Welcome to 'Duk's Dozen, a streamlined selection of 12 morning-fresh links and items to start your baseball day. It welcomes your email submissions and tips here or via Twitter. 

1. First the Chicago Tribune gives some legs to a SoxNet report that the White Sox, Angels and Padres have discussed a three-way deal that would send Adrian Gonzalez(notes) to Chicago and Paul Konerko(notes) to Anaheim ... Chicago Tribune
2. ... then Sun-Times beat writer Joe Cowley blasts the Tribune on Twitter for advancing the possibility, which he reported had already been shot down in early October. Who said the Windy City newspaper war was lifeless? Twitter
3. Now baseball's owners are taking over the O'Hare Hilton for a few meetings. MLB
4. Is there any doubt Derek Jeter(notes) will be named SI's Sportsman of the Year? Bugs & Cranks
5. CC Sabathia(notes) has achieved a lot, but he's still waiting to join the Black Aces. Bronx Baseball Daily
6. The Mets are intrigued by the possibility of overpaying Joel Pineiro(notes). MLBTR
7. Why Tim Lincecum(notes) should be announced as the NL Cy Young on Thursday. McCovey Chronicles
8. Anyone want a guaranteed World Series berth? Eric Hinske(notes) is a free agent again. FanGraphs
9. At what price should the Cubs consider trading for Curtis Granderson(notes)? Desipio
10. Pondering the possibilities of the Tigers moving Miguel Cabrera(notes). Bless You Boys
11. The 10 best Baseball-Reference sponsorships. Baseball Junk Drawer
12. Shane Victorino(notes) wore shorts to his wedding? Of course he did. It was in Hawaii. The 700 Level

Welcome to 'Duk's Dozen, a streamlined selection of 12 morning-fresh links and items to start your baseball day. It welcomes your email submissions and tips here or via Twitter. 

1. Joe Torre and the Dodgers are "talking about" a contract extension past 2010. LA Times
2. Eric Stephen likes the stability a longer Torre tenure would bring. True Blue LA
3. Rick Morrissey has a lot of hate in his heart for the New York Yankees. Chicago Tribune
4. So long, Pete Happy? The Phillies have declined their option on 3B Pedro Feliz(notes). Inquirer
5. The Phils could be eyeing Chone Figgins(notes), one of the Angels 83 free agents. MLB
6. Tim Dierkes ranks the top 50 free agents so we don't have to. MLB Trade Rumors
7. Here's a great picture of the Afghan Little League. BBTF
8. R.J. isn't kidding. This really is the definitive what-to-do-with-Carl-Crawford post. DRaysBay
9. Ian C. considers the possibility of J.J. Putz(notes) in a Tigers uniform. Bless You Boys
10. Mets fan sees available Brett Myers(notes), says thanks but no thanks. Amazin' Avenue
11. Match made in heaven #1: Jon Gosselin will be attending Shane Victorino's(notes) wedding. The 700 Level
12. Match made in heaven #2: I talk World Series with Dan Levy. On The DL Podcast

PHILADELPHIA — When he finally emerged from the postgame showers, Shane Victorino acted like he was surprised to see a media crowd gathered around his locker. 

"Two thumbs up, everyone," the Phillies center fielder said while lifting a Philadelphia UFC shirt over his head. "That's all you need to know. No broke, no fracture."

Read More »

Score and situation: Phillies 8, Yankees 6  New York leads series 3-2

Leading lad: Chase Utley, is there anything you can't do? Utley homered twice, giving him five in the Series to tie Reggie Jackson's 32-year-old record. Reggie can still be Mr. October however; three of Utley's homers have come in November. Utley also has seven career homers in the World Series; only Duke Snider, with 11, has more in a career among NL players. Utley is hitting .333 in the series, but has yet to single. His other hit in 18 at-bats was a double.

Read More »

PHILADELPHIA — Andy Pettitte has helped the Yankees to plenty of playoff wins with his arm over the years, becoming the most victorious playoff pitcher in the process. 

But it wasn't until Saturday night's Game 3 that the old lefty from Texas helped New York's cause with his bat, hitting a tying RBI single off Cole Hamels in the fifth inning of the Yankees' 8-5 win over the Phillies.

The hit and ensuing run that Pettitte scored on a Johnny Damon double put the pitcher in line for his 17th postseason victory. His one knock was one more than Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez had combined.

Said Pettitte after the game:

Read More »

NEW YORK — The New York Post photographer wore the hesitant look of a man who normally wouldn't be doing something like this were it not for the fact he worked for a tabloid newspaper and his boss would fire him if he did not. And so there he stood silently during several questions about Jimmy Rollins' guarantee, through a couple on Charlie Manuel and even through a couple on the very newspaper he was holding in his hand.

Finally, there was a lull in the questioning of Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino and the photog could not put it off any longer. Raising his camera in one hand and the cover with the picture of Victorino dressed as a cheerleader with the other, he spit out a quick request that sounded both sheepish and prematurely regretful.

Read More »

Score and situation: Phillies 10, Dodgers 4, Philadelphia wins NLCS 4-1

Leading lads: From Paul Bako to Jayson Werth, each member of the Phillies deserves a piece of the extended ovation they're experiencing right now at Citizens Bank Park. In a time when it's tougher than ever to keep a title team together to win another division flag and then fight through two tough playoff rounds, the Phillies are in a spot to defend their World Series title. They're the first team to do so since the '01 Yankees and the first NL squad since the '96 Braves. If they actually win the thing, they'll be the first NL repeat winners since The Big Red Machine.

So here's a big hand for the power of Ryan Howard, the all-around games of Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley and the still underrated star qualities of Shane Victorino and Werth.

Read More »