon. — On the play with Cano and Posada, I thought Cano was on the base.

Affair is foul for ESPN star — Ex-Met GM's dumped mistress has a ‘Fatal Attraction’ freakout — She's not going to be ignored, Steve! — ESPN analyst Steve Phillips had a fling with a 22-year-old production assistant, who, after being dumped, taunted his wife with “Fatal Attraction” …
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Steve Phillips, ESPN baseball analyst, takes leave of absence — ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips is taking a leave of absence. — The New York Post reported Wednesday that Phillips, formerly general manager of the Mets, was involved in a relationship with a female ESPN employee.


Mets Win One: Owners Made Money on Madoff — The New York Mets just emerged from a woeful season but the team's financial picture may not be as dire as previously believed. — A partnership connected to the baseball team — which had widely been rumored to have lost money investing with Bernard Madoff …
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Court documents: New York Mets profited from Bernard Madoff — The owners of the New York Mets baseball team made about $48 million in dealings with swindler Bernard Madoff, court documents showed. — The Mets Limited Partnership, which is connected to the Wilpon family …

Mets Entity May Be Sued for $48 Million Profit From Madoff Firm — Oct. 21 (Bloomberg) — An entity tied to the New York Mets baseball team and its owner Sterling Equities Inc. might be sued for withdrawing $47.8 million more from Bernard Madoff's firm than it deposited with the con man, a lawyer said.
Discussion:
New York Post, Mostly Mets, Can't Stop The Bleeding, New York Mets Fan Blog and The 'Ropolitans

Coveted Aroldis Chapman to meet with teams in New York — Prized Cuban left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman will arrive in New York on Wednesday to begin a series of meetings with several general managers, Chapman's agent, Edwin Mejia, confirmed. — The 21-year-old will visit several cities …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, Circling The Bases, Sliding Into Home, New Jersey Online and Reuters
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Sources: San Diego Padres closer to hiring Jed Hoyer as GM — The San Diego Padres are moving closer toward hiring Jed Hoyer, an assistant general manager with the Boston Red Sox, as their next general manager, according to major league sources. — Hoyer, 35, has worked in Boston's front office under Theo Epstein.
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Casey Blake: The Dodger Diplomat — As the Los Angeles Dodgers walked out to the field to stretch on a recent drizzly afternoon, they assembled in their usual clusters. Third-baseman Casey Blake, as always, had a hard time choosing his spot. — “There's the little Latin community, the white guys and the black guys.
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
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Mattingly says Nats asked for permission to interview him
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Sports Illustrated, The Nationals Enquirer, Federal Baseball and Associated Press

Chicago Cubs hire former Texas Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo — The Cubs will announce Wednesday that former Texas Rangers hitting instructor Rudy Jaramillo has signed a three-year, $2.42 million contract to become Chicago's next hitting coach, player sources told ESPNChicago.com on Tuesday.

Yankees top list of contenders in race for coveted free agent Holliday … Outfielder Matt Holliday, probably the biggest free agent about to be on the market — John Lackey and Jason Bay are the only other in-their-prime stars — is said by a friend to love the idea of going to the Yankees.


Inbox: What's in store for Storen? — Beat reporter Bill Ladson answers Nats fans' questions — Right-hander Drew Storen has been touted as a closer. If he makes the big league team, how about starting him off as a setup man, and then working him into the closer role by midseason?
Discussion:
MLB Rumors

MLBPA memo: Donald Fehr to get $11 million package — PHILADELPHIA — When Donald Fehr officially steps down as the head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, he will leave with an $11 million compensation package, according to a memo sent out to players late last month and seen by ESPN.com.

Piece by piece, putting it together — Picked-up pieces while packing for London and wondering how Schill got overlooked by the Nobel Committee . . . Anybody else spooked by that center-field door opening when the Red Sox were batting in the bottom of the ninth 10 days ago? It was a moment.