Top News:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Barrett starts suspension — CLEVELAND — Michael Barrett's defense for punching White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski was found lacking by Major League Baseball, which refused Monday to reduce his 10-game suspension. — Barrett began serving the suspension immediately, and will be eligible to return June 30 …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Barrett's 10-game suspension upheld — Cubs catcher begins to serve penalty Monday in Cleveland — CHICAGO — Major League Baseball arbitrator John McHale Jr. upheld the 10-game suspension issued for Cubs catcher Michael Barrett, who was to begin serving the penalty Monday night when the team opened a three-game series in Cleveland.
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
This one really hurts — WASHINGTON — Once Chien-Ming Wang released his 107th pitch yesterday, the Yankees saw trouble coming. Joe Torre knew right away that it was higher than it should have been, so hittable that catcher Jorge Posada hoped Ryan Zimmerman would not swing. — But the Yankees weren't that lucky.
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Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Notes: Dotel close to joining Yankees — Reliever heading to Trenton to finish rehab assignment — PHILADELPHIA — Octavio Dotel walked into the Yankees' clubhouse on Monday at Citizens Bank Park, but the right-hander was not there to join his teammates in the bullpen.
Discussion:
Off the Facade
Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Notes: Tracy voices his concerns — Skipper wants to diffuse mentality of losing on club — PITTSBURGH — This much is certain 70 games through Jim Tracy's first season as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates: He's determined to do whatever he possibly can to change an atmosphere of losing …
Discussion:
Where have you gone …
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Alan Robinson / Associated Press:
Tough plays or not, Tracy says Pirates must change thinking, execution — Tough plays or not, Tracy says Pirates must change thinking, execution — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates manager Jim Tracy said Monday he never intentionally reprimands a player in public …
Discussion:
The Catbird …
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:Chicago hopeless — CHICAGO - Slowly and deliberately …
Discussion:
1060west
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Rays fighting problems on and off the field … The Tampa Bay Devil Rays rank 29th in the majors in attendance with 15,420 fans per game. Tropicana Field would be even more of an echo chamber if not for the roving bands of Red Sox and Yankees fans who spread their special brand of joy at parks around the American League.
Discussion:
Double Play Depth
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Fox Sports:
Devil Rays need to keep prospects on track — It you were to pinpoint the top accomplishment in Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise history, you'd probably choose this: in 2004, they lost "only" 91 games and managed to finish somewhere other than last place. — That's to say, it's been a dismal …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Red Sox kick off nine-game homestand — Washington (32-39) at Boston (39-28), 7:05 p.m. ET — After spending the wee hours of Monday morning flying the friendly skies back to Boston, the Red Sox figure to be a bit weary by the time they take the field for the opener of this three-game series against the Nationals.
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USA Today:
Beltre having hard time living up to lofty expectations — As the Dominican Republic advanced to the World Baseball Classic semifinals in March, one particularly potent batter stood out in a fearsome lineup that included Albert Pujols, David Ortiz and Miguel Tejada: — Third baseman Adrian Beltre.
Baseball America:
Huge Incentive To Play Baseball — If Jeff Samardzija's career works out the way he and the Cubs hope, he will end up receiving one of the largest signing bonuses ever given to an amateur player. — Samardzija, a fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, agreed in principle with the Cubs …
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Friendship transcends diamond — White Sox owner, former manager remain close friends — CHICAGO — Somewhere in Chicago on Monday night, at a restaurant featuring good food and a place for good conversation, Jerry Reinsdorf and Tony La Russa will sit down for dinner.
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Left in the dark — There is a hilarious commercial playing on the radio these days. It is for Major League Baseball's online video-streaming service, and the announcer states with all the zeal of a snake-oil salesman: "Sign up for MLB.TV and never miss a game again!" — Bill Reed is the punch line.
Discussion:
Straight Flushing
mlb.mlb.com:
Soriano and Bay break into top three outfield spots; Reyes winning voting race for shortstop — Alfonso Soriano of the Washington Nationals and Jason Bay of the Pittsburgh Pirates have advanced into second and third place, respectively, among outfielders while Jose Reyes of the New York Mets …
Baltimore Sun:
Rotation shift irks R. Lopez … NEW YORK // An agitated Rodrigo Lopez declined to endorse the decision of Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo to push the right-hander's start back from tomorrow to Friday, saying yesterday that he's "not OK with it." — Perlozzo emphasized that he wasn't skipping Lopez.
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Warning path isn't quite enough — Unpadded concrete danger to outfielders — ANAHEIM - Why is there exposed concrete at the base of the outfield walls at Angel Stadium, such as where Dave Roberts slammed his right knee yesterday? — Angels officials were trying to answer that question …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Patterson May Pitch On Friday — The wait for John Patterson and the Washington Nationals could finally end Friday, when the right-hander is scheduled to be activated from the disabled list and pitch his first major league game since April 21. — Patterson, on the disabled list …
