Box Score 10/7: Divisional series and diva receivers

Good morning and welcome to the Yardbarker Box Score.This is what we're reading before an entire day of baseball.  

Happy birthday to Priest Holmes, Charles Woodson and Evan Longoria. On this date in 1972, the Islanders played their first game at Nassau Coliseum. 

Around the league: 

• Charlie Strong was set up to fail at Texas. - [Fox Sports]
• Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford penned a column for The Players' Tribune about what outsiders don't know about being a GM. [The Players Tribune]
• The New York Times digs into why building a new NFL stadium in Las Vegas is a raw deal for Nevada. [NYT]
• The twilight of Yaya Toure's career in Premier League is upon us. Vice Sports UK looks at what he meant to the Man City and the rest of the league. [Vice Sports UK]
• Tom Brady's college teammates from University of Michigan assure ESPN Brady's going to be out for revenge. [ESPN]

YB IYCMI:

"In some ways, this is football culture’s eternal struggle with a well-known archetype: the diva receiver. It’s been a few years since there was one on par with Chad Johnson or Terrell Owens, though now Beckham’s reputation seems to be hitting that level, even if his flair for the dramatic isn’t quite what theirs are." - How I learned to stop worrying and embrace the diva receiver

"Benintendi's only played 34 games at the major league level this season, but he's proven that he belongs – even in Boston's high-powered offense. He's been hitting .295/.359/.456 with a .357 wOBA as well, and while the power isn't there yet (he only has two home runs so far), he's still proven that he can produce at this level. If he can keep it up, then he can definitely help the Red Sox at big moments and who knows? This could end up being a breakout moment for the rookie." -   Potential X-factors for the 2016 MLB playoffs

"One thing for certain is that no two teams' attacks are the same. The Red Sox overwhelm with a diverse selection of talents, while the Blue Jays beat the walls down. The Cubs are driven by a pair of MVP candidates, but upheld by a relentlessly deep overall roster. The Indians tear the bases up getting around the diamond, while Rangers offer a little bit of everything, and so on and so forth." - Ranking the MLB postseason lineups

"The Rangers. I give them all due credit for making it this far and actually finishing with the best record in the American League this season, but there's one thing that stands out to me, and that's their record in one-run games. They were 36-11 in games decided by one run this year. That is absolutely absurd, and if it holds up then they could very well be the team lifting that golden trophy at the end of the month. However, that's the type of thing that tends to fall apart once you get into a situation like the playoffs." -  Which division winner has the highest chance of being upset in the Divisional Series?

"Last year, the American League Division Series produced two of the more exciting series of the playoffs, with both going the distance to five games. No team in the ALDS this year looks like they’ve really separated themselves from the pack, with every team showing some degree of weakness coming in. However, there are some gems that could carry their teams and jump start a championship run. Here are the hottest players of the American League heading into the Division Series." - Players to watch coming into the ALDS

"In theory, Isaiah Thomas shouldn’t exist. He isn’t the quickest guy in the league, his crossover could be a little more controlled, and lord knows he’s never the biggest guy on the floor, but he continues to inspire awe despite his physical limitations." - Five point guards to watch for the 2016-17 NBA season

The Marlins Man has spoken.