Top News:
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Lester swept up in fun — Lefthander whiffs 10 to finish off Nationals — It was with a small, understated fist pump, and a wipe of the face with the top of his jersey that Jon Lester found a way to celebrate the 92-mile-per-hour fastball that exploded past Matthew LeCroy …
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
He's back — Martínez, eyeing Fenway return, has had a striking impact on Mets — NEW YORK — His words are absent the bitterness he expressed at his parting from the Red Sox 18 months ago. When he returns next week to Fenway Park for the first time since leaving the Sox …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
MLB exec not amused by Macha's humidor remark — (06-22) 04:00 PDT Denver — Ken Macha's statement Tuesday that there should be "an investigation'' into the humidor-stored baseballs at Coors Field didn't go over well with Major League Baseball's executive vice president for baseball operations.
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Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Carroll bandwagon gaining passengers — Greg Reynolds, a pitcher from Stanford who was the Rockies first-round pick in this month s draft, met the media Wednesday at Coors Field. Reynolds plans to sign a contract Friday and then make a brief appearance with the Single-A short-season Tri-City Dust Devils …
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Johnny: Sox fans should hail Pedro — PHILADELPHIA - When the Mets go to Boston next week for Pedro Martinez's first trip to Fenway since leaving town, Johnny Damon hopes the ex-Red Sox ace hears the cheers Damon didn't when he went back. — "He was an absolute god there," Damon said.
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Giambi Says He's Doing Things Right — PHILADELPHIA, June 21 — Because of the reported steroid use of his past and because baseball still does not test for all performance-enhancing drugs, Jason Giambi may never be able to convince people that he is clean.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Pen pitches in for Jaret win — Five Yankees hold Phils to zeroes — PHILADELPHIA - The Yankees are missing two of their top sluggers because Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield are injured, losses that might cripple other teams. But, as Derek Jeter put it, "what we have is what we have.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
David Lefort / Boston Red Sox:
Johnson to Sox — The Red Sox added another arm today, trading for struggling Indians righthander Jason Johnson, who has eight losses and an ERA around 6.00 for the season. The Sox get Johnson and cash consideration in the deal in exchange for a player to be named later and cash.
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Associated Press:
Padres-Rangers Preview — The Texas Rangers ' current stretch of interleague games started off promising, but now the team is hoping to stave off a slump. — The Rangers look to avoid being swept for the second time overall this season when they wrap up their three-game series …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Is Torres taking ball too often? — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Salomon Torres is on pace to finish the year with 95 appearances, one more than Kent Tekulve's franchise record. — But at what cost? — After giving up key runs in his outings Sunday and Monday, Torres' ERA is 4.30 …
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Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Wells looks shaky in season debut — Bucs offense gets off to a hot start, but cools quickly — KANSAS CITY — After a long layoff, Pirates right-hander Kip Wells is going to have to find a way to become reacquainted with the strike zone. — Wells, making his first big league appearance …
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Brain Trust Will Have Meeting of Minds Today — SAN FRANCISCO — Angels owner Arte Moreno, General Manager Bill Stoneman and Manager Mike Scioscia will hold a summit meeting of sorts today in Mesa, Ariz., with an objective of exchanging ideas to improve an underachieving team that is mired …
Jay Mariotti / Chicago Sun Times:
Sensitivity the issue, Guillen the problem — Try as I do, it's hard to view sports as some sort of guiding light for humankind. You want to believe in this stuff after sitting in a Dallas arena and watching Dwyane Wade, a credit to his hometown and as humble as he is spectacular …
Associated Press:
Feds want to know who leaked grand jury testimony — SAN FRANCISCO — The Bush administration urged a federal judge Wednesday to force two San Francisco Chronicle reporters to divulge who leaked them secret grand jury testimony of Barry Bonds and other athletes who took part in the government's probe …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:
Rookie Liriano may blow away even the Rocket — HOUSTON — For now, he's the other news. As in, "And in other news ..." — By the time Thursday's game finishes, however, don't be surprised if the kid opposing Roger Clemens walks with his share of the national spotlight.
Discussion:
The Griddle
Contra Costa Times:
Lowry's lowered velocity raises concern — Giants notebook — SAN FRANCISCO — Noah Lowry's diminished velocity aroused manager Felipe Alou's concern Wednesday. — Alou called Lowry's stuff "very mild," citing the left-hander's fastball, which often ranged in the 84-85 mph neighborhood.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Ump stands by foul call on Teixeira blast — ARLINGTON - The umpires could feel the Rangers pain. — Bill Welke, the first base umpire who called Mark Teixeira's potential game-winning home run foul in the bottom of the ninth Tuesday, said the call was extremely difficult to make.
Mike Kiley / Chicago Sun Times:
Wood realizes he might be done for year — CLEVELAND — Kerry Wood has no concrete answers about what the rest of the season holds for him. Asked if he has doubts about whether he'll pitch again this season, Wood acknowledged that uncertainty is clouding his mind as he continues to work …
