Top News:
Mike Berardino / Sun-Sentinel:
A healthy A.J. Burnett may be what the Jays need — A healthy A.J. Burnett may be piece to puzzle Jays need to finally overtake N.Y., Boston — Nine long years have passed since the American League East last sent any team to the playoffs besides the Yankees or Red Sox.
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Only a mild pinched nerve in neck for Sanchez — TORONTO - In this charmed season, the Mets caught another break yesterday when Duaner Sanchez was diagnosed with a "mild pinched nerve" in his neck. The pain was enough to scare Sanchez into coming out of Friday's game after only two pitches …
Associated Press:
Wells rings Mets' bell, ending New York's road win streak — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — TORONTO — Vernon Wells' latest power surge has brought out the "MVP!" chants from Toronto Blue Jays fans. — Wells homered twice and the Blue Jays ended the New York Mets' franchise record nine …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Humber pleased with return — Pitching prospect has successful first outing after elbow surgery — TORONTO — In the relatively brief time Philip Humber has been in the employ of the Mets, his identity has changed — from draft pick to prospect to pitcher to patient to what he called himself …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets fall to Halladay, Blue Jays — Oliver saves bullpen after Hernandez leaves in the second — TORONTO — One game leans against another in this sport, more than in any other. So it is that the Mets' chance of winning Sunday may have been enhanced by what happened Saturday.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Associated Press:
Injury-depleted Cubs summon Lee for Sunday's game — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — DES MOINES, Iowa — Derrek Lee will be back with the Chicago Cubs for Sunday's game at Minnesota after just one minor league rehab appearance. — The move to activate Lee from the disabled list …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Lee returning Sunday — Lee goes 1-for-4 in 1st rehab game; Womack, Bynum hurt — MINNEAPOLIS — Tony Womack and Freddie Bynum were injured in Saturday's game, with Womack suffering lower back spasms while running the bases in the third inning and Bynum incurring a swollen right arm.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: No 'low point' for Littlefield — LOS ANGELES — The Pirates, quite obviously, have taken a decisive step backward from the modest progress made earlier in the month. — They have gone from feeling good in taking three of four in San Francisco ... to losing a few …
Discussion:
Honest Wagner
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Baltimore Sun:
O's set to sign starter Ortiz … Free-agent starter Russ Ortiz flew to Baltimore yesterday evening to sign a contract with the Orioles. — Ortiz will make a prorated portion of the minimum major league salary, $327,000, and is expected to start for the Orioles immediately.
Ryan Mink / MLB.com:
Cone, Strawberry make Old-Timers debut — Former Yankees reminisce on their days in pinstripes — NEW YORK — Their belt sizes are a bit bigger and steps a little slower, but before Saturday's 60th Yankees Old-Timers' Day, the question was still the same. — You ready to go?
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Better shop around: Rangers to trade lefty — Club says there is interest around league in 21-year-old reliever — DENVER - Unable to balance having an unproven reliever in the bullpen of a team with division championship aspirations, the Rangers will try to extract some help from Fabio Castro in another manner.
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Suzanne Smalley / Boston Globe:
Visiting player hit wife, police charge — Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers and his wife were walking back from a bar late Thursday night to their Back Bay hotel when an argument broke out. Authorities and witnesses say Myers then assaulted his wife, leaving her sitting on the sidewalk with a swollen face, crying.
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
As Upton waits, trading Lugo makes sense — ST. PETERSBURG - Within the next five weeks, the Devil Rays must make two decisions that could have a major impact on the team's short- and long-term future. — One is whether to trade shortstop Julio Lugo. The other is whether to promote shortstop B.J. Upton from Triple A.
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Abercrombie gets tutoring — NEW YORK — Outfielder Reggie Abercrombie had no problem finding his way to Yankee Stadium on Saturday. — He made sure he didn't get lost like he did Friday when he took the wrong train and wound up at Shea Stadium in Queens before finding his way to the Bronx.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards Insider: Duncan battles nepotism perception — DETROIT — Chris Duncan probably will start in Memphis' outfield Sunday. A week ago, he was in the Cardinals' clubhouse as they concluded a three-game series against Colorado, and Wednesday he endured an 0-for-four night against the Chicago White Sox.
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
For Rocker, it's been there, done that — John Rocker walked into the room to meet the man assigned to conduct his Major League Baseball-mandated sensitivity training six years ago and walked out shortly thereafter with the discussion delving no deeper than the weather.
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Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Home Away From Home — BALTIMORE The old video of Frank Robinson hitting a home run for the Orioles at Memorial Stadium ran on the scoreboard before the bottom of the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Friday night before a full house of 48,331.