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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Associated Press:
Mariners-Padres Preview — The San Diego Padres will send resurgent Chan Ho Park to the mound when they continue a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at Petco Park on Saturday. — Park (5-3, 4.15 ERA) is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA over his last four starts.
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
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Amanda Branam / MLB.com:
Padres, Park ready for Mariners — San Diego (38-34) vs. Seattle (36-38) 7:05 p.m. PT — It seems like the Padres are getting this whole Interleague Play thing figured out. — After getting swept by the Mariners the first weekend of Interleague Play, the Padres have won five …
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Phillies should have stopped Myers's start — Here's a toast to the fans who filled Fenway Park yesterday afternoon. David Ortiz rewarded the throng with yet another walkoff wonder, but this crowd did itself proud long before Big Papi unloaded his latest game-winning thunderbolt.
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Matthew Borenstein / MLB.com:
Kim, Rockies set sights on rubber game — Texas (40-35) at Colorado (37-37), 1:05 p.m. MT — He's not a soccer fan. In fact, he never even played. He's not following the World Cup. But that doesn't stop the always relaxing Byung-Hyun Kim from playing a World Cup video …
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ESPN:
Report: Rocker calls sensitivity training a 'farce' — Ozzie Guillen was ordered to attend sensitivity training for a homophobic slur he made about Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti. According to John Rocker, Guillen won't get anything out of it. — When Rocker was ordered …
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Jay Mariotti / Chicago Sun Times:
Ozzie's slurring topped only by Ozzie's skating — I keep thinking of a sportswriter who was suspended 30 days, without pay, for a first-case slip of the tongue. I keep thinking of an owner who was banished from baseball, a general manager who was disgraced for life, broadcasters who have lost their jobs.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Womack, Bynum exit with injuries — Second baseman suffers back spasms, outfielder a swollen arm — MINNEAPOLIS — The Chicago Cubs could have a 22-man roster on Sunday after losing both Tony Womack and Freddie Bynum to injuries. — Womack had to leave Saturday's game against the Minnesota Twins …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Back Injury Puts McPherson on DL — PHOENIX — Dallas McPherson bent over to field a ground ball during batting practice Friday, something he does hundreds of times a week. Only this time, his lower back locked up and the subsequent spasms sent the third baseman to the 15-day disabled list Saturday.
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Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rockies' big first inning helps deep-six Rangers — DENVER — While some may believe the old proverb that dog is man's best friend, Robinson Tejeda hoped to differ. Saturday night, the Rangers pitcher's best friend was almost Mother Nature. — Unfortunately for Tejeda, she wasn't enough of a pal.
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Better shop around: Rangers to trade lefty
Better shop around: Rangers to trade lefty
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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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Joe Lapointe / New York Times:
To Gossage, Bonds Isn't Fit for Hall — Goose Gossage, a Hall of Fame candidate with strong opinions on most baseball subjects, suited up for Old-Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium yesterday. With Barry Bonds accused of using steroids, does Gossage think Bonds's pursuit of Hank Aaron's home run record of 755 is legitimate?
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Ortiz is be-all, end-all — His walkoff HR in 10th propels Sox — The ball barely had touched off the black sheeting in center field when a white-towel-whipping Jonathan Papelbon (and the rest of the Red Sox) spilled out of the dugout bound for home plate and another wild reception …
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Unexplained in Oakland: The Annual About-Face — Oakland players after beating the Dodgers in the 17th inning on June 17 for their 10th straight victory. The Athletics, keeping with tradition, have won 17 of their last 22 games. — THE Oakland Athletics need not be students of history to avoid panic.
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.
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?