Baseball today - October 6
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD Saturday, Oct. 6
Arizona at Chicago Cubs (6:07 p.m. EDT). Livan Hernandez faces Rich Hill as playoff baseball returns to Wrigley Field for the first time since 2003.
STARS
- Manny Ramirez, Red Sox, hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning and Boston beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-3.
- Travis Hafner, Indians, drove in the game-winning run with two outs in the 11th inning to lead Cleveland to a 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees.
SWARMED
Helped by a freakish invasion of bombarding bugs that rattled rookie reliever Joba Chamberlain in the eighth inning, the Cleveland Indians rallied to beat the Yankees 2-1 in 11 innings Friday night to take a 2-0 lead in their AL playoff series. Travis Hafner's bases-loaded, RBI single with two outs in the 11th scored Kenny Lofton with the winner.
OH, MANNY!
Manny Ramirez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning off Francisco Rodriguez and the Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 Friday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their AL playoff series. Ramirez, who is coming off the worst offensive full season of his career, hit a 1-0 pitch over the Green Monster and the seats behind it. It was his 21st postseason home run, one behind Bernie Williams' career record.
FIRED
Jim Tracy was fired as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday after two seasons filled with long losing streaks and little discernible progress. Tracy's patience and back-patting weren't enough to turn around the Pirates. He produced records of 67-95 in 2006 and 68-94 this season, the shortest run of any non-interim Pirates manager since Bill Virdon was fired late into his second season in 1973.
SPEAKING
''It's like somebody let them go. Just when you think you've seen it all - that's home-field advantage.'' - Derek Jeter on the swarms of bugs that accosted the Yankees and reliever Joba Chamberlain in the eighth inning of the Indians' 2-1, 11-inning win over the Yankees on Friday night. Cleveland took a two-game lead in their AL playoff series.
Mets pitcher Tom Glavine declines $13 million option for 2008
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- Mets pitcher Tom Glavine declined his $13 million option with New York on Friday, making himself eligible for free agency.
The 41-year-old lefty, who got his 300th win this year, gets a $3 million buyout in addition to his $7.5 million salary this year.
''Tom has not had enough time to sufficiently think things through with his family and did not want to make a decision until he the opportunity with them to reflect on his future in baseball as well as his future with the Mets,'' said Glavine's agent, Gregg Clifton.
Glavine's contract called for him to make a decision by the fifth day after the Mets concluded their season. He went 13-8 with a 4.45 ERA in 34 starts over 200 1-3 innings, fading in his final three outings. He managed only one out while giving up seven runs to Florida in the first inning an 8-1 loss in the season finale Sunday that knocked New York out of postseason contention.
After the 2006 season, Glavine was interested in the possibility of returning to the Braves, but Atlanta never made an offer. Glavine lives in suburban Atlanta.
St. Louis Cardinals pick up $8 million option on Jason Isringhausen
October 5, 2007
ST. LOUIS (AP) -Closer Jason Isringhausen will be back in St. Louis next year, after the team picked up his $8 million option Friday night.
The move was announced by John Mozeliak, interim general manger. Walt Jocketty was dismissed on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old Isringhausen was 32-for-34 in save opportunities, a year after missing the postseason following hip surgery. He also finished with 54 strikeouts and a 2.48 ERA in 65 1-3 innings.
``Izzy recovered from hip surgery this year to fully earn his position as the Cardinals' closer,'' Mozeliak said. ``He will no doubt play a vital role in the bullpen's success in 2008, just as he's done in years past.''
Isringhausen, who finished his sixth season with the Cardinals, said before the season ended that he hoped he would remain with the team. He grew up in nearby Brighton, Ill.
``Growing up a Cardinals fan, playing in St. Louis and winning a world championship here has been a dream come true,'' Isringhausen said. ``I'm definitely looking forward to another year as a Cardinal.
``I am proud to wear this jersey and this is where I belong.''
Isringhausen is the franchise career leader with 250 saves, and has five 30-plus save seasons for the Cardinals. He has 281 career saves, ranking 24th on the career list and ninth among active players.
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Today's MLB Selection
Diamondbacks (Arizona) +173 1.5(-130) o9.5(-110)
Rockies (Colorado) -150 -1.5(+125) u11(-120)
P.s. Good luck if you betting
Pirates dump Tracy
October 5th, 2007
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced an afternoon press conference for Friday when it is expected that manager Jim Tracy will be fired.
In two years at the helm, Tracy has a 135-189 mark. The Pirates' 68 wins this season was one more than they had in Tracy's first year. However, Pittsburgh has had a losing season 15 straight years.
He had one year left on his original three-year contract.
Prior to joining the Pirates, Tracy spent five seasons with the Dodgers, going 427-383 with an NL West title in 2004.
The move is the second big one for the Pirates in recent weeks. On September 25, the club named Neal Huntington general manager. He replaced interim Brian Graham, who was filling in since Dave Littlefield was fired on September 12.