Top News:
ESPN:
Guillen fined, ordered to take sensitivity training for slur — Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen on Thursday was fined an undisclosed amount of money and ordered to undergo sensitivity training for his use of a derogatory term aimed at Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti.
RELATED ITEMS:
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.
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Guillen criticized by Cards coach — Manager, Riske suspended following game vs. Cards — CHICAGO — On a day when a possible feud between Ozzie Guillen and Houston manager Phil Garner ended before it got started, the White Sox manager apparently found a new sparring partner in St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan.
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.
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Ozzie vs. Mariotti: Guillen apologetic, defiant — White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen apologized for his choice of words during a tirade Tuesday directed at Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti. — But Guillen insisted Wednesday that the ongoing war of words between the two is now ''personal,'' and he has no intention of backing down.
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Pedro fires 'home': Ex-Sox ace expects warm Fenway welcome — NEW YORK — Pedro Martinez still calls Boston home. — Technically, he's right, since he still, for now, owns a house here and certainly visits often enough, more frequently than people think.
RELATED ITEMS:
John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Crawford hits home - Sox react to ex-pitcher's drug claims
Crawford hits home - Sox react to ex-pitcher's drug claims
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Sox march on — Lester finishes sweep of NL squad
Sox march on — Lester finishes sweep of NL squad
Discussion:
Boston Globe
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
RELATED ITEMS:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Notes: Daniels frustrated by calls — Rangers GM irked by decisions on close plays — ARLINGTON — Rangers general manager Jon Daniels admitted he is a bit frustrated that three close calls went against his team in two losses to the Padres on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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
RELATED ITEMS:
Charles Odum / Associated Press:
Braves in unexpected free-fall from first to worst — Braves in unexpected free-fall from first to worst — ATLANTA (AP) — At the start of spring training, Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones scanned the names above the clubhouse lockers and made a prediction.
RELATED ITEMS:
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 …
RELATED ITEMS:
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?
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.
RELATED ITEMS:
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers trip Mariners, stop skid — LA finally clicks on all cylinders to halt five-game swoon — LOS ANGELES — A serious situation, like a five-game losing streak, called for serious measures. — So Dodgers manager Grady Little moved Derek Lowe up a day to replace injured starter Brett Tomko …
Discussion:
6-4-2
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 …
Associated Press:
Source revealed — Feds seize reporters' communications in BALCO probe — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — E-mails seized by federal authorities identify the convicted founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative as a source in the San Francisco Chronicle's reporting on the steroids scandal …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Notes: Jays cautious about Burnett — Toronto quietly hoping righty's return solidifies starting rotation — ATLANTA — Aside from two starts in April, A.J. Burnett has been practically invisible. Sure, he's been in Toronto's clubhouse, in the trainer's room and on the field plenty of times …
MLB.com:
Melvin optimistic about second half — General manager chats with fans online … Doug Melvin: It's great to see that even on an off-day Brewers fans want to talk Brewers baseball! I am looking forward to spending the next hour with you all. Let's get started. — bdsoccer: Doug, what will you do with Carlos Lee?
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball