Top News:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
1-hit thunder — Thome only batter to crack Cards' Reyes— with solo HR in 7th to complete sweep — Several thousand White Sox fans turned Thursday to a suite behind home plate where their suspended manager was seated and chanted "Ozzie, Ozzie." — But Freddy Garcia and Jim Thome deserved …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
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Associated Press:
Cardinals activate Pujols, place Mulder on disabled list — CHICAGO (AP) — Albert Pujols came off the disabled list Thursday and returned to the St. Louis Cardinals' lineup for their series finale against the Chicago White Sox. — The 2005 NL MVP played first base and batted third.
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Cards look to Reyes to avoid sweep — St. Louis (42-28) at White Sox (46-25), 7:05 p.m. CT — The Cardinals will try to stave off a sweep on Wednesday night when they send rookie right-hander Anthony Reyes to the mound against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Guillen, Duncan feud over plunking
Guillen, Duncan feud over plunking
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Rick Morrissey / Chicago Tribune:
The right way: You write it, you show up — Sometimes I get the feeling that what I do for a living is a complete mystery to people. — Mostly I get this feeling when readers tell me to stick to the facts and stop introducing opinion into my columns. — This is like telling Mike Ditka to stop with the red meat already.
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
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Jamey Eisenberg / Palm Beach Post:
Girardi: N.Y. trip just another series — BALTIMORE — Marlins manager Joe Girardi is looking forward to returning to Yankee Stadium for this weekend's three-game series against the Yankees. — Girardi played for the Yankees from 1996-99, was an announcer for the team in 2004 and was bench coach for Joe Torre in 2005.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Jamey Eisenberg / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins rally to stun Orioles — BALTIMORE — The Marlins' biggest comeback of the season might have been their most miraculous. — Back-to-back pinch-hit home runs by Joe Borchard and Wes Helms in the bottom of the ninth and a single by Miguel Cabrera while he was being intentionally walked …
Boston Globe:
Steroids and more taints — UNTIL THIS week, Paxton Crawford was a name known only by the most hardened Red Sox fans, a pitcher with just 15 appearances with the Sox in 2000 and 2001. Then ESPN The Magazine published his admission of steroid use starting in 1999 and including his time with the Boston team.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Robinson proud of his work with Nats — Skipper unsure of his future under new ownership group … MLB.com: Ever since Major League Baseball named the Lerner group as the new owners of the Nationals, there has been non-stop speculation about your future with the club. What is your take on your future with this team?
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
A Legend's Uncertain Future — The past is the past, and no one's taking it away from Frank Robinson, least of all those in Baltimore, where he will arrive today to manage the 2,155th game of his major league career. "I am attached to Baltimore," he said this week, "and I always will be."
NY Daily News:
Junior achievement: Staying on the field — Just before he left his Orlando home for the trek south to the Cincinnati Reds' spring training camp in Sarasota in February, Ken Griffey Jr.'s 10-year-old daughter Taryn called him aside to ask him a question. — "How many years have you been playing baseball, Daddy?" she asked.
Discussion:
Red Hot Mama
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USA Today:
Indians have GM Shapiro wondering — I warned Mark Shapiro the fastball was coming down the middle: What in the world is wrong with the Cleveland Indians? — Not the best way to start an interview about the collapse of one of baseball's highly regarded teams for 2006, but why beat around the bush?
Baltimore Sun:
Segui's road trips for hGH lack muscle of credibility — Idon't understand why everyone is so skeptical about David Segui and his explanation for using human growth hormone, though I have to admit that I was a little concerned when I found out they don't have any doctors in Kansas.
Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Danks promoted to Triple-A — ARLINGTON - Left-handed starter John Danks took what general manager Jon Daniels described as a "big step" Thursday. He was promoted to Oklahoma and will make his first career Triple-A start Saturday. — "John's commanding his three pitches well now …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Slugger Shealy draws interest from Orioles — The Baltimore Orioles have expressed interest in acquiring Ryan Shealy, increasing the likelihood the Triple-A slugger will be traded. — Because Todd Helton is cemented with the Rockies, Shealy's departure has been expected since he performed well in interleague play last season.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Johnny hitting the spot — The first 70 games of his Yankee life are in the books and this is what Johnny Damon thinks of his season, so far: "I feel OK about it. I don't feel great. — "It could be better." — While Damon may be taking the self-flagellating approach …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Mike Berardino / Sun-Sentinel:
Loria's offer to Bonds draws ire — Jeffrey Loria's generosity with ballplayers is well known, but a recent example landed the Marlins owner in hot water with at least one of his National League rivals. — When the San Francisco Giants were in South Florida last month …