Both win easily, with Tampa star a unanimous choice in AL
Chicago Tribune Nov 10, 08 2:04 PM CST
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Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto and Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria were named the rookies of the year today in the National and American leagues, respectively. Soto, 25, was voted an All-Star Game starter and finished the season with a .285 batting average, 23 home runs, and 86 RBI, the Tribune reports. He easily beat out Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto.
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Technical issues keep baseball playoff, NFL game off air long enough to drive fans nuts
Associated Press Oct 20, 08 2:38 PM CDT
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Power problems had fans hoping to catch the baseball playoffs and the NFL on TV this weekend howling, the AP reports, with a malfunction at TBS headquarters keeping the first 20 minutes of Tampa Bay’s Game 6 loss to visiting Boston off the airwaves Saturday. Yesterday, balloons snagged a transformer and cut power CBS needed to broadcast most of the first half of Chargers-Bills from Buffalo.
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Boston Globe Sep 23, 08 9:35 PM CDT
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The World Series champs are back in the playoffs. The Red Sox clinched at least a wild-card berth with a 5-4 win over Cleveland tonight, the Boston Globe reports. The victory officially eliminates the Yankees from playoff contention and ends their streak of 13 consecutive appearances. The Red Sox can still catch Tampa in the AL East, but it's looking less and less likely.
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OPINION
When even a pennant race for heretofore-hapless team can't fill seats, there's trouble
St. Petersburg Times (Russia) Aug 28, 08 3:08 PM CDT
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The Tampa Bay Rays have the best record in the American League, but you wouldn’t know it from the turnout at Tropicana Field, John Romano writes in the St. Petersburg Times . Even a heretofore-hapless franchise contending for the first time ever fills just a third of the seats. “It really takes the wind out of our sails,” the team’s president said.
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American League prevails 4-3
Associated Press Jul 15, 08 11:30 PM CDT
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Michael Young's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 15th gave the American League a 4-3 victory in a marathon All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. Justin Morneau slid under the tag with the winning run to end the game after 4 hours and 40 minutes. Neither team had any pitchers left, the AP reports. The NL hasn't won since 1996, and the victory means the AL will have home-field advantage in this year's World Series.
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DH rule, new stadiums, better drafting all contribute to AL dominance
Wall Street Journal Jul 11, 08 1:30 PM CDT
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The American League is just flat out better than the National League, writes Darren Everson in the Wall Street Journal . The AL has had a lock on All-Star games for a decade, has won 11 of the last 16 World Series, and it dominates interleague play. Why the disparity? Everson explains that it's a combination of factors such as the DH rule, a flood of new talent and new stadiums, better drafting, and just plain luck.
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The time may be right for Japanese expansion teams
ESPN May 25, 08 3:33 PM CDT
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With the help of modern air travel, Major League Baseball should seriously consider expanding across the Pacific, writes Jim Caple for ESPN. Such a move could be both profitable and intriguing, and keep Japan from hemorrhaging its best talent. Though, as Red Sox manager Terry Francona points out, "Saying it would be fun and making it work are two different things."
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24-year-old Red Sox lefty and cancer survivor beats KC Royals
Associated Press May 19, 08 9:10 PM CDT
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Jon Lester can now add pitching a no-hitter to his already amazing list of accomplishments. The 24-year-old lefty, who survived cancer to pitch the clincher of Boston's 2007 World Series victory, shut down Kansas City 7-0 Monday night for the first no-hitter in the majors this season. "Really, words can't describe it right now," Lester said.
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Pitcher says today's players arrive early and leave right after game
Sporting News May 18, 08 7:24 AM CDT
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Major League clubhouses are not what they used to be, reports Detroit Tigers reliever Todd Jones on his blog for the Sporting News. Years ago, players used to arrive late and leave even later after games, sometimes hanging out together til 3 in the morning. Now players arrive way earlier than needed and leave right after the game. Issues with the team are settled before the game rather than in long bull sessions after.
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Texas' five-game winning streak goes by the boards
Associated Press May 11, 08 8:51 PM CDT
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Emil Brown hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs to help the Oakland Athletics beat Texas 12-6, ending the Rangers' season-best five-game winning streak Sunday. Frank Thomas drove in two runs to give him 1,695 RBIs, tying him with Cal Ripken for 21st all-time, while Mark Ellis had three hits for the A's.
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KC ends 12-game losing streak against Baltimore
Associated Press May 11, 08 5:25 PM CDT
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Brian Bannister allowed two singles in eight innings and Kansas City beat Baltimore 4-0 Sunday to end its 12-game skid against the Orioles. Bannister struck out five and walked two to end a personal four-game losing streak. He did not allow a runner to reach second. Joakim Soria tossed a perfect ninth to finish the Royals’ fourth shutout of the year.
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He and Anderson homer, combine for 5 RBIs in big second
Associated Press May 11, 08 12:47 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Brian Anderson and Carlos Quentin each homered and combined for five RBIs in the second inning to lead the Chicago White Sox to an 8-4 victory over the slumping Seattle Mariners last night. Javier Vazquez (4-3) allowed six hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings as the White Sox moved into a first-place tie with Minnesota in the American League Central.
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