Top News:
Jason Brummond / MLB.com:
Sox head south for Interleague series — Boston (36-28) at Atlanta (30-37), 7:35 p.m. ET — The Boston bullpen, which has struggled this week in tight situations, may be under even more pressure in the National League environment over the next 15 games. — For the Red Sox …
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Riske trade lands Lopez: Club adds left-hander to bullpen — MINNEAPOLIS - The Red Sox yesterday made a move in their attempt to bolster a thinning pitching staff by shipping right-handed reliever David Riske to the Chicago White Sox for minor league left-hander and former Sox property Javier Lopez.
Kevin Fiorenzo / MLB.com:
Braves trying to break skid — Boston (36-28) at Atlanta (30-37), 7:35 p.m. ET — On Friday night, the Braves will be sharing the same field with the Red Sox, but for a long time they were sharing the same city. — Before becoming the Atlanta Braves, or even the Milwaukee Braves, the team spent 78 years as the Boston Braves.
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Bullpen Coach Wetteland Is Given the Boot — The Washington Nationals fired bullpen coach John Wetteland yesterday, a move made at the behest of Manager Frank Robinson, who said he could no longer put up with what he considered to be a long line of transgressions and insubordination that was affecting the chemistry of his relief corps.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Rockies Complete Sweep Of Nats — When the latest humiliation ended and an 8-1 thrashing at the hands of the Colorado Rockies became official, Frank Robinson remained on the top step of the home dugout at RFK Stadium. He turned to face his team as they scooped up their belongings and headed to the clubhouse.
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
Another Rookie Mistake by Milledge — PHILADELPHIA, June 15 — At the end of this feel-good trip, as the Mets exchanged hugs and high-fives, Manager Willie Randolph wrapped Lastings Milledge in a long headlock. — Randolph was having fun with Milledge, not punishing him.
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Big names not likely to get traded … Two weeks left until July. And you know what that means. — Rumorfest 2006 is about to erupt, any minute now. — So we want you to be ready. We want you to be educated. We want you to know the truth about all those names you've been hearing and reading and fantasizing about.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Los Angeles Times:
Not a 'Character Guy,' Bradley Still a Character — OAKLAND — Milton Bradley playing on the same field here as the Raiders, now tell me that isn't apropos, and the easy cheap shot. — But then I've always liked Bradley, find him engaging and competitive and still maintain he could have become …
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Josh Suchon / insidebayarea.com:
A's Notes: Ex-GM DePodesta enjoys life — OAKLAND — For the better part of Paul DePodesta's adult life, the 7 p.m. hour meant it was five minutes from first pitch. — These days, that's bathing time for his 2-year-old son and 5-month-old daughter, and DePodesta is happy to spend the time with his family in their Los Angeles home.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Same old scenario: Cubs lose — With Zambrano gone, Astros rally to complete sweep — Carlos Zambrano's arm was feeling heavy Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field, while a crowd of 40,236 was feeling somewhat nauseated. — In a scene that has been replayed over and over this season …
Discussion:
Goat Riders of the Apocalypse
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Murton's regular days may be over — Platoon with Bynum seen as temporary solution in left field — The Cubs gambled Matt Murton could become a regular left fielder in 2006, but the experiment soon may be ending. — Manager Dusty Baker inserted Freddie Bynum there Thursday and conceded he was considering a platoon situation.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets running away — End 9-1 trip ahead by 9 1/2 — PHILADELPHIA - Omar Minaya drove down the New Jersey Turnpike for yesterday's crowning achievement on a historic road trip. And after a 5-4 win that completed a sweep of the second-place Phillies, the Mets GM openly acknowledged …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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Bernie Wilson / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres fire Magadan as hitting coach, hire Rettenmund — SAN DIEGO - With the worst team batting average in the NL and the third-fewest homers in the majors, the San Diego Padres fired Dave Magadan as hitting coach on Thursday and replaced him with the popular Merv Rettenmund.
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Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres lose, choose new/old hitting guru
Padres lose, choose new/old hitting guru
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Ross homers a day after being hit in jaw with pitch — MIAMI GARDENS — Outfielder Cody Ross was back in the starting lineup Thursday — and homered in his first at-bat — one day after getting hit in the jaw with a fastball. — Ross' jaw still was sore and his lower lip was swollen …
Discussion:
Ben Maller
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Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Top pick agrees to deal; signing bonus $1.525M
Top pick agrees to deal; signing bonus $1.525M
Discussion:
FishStripes
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Under The Knife — Two Questions — I constantly get asked if I want a job in baseball. (Seldom does someone in baseball ask it, you'll note.) I say I have the best job in the world and remind people that I'm the least qualified person I know. Sure, I dream like every …
MLB.com:
Floyd: Nothing like winning in New York — There's still a lot of baseball left, but there is no feeling like winning in New York. Our fans here have been unbelievable and I look forward to giving them something to cheer about this season. — It's been hard for Mets fans in recent years, certainly since I joined the team in 2003.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Pat / Where have you gone, Andy Van Slyke?:
Mr. Robert Kip Wells — Kip Wells is due back in the rotation before the end of the month after missing most of the first three months of 2006 coming back from a blood clot that had formed in his pitching shoulder. We know that Kip Wells was a rather promising young pitcher in his first two years …