Baker reflects after Cubs let him go
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Dusty Baker ducked into the small, cave-like interview room underneath Wrigley Field for a final time. As usual, he was reflective and philosophical, even on the day he learned he was out as the Chicago Cubs' manager.
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His cancer is gone and his curve is back. Jon Lester feels ready to win a spot on Boston's pitching staff less than six months after being diagnosed with a disease that threatened, at the very least, a promising career. Now he must convince manager Terry Francona and Boston's other decision-makers who have preached caution.
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A storm on the horizon was not what Dusty Baker wanted to see during the Chicago Cubs&#39; quick trip to South Florida. &quot;When we were coming in, I saw some mighty clouds,&quot; Baker said.
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The Cubs made a pair of trades yesterday, getting OF Ben Grieve from the Brewers and acquiring backup C Mike DiFelice from the Tigers.
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The news on East and West Coasts this week reflected the fragility of hope based on an aging pitcherÂs arm and a young pitcherÂs value.
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Nomar Garciaparra can become a free agent after the World Series and will consider returning to the Chicago Cubs, his team for the final two months this season.
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Lou Piniella was all smiles in his return to the dugout. The way Rich Hill pitched, the Chicago Cubs' manager had good reason to be happy after serving a four-game suspension.
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Joe Torre's explanation for his team's recent turnaround -- looseness among the players.
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Nomar Garciaparra agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.
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Nomar Garciaparra enjoyed his brief stay with the Cubs so much he&#39;s staying in Chicago. The five-time All-Star shortstop, acquired from the Red Sox in July after spending
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Dusty Baker is gone. Frank Robinson is finished. Cito Gaston won two World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays but hasn't seen the inside of a dugout in years. And Don Baylor suffered the same fate a few years ago that befalls losing managers everywhere &#151; he was fired.
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Aramis Ramirez went from disgusted to delighted as the Chicago Cubs mounted an improbable comeback off Milwaukee closer Francisco Cordero to win their seventh straight game. Ramirez hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth as the Cubs rallied for three runs in the final inning and a 6-5 win Friday over the first-place Brewers.
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For a player whose first pitch in Major League Baseball was smashed out of the ballpark, Boston's Hideki Okajima has a lot to smile about.
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Eleven months after winning two straight at Wrigley Field to take the NL pennant, the Florida Marlins returned Friday and split a doubleheader with Chicago. Moises Alou and Aramis Ramirez hit back-to-back homers, and the struggling Cubs routed the Florida Marlins 11-2 Friday to gain the split. Carl Pavano allowed seven hits as Florida won the opener 7-0.
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Scott BakerÂs five solid innings for the Twins was a much needed boost for the team's fragile starting rotation.
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Peter Baker&#39;s hopes of escaping the European Tour School look to be diminishing after the Wolverhampton player shot a two-over-par 73 in the Madrid Open yesterday.
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If you have a shred of humanity, watching Jon Lester take a major league mound for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer in late August of 2006 and win a 6-2 decision over a tough Cleveland Indians lineup last night had to tug at the heartstrings.