http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=960&32=3991&7=-1&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com This is a baseball feed en-us Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 2008-10-08T05:00:00Z en-us http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30610934&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FMotivated_Balfour_providing_plenty_of_relief_for_Rays_10-08-2008.html ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Grant Balfour is unapologetic. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT ae19684e9730a1e7a05e46135086efa8 2008-10-08T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30610929&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FInfamous_homer_motivates_Lidge_10-08-2008.html PHILADELPHIA — Brad Lidge forgot about Albert Pujols’ mammoth playoff homer a long time ago. Maybe now that he’s had a perfect season, people will stop reminding him of it. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT f405ace9ceed08158a5020788c81cc46 2008-10-08T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30610924&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FManny_who__Bay_leads__Red_Sox_10-08-2008.html BOSTON — Things are going pretty well so far in the Bay State. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 45ba60fcb23d459d3d3f8b3f05762d52 2008-10-08T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30610909&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FRed_Sox__Rays_rivalry_heating_up_10-08-2008.html Exactly why the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays tangle so much is hard to tell. Blame it on a high-and-tight pitch here, a hard slide there. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 2553b9884731776b6b41db083ceb9675 2008-10-08T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30552429&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FDramatic_win_puts_Sox_in_ALCS_10-07-2008.html BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox brushed aside the 100-win Angels in four games, dismissing their best-in-baseball regular season as last month’s news. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT bb5f08f2db04f996402b9fa7a31e8c90 2008-10-07T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30552419&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FPlayers__fans_adore_skipper_10-07-2008.html PHILADELPHIA — Charlie Manuel looked on from the dugout while his players celebrated a division championship, and sat in his office after they took the party back on the field. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 1da225d7635ffa06f3c4442d19b72663 2008-10-07T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30552404&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FCIND-RAY-ELLA_10-07-2008.html Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT fda6eb522da723994d15edd47e95dc58 2008-10-07T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30502509&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FDanks__Chisox_avoid_elimination_10-05-2008.html CHICAGO — Thanks to John Danks and the White Sox, Chicago still has one team standing. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 533d3703c833bbeabd50f81310b1e97b 2008-10-06T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30502499&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FRays_rsquo__Garza_struggles_10-05-2008.html CHICAGO — With his team trailing in the fifth inning, Matt Garza was fidgety. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT b737b1c9f48d2ea413c6b28ad8d4d0ed 2008-10-06T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30502489&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2Fl_a___you_rsquo_re_next__10-05-2008.html MILWAUKEE — With plenty of power to go with their improved pitching, the Philadelphia Phillies are ready for anything in the NL championship series. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 8c8c9b2b59d8cc8f161cc3798a789880 2008-10-06T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30502484&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FFor_slump-ridden_Burrell__the_moment_finally_arrives_with_clutch_HR_OPINION_10-05-2008.html MILWAUKEE — Pat Burrell wasn’t sure he would be in the lineup Sunday when the Phillies tried once again to close out the National League division series against the Brewers. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 530a9d803027d220f93bd3927cbc4aa9 2008-10-06T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30481939&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FSTAYIN_rsquo__ALIVE_10-05-2008.html MILWAUKEE — Charlie Manuel wanted no part of any discussions Saturday afternoon about a Game 4 on Sunday at Miller Park. Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 515fe2bd497a81b39994aece9ef2ad4f 2008-10-05T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30481934&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FNew_deal_win-or-else_for_Manuel_10-05-2008.html There was no Shea Stadium unveiling on Saturday for Jerry Manuel. No podium, no sponsor’s backdrop, no smiling photo ops of Manuel shaking hands with general manager Omar Minaya and COO Jeff Wilpon. Just a voice from Sacramento on the other end of the team’s conference call, the day after Manuel had his interim tag lifted with a two-year extension worth $2 million. Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 939406caec3d3e738a1734ce251ba777 2008-10-05T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=30481929&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FBeckett__Bosox_out_to_KO_Angels_10-05-2008.html BOSTON — The Los Angeles Angels might have thought they caught a break when they didn’t have to face Red Sox ace Josh Beckett in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 9a982f9d685a8604c2a0785d282de936 2008-10-05T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=29987914&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FHurt_RB_position_nagging_Steelers_10-01-2008.html PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t been this thin at running back since losing 1,000-yard rushers Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier to injuries before the 1976 AFC championship game. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 8dac6e9fac1e9f0a76bf9bd74f45f13d 2008-10-01T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=29987779&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FWindy_City_storms_into_the_playoffs_10-01-2008.html CHICAGO — Thanks to Jim Thome’s bat and Ken Griffey Jr.’s arm, the AL Central has a winner at last: the Chicago White Sox. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 0252e656c28c6944250677450caef399 2008-10-01T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=29987764&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FYankees_extend_GM_Cashman_for_three_more_years_10-01-2008.html NEW YORK — Brian Cashman figures he has more work to do with the New York Yankees. After a sustained run of success, he wasn’t about to leave on the heels of a failed season. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT f0ba075f57c154d3c2cc4717ef989b62 2008-10-01T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=29987754&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FWHY_THE_BREWERS_COULD_WIN_10-01-2008.html What kind of team fires its manager in the heat of a playoff race? Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 28b8e0b28d0bf9903f961afeeccffa89 2008-10-01T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=29987729&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FWHY_PHILLIES_SHOULD_WIN_10-01-2008.html Looking loose and relaxed, the Philadelphia Phillies see themselves as the team to beat in their National League Divisional Series with Milwaukee. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 9cc7dd8157e3a71776afa4fe0ff32c78 2008-10-01T05:00:00Z http://www.timesleader.com/r?19=961&43=182236&44=29987689&32=3991&7=192497&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2FTime_to_step_up_for_Cubs_10-01-2008.html The vines are beginning to change color, the grass is a perfect shade of emerald green and the red-white-and-blue bunting is draped over the brick wall and on the facade of the upper deck. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT 12f9b0373ce92c774cbdf343f86b16da 2008-10-01T05:00:00Z