Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Bowden active in trade talks — General manager in daily discussions regarding potentials deals — WASHINGTON — Nationals general manager Jim Bowden is having daily discussions with opposing general managers when it comes to making possible trades.
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Zimmerman's Homer Lifts Nationals Over Yankees — Sitting along the third base line more than 20 rows from the Washington Nationals' dugout at RFK Stadium, Keith Zimmerman watched New York Yankees left fielder Melky Cabrera run down a blast off the bat of Jose Vidro to end the eighth inning …
ESPN:
Transcript: David Segui's interview with ESPN … David Segui, in an interview with ESPN's Jeremy Schaap on Saturday, admitted that his was one of the names redacted in an IRS affidavit that claims Jason Grimsley received two kits of human growth hormone. Portions of that conversation …
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Yost finesses lineup — Weeks getting comfortable with the leadoff spot — MILWAUKEE — Brewers manager Ned Yost shuffled the deck again on Saturday, still looking for the right offensive mix nearly halfway into the season. — Yost batted Rickie Weeks in his usual leadoff hole …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Are 13-man staff's days ending? — With Helling set to return, Brewers could add a hitter — MILWAUKEE — When the Brewers elected to become the league's only team with a 13-man pitching staff in mid-April, manager Ned Yost had to sell the move to bench coach Robin Yount.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Schilling faces Smoltz in classic battle — Boston (38-28) at Atlanta (30-39), 8:05 p.m. ET — The rubber match has been a long time coming for Curt Schilling and John Smoltz, two of the best big-game pitchers of this era. Talk about a matchup fit for the stage of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Smoltz takes on Schilling in finale — Boston (38-28) at Atlanta (30-39), 8:05 p.m. ET — If the Braves are going to prevent being swept in a second straight series, they're going to need John Smoltz to break out of his recent funk and emerge victorious against Curt Schilling and the Red Sox.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Pitcher takes a big step — ARLINGTON — A few days ago, there was reason to worry. John Koronka's aura had faded. The man who was the surprise of the season had become predictable and not in a good way. — Koronka was not exactly his early-season self Saturday.
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers' attendance off more than 11 percent
Rangers' attendance off more than 11 percent
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Ryan Crawford / MLB.com:
Cubs sign two-sport star Samardzija — Fifth-round pick to pitch until football season starts in August — CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs on Sunday agreed in principle to a contract with Jeff Samardzija, a two-sport star from the University of Notre Dame. — Samardzija, a right-handed pitcher …
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
Associated Press:
Padres-Angels Preview — Bartolo Colon may be the ace of the Los Angeles Angels pitching staff, but he may have a tough time matching the performance of his replacement when he returns to the mound on Sunday for the first time in two months. — Colon tries to help the Los Angeles Angels …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
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Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
White's Reds stint to come to an end — Hurler will be designated for assignment Monday — CINCINNATI — Reliever Rick White's dream has ended. — Following Sunday's 8-1 loss to the White Sox, White learned he will be designated for assignment by the Reds on Monday.
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
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Fox Sports:
These guys could be due for a reality check — At this moment in time, we have a whopping 18 teams within five games or fewer of a playoff berth. — Of course, we're still almost a month from the All-Star break, so that pool of contenders will certainly be winnowed down over the next few weeks.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Loe headed to disabled list — Right-hander experiencing soreness in right elbow — ARLINGTON — The Rangers are placing pitcher Kameron Loe on the disabled list because of soreness in his right elbow. — The Rangers are expected to call up either right-hander Robinson Tejeda …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
Bombers cut Small, Beam up rook — WASHINGTON - Aaron Small appeared from nowhere last summer to help save the Yankees' season. Yesterday, he quietly faded away. — With Kyle Farnsworth likely sidelined for at least the weekend with back spasms, the Yanks needed to strengthen …
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Rick Eymer / MLB.com:
Notes: Karsay ends career the right way — Reliever retires after getting win in 17-inning A's victory — OAKLAND — After 17 years and three major surgeries, Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Steve Karsay decided to call it quits less than 24 hours after winning his first game in nearly four years.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Pat Borzi / New York Times:
Celebration to Surgery For Three College Pitching Stars — Three sophomore pitchers — from left, Jeff Niemann, Wade Townsend and Philip Humber — helped Rice win the 2003 College World Series. They were among the first eight picks in the 2004 major league draft.
Sports Central:
Lost in Space: Bill Lee Interview — Bill Lee's outspokenness and wit has overshadowed a fine pitching career in which he won 17 games three years running, and gave up only a walk every four innings in his heyday. — Sports Central caught Lee in the Washington, DC area …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding