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Boston Red Sox
How will MLB playoffs play out?
It took an extra day, but the 10 postseason teams are in order, as the Tampa Bay Rays -- 5-2 winners over the Texas Rangers in Monday's play-in game -- earned a spot in the American League wild-card game. There's not much waiting for things to get going; the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday in the National League wild-card matchup. How will the postseason play out?
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Red Sox clinch playoff berth
The Red Sox seemed to be punting on the 2013 season after their blockbuster trade with the Dodgers last year, but this season has been anything but a rebuilding one in Boston. The team clinched a playoff berth on Thursday night and are a few games away from winning the AL East. They're three wins ahead of the next-best team in MLB, but will this translate into postseason success?
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Baseball races reach the stretch run
With three weeks in the regular season, Major League Baseball's playoff picture is coming into focus, though some big questions remain. The Cardinals, Pirates and Reds are in a tight race for the National League Central, while Oakland or Texas are battling it out for the American League West title. But the most drama is in the race for the second AL wild card, where five teams are vying for one playoff berth. Do the Indians, Orioles, Yankees or Royals have enough left in the tank to challenge the Rays?
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Red Sox take on Dodgers in L.A.
Could this weekend's Red Sox-Dodgers series be a preview of the World Series? If you asked us this question before this season started, we might have laughed at you -- the Red Sox were coming off their worst season in years and the Dodgers were full of question marks. That was before the Red Sox fixed their pitching staff, however, and long before the emergence of Yasiel Puig sent the Dodgers on a near-unprecedented run of dominance.
Sunday night's shenanigans between the Red Sox and Yankees may be a memory, but Joe Girardi doesn't think the fight is over by a long shot. Girardi, who was ejected for arguing after Ryan Dempster hit Alex Rodriguez with a pitch, called for Dempster to be suspended as a result of his actions. MLB agreed, handing down a five-game suspension and undisclosed fine for Dempster. Rodriguez has been hit twice since his return from the DL, but Girardi was worried that if Dempster hadn't been punished, pitchers could take it as a declaration of "open season" on the embattled slugger -- which would be a rather dangerous way of improving his OBP.
Here's a sampling of what readers had to say in our Facebook conversation on the story:
- Matt Bartolotta: "Not a fan of A Rod, but Dempster is spineless for saying that he was trying to establish an inside presence on right-handed batters. Anyone who has been alive longer than 5 minutes knows that the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry is one of the deepest in sports, and these guys don't like each other. Dempster didn't hit the strike zone once during the at bat and got torched for 7 runs."
- Luther Barnum: "Pitchers have been plunking hitters for over 100 years. I have no issue with it and I think Arod deserves it anyway. The bigger problem besides PEDs is that a pitcher never has to bat himself so it's much easier for him to throw a baseball at someone when he doesn't have to face it himself. Again...I think Arod deserved it and should be thrown at in every game as should every cheater."
- William O'Dell: "I don't care what a guy is doing as far as drugs go you don't throw at people. In the hands of a power pitcher its a deadly weapon. "
- Mike Weber: "I despise A-Rod and all he stands for. He is a liar, a cheat and a fraud. And quite possibly a drug dealer too(?) He should be banned for life. All that said, what Dempster did was flagrant and he deserved to be tossed out of the game; if not suspended. How do you eject Girardi and not Dempster? Makes no sense."
- Jesse Le Roi DeLoatch: "I personally think that hitting someone because you don't think he should be playing is a very dangerous precedent to set."
What do you think? Leave your comments below.
MLB trade deadline passes quietly
The Boston Red Sox got Jake Peavy late Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Baltimore Orioles snagged Bud Norris, while the Arizona Diamondbacks shipped Ian Kennedy to the San Diego Padres. And that was about it for a quiet deadline that saw few impact players move, despite several teams seemingly needing improvement. Of course, there's no guarantee a midseason acquisition will make a difference, while top prospects can change franchises -- or at least provide years worth of value.
