Top News:
Los Angeles Times:
Clemens, Others Implicated in Banned Drug Case — The star pitcher and five other players used performance-enhancers, says the document, allegedly quoting a former teammate. — Roger Clemens, one of professional baseball's most durable and successful pitchers, is among six players allegedly linked …
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Baltimore Sun:
Dark revelations again put cloud over O's organization — Ever since Rafael Palmeiro packed his bats and syringes and left town, the Orioles have opened their shutters every morning waiting for that ominous dark cloud to disappear. We know now that it hasn't.
Associated Press:
Report: Grimsley names six players — Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Miguel Tejada were among the players that a former major league pitcher accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, according to a federal agent's affidavit, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday on its Web site.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Big 1st step for the Big Unit — Back is on right track — The real gauge of Randy Johnson's injured back comes today, when he will throw about 40 pitches off a mound to test the herniated disk that imperils his chances of pitching in next week's division series.
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Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Pen will tell story — Unit's mound session today will let him know if his bad back can go — Randy Johnson will climb atop the bullpen mound at Yankee Stadium this morning and test his aching back. Only then will he begin to know if he can do the same thing on a real mound in the playoffs.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:Yankees' Roster Is Set; Status of Johnson Isn't
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:Giambi Injