MLB News Blog

Johnny Damon hit a go-ahead, two-run single, Andy Pettitte held the Los Angeles Angels in check and the New York Yankees took a 3-1 lead after six innings in Game 6 of the AL championship series on Sunday night to move within reach of their first World Series trip since 2003. With the Angels trying [...]

Baseball analyst Steve Phillips was fired by ESPN on Sunday night, less than a week after he admitted having an affair with a production assistant at the cable network. A representative for Phillips also announced the former Mets general manager was entering a treatment facility "to address his personal issues." Phillips' acknowledgment Wednesday of his [...]

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa took a flight from his West Coast home to St. Louis on Sunday for further talks about his future. There was a report, too, Mark McGwire might join him as a coach. La Russa told the Associated Press in a telephone interview before boarding a plane that discussions were ongoing, [...]

Slumping Bobby Abreu hit a go-ahead single against Andy Pettitte, and the Los Angeles Angels led the New York Yankees 1-0 after three innings Sunday night as they tried to force a seventh game in the AL championship series. Jeff Mathis doubled up the gap in right-center leading off the second, making him 7 for [...]

Angels manager Mike Scioscia called baseball's postseason format "ridiculous" because of the extra off-days added a couple of years ago to suit the sport's television partners. After playing 162 games over 182 days during the regular season, the Angels and Yankees played just eight each over the next 20 days going into Game 6 of [...]

Brad Lidge was right in the middle of three celebrations this month, getting the last out when the Philadelphia Phillies clinched the division, advanced in the playoffs and won the pennant. For a guy who temporarily lost his closer's job with a week left in the regular season, that's an impressive turnaround.

The Cleveland Indians have hired Manny Acta as their manager. Acta signed a three-year contract with a club option for 2013, team spokesman Bart Swain said Sunday. Additional terms were not disclosed. Acta was fired by the Washington Nationals in July. The Indians chose him after a second round of interviews over former New York [...]

Philadelphia transit workers have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a walkout less than a week before the Phillies play their first home game of the 2009 World Series. Union president Willie Brown says 4,700 workers authorized him Sunday to call a strike if last-ditch negotiations with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority fail.

Cliff Lee will start Game 1 of the World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies, regardless of the opponent. The left-hander has been dominant in the postseason, going 2-0 with an 0.74 ERA in three starts. Manager Charlie Manuel made the announcement Sunday. Lee will take the mound Wednesday night at New York or Anaheim.

When Joe Girardi has big decisions to make, he consults his thick black binder. In his first postseason as New York's manager, he's been checking that book full of baseball data a lot. Some say too much. At this time of year, when the moves of experienced postseason managers like the Angels' Mike Scioscia and [...]