A’s and Hideki Matsui finalize $4.25M deal

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 14: Hideki Matsui(notes) waves during a press conference where he was introduced as the newest member of the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 14, 2010 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Athletics signed designated hitter Hideki Matsui to a one-year deal worth $4.25 million plus possible incentives for the 2011 season. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)


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Texas’ Josh Hamilton easily wins AL MVP award

NEW YORK (AP)—Josh Hamilton(notes) thought back to the days when his career was derailed by drugs and alcohol.

“I would say a 99 percent chance that this would never happen,” he said. “I mean, honestly, I think a lot of people would agree with that.”

In one of baseball’s most inspirational turnarounds, the Texas Rangers outfielder was a runaway winner of the American League’s Most Valuable Player award Tuesday. Hamilton received 22 first-place votes and 358 points from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Former Cincinnati Reds teammate Joey Votto(notes)was voted the NL MVP a day earlier.

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Yankees 1, Rangers 6 (ALCS 2-4)

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Vladimir Guerrero(notes) #27 of the Texas Rangers dives on the pile as he celebrates with his teammates after the Rangers won 6-1 against the New York Yankees in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)


WP: C. Lewis (2-0)
LP: P. Hughes (0-2)


HR - N Cruz (2, 5th inning off D Robertson 1 on, 2 Out).


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Rangers 5, Rays 1 (ALDS 3-2)

ST PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 12: : Pitcher Cliff Lee #33 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 5 of the ALDS at Tropicana Field on October 12, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

WP: C. Lee (2-0)
LP: D. Price (0-2)

HR - I Kinsler (3, 9th inning off R Soriano 1 on, 0 Out).

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Twins 1, Yankees 6 (ALDS 3-0)

New York Yankees Marcus Thames hits a two-run home run in the fourth inning in Game 3 of the American League Division Series baseball game at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 in New York. Minnesota Twins catcher is Joe Mauer.

WP: P. Hughes (1-0)
LP: B. Duensing (0-1)

HR - N Swisher (1, 7th inning off S Baker 0 on, 0 Out), M Thames (1, 4th inning off B Duensing 1 on, 0 Out).

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Athletics 4, Mariners 3 (81-81)

Oakland Athletics' Kurt Suzuki (8) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners in the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, in Seattle.

WP: D. Braden (11-14) S: C. Breslow (5)
LP: A. Varvaro (0-1)

HR - K Suzuki (13, 4th inning off R Rowland-Smith 0 on, 0 Out), K Kouzmanoff (16, 8th inning off G Olson 0 on, 1 Out).

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Athletics 5, Mariners 3 (80-81)

Oakland Athletics' Jack Cust hits a home run against the Seattle Mariners in the fourth inning during a baseball game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, in Seattle.

WP: B. Anderson (7-6) S: C. Breslow (4)
LP: D. Pauley (4-9)

HR - M Ellis (5, 4th inning off D Pauley 0 on, 2 Out), J Cust (13, 4th inning off D Pauley 0 on, 2 Out), C Carter (3, 5th inning off D Pauley 1 on, 1 Out).
HR - M Saunders (10, 9th inning off C Breslow 0 on, 1 Out).

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