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Red Sox trade for Jake Peavy
With Clay Buchholz ailing and the Tampa Bay Rays sitting atop the AL East, the Boston Red Sox made their move late Tuesday, trading for 32-year-old Chicago White Sox righty Jake Peavy in a three-team deal that also involves the Detroit Tigers. The former Cy Young winner doesn't come for free, though, as the Red Sox reportedly are shipping out infielder Jose Iglesias, who has played rather well for Boston this season, as part of the seven-player deal.
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Blown call in the AL East race
The Red Sox and Rays are in a tight battle for the AL East lead -- Boston's run differential kept it on top for much of the season, but Tampa Bay has been red-hot lately. A questionable call Monday night helped the Rays move a half-game ahead of the Red Sox after Daniel Nava was called out at home plate, even though replays showed that he was safe. The two clubs won't meet again until September at Tropicana Field -- by then, the landscape of the AL East could look quite different.
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Source: Pedroia signs $100 million deal
According to a source, the Boston Red Sox signed All-Star Dustin Pedroia to a seven-year, $100 million extension, which will keep the former rookie of the year and MVP in Boston through 2021. Is this the right price for one of MLB's better second basemen?
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Kim Klement/USA TODAY SportsRays-Red Sox AL East showdown
This is the stuff memorable baseball is made of: Two division rivals who don't like each other much, separated by 1½ games atop the standings, meet in the heat of summer in a four-game series that could turn the playoff race on a dime.
That's what we'll get to see as the Rays, winners of 15 of their last 17 games, visit Fenway Park for a four-game series against the AL East-leading Red Sox starting Monday. Tampa Bay has made hay during a soft stretch in its schedule and could leave Boston with the division lead. The Red Sox, meanwhile, have held steady, going 10-6 in July despite multiple pitching injuries. Want more drama? These teams have already cleared the dugouts once this season and more brushback pitches wouldn't come as a surprise. Which team will emerge with the AL East lead? Vote below!
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.@FloydMayweather & @ChuckLiddell had a man-to-man talk about some words said in the press - http://t.co/3vQLDKia7o
about 2 hours ago
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.@ChuckLiddell on @GeorgesStPierre: "Excellent fighter. From a fan standpoint I don't want to see him play it safe in his fights"
about 3 hours ago
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We're talking football and more with @ChuckLiddell. SN now! ESPN2. http://t.co/uHEgN7Mpvb
about 3 hours ago
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.@FloydMayweather made a year's salary off Brees and Sproles last night. He will use the money to make origamis. http://t.co/YwlFNOhtdO
about 6 hours ago
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- kevinwildes Kevin Wildes
RT @sethmeyers: Important to note that I am equally excited for Soxtober. Though most excited about adding prefixes to "tober."
about 6 hours ago
- kevinwildes Kevin Wildes
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Drew Brees looks like Neo from the Matrix right now.
about 20 hours ago
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Jimmy Graham laughs when DBs try to cover him...
about 21 hours ago
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Darren Sproles has infinite turbo.
about 22 hours ago
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- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley
Had fun doing my first request off Thuzio. Check your boy out! http://t.co/j3KIjAyG8r
1 day ago
- marcelluswiley Marcellus Wiley
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We're recapping the football weekend and talking about Lane Kiffin getting fired in an airport parking lot. ESPN2 now.
1 day ago
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.@Drake and the Raptors have announced a partnership. Here is the new team logo (via Blue the Great). http://t.co/saJyfPMHS9
1 day ago
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Despite roster issues, the Patriots are 4-0. No big deal...just Tom being Tom. http://t.co/Lmo1OcLoxb
1 day ago
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Aqib Talib just Dikembed that comeback.
1 day ago
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Floyd Mayweather probably taught Bob Kraft how to make it rain.
1 day ago
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Tony Gonzalez has the fountain of youth cheat code in life.
1 day ago
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Kenbrell Thompkins must have been a beast at 3 flies up growing up.
1 day ago
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Chip Kelly...wanna get away?
2 days ago
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In case you thought you knew anything about the NFL - Matt Cassel, Mike Glennon, and Brian Hoyer are currently winning football games.
2 days ago
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2013 Reggie Bush just had a 2004 Reggie Bush type TD run.
2 days ago
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London just caught a glimpse of the awesomeness that is Adrian Peterson. 60 yard TD run!
2 days ago
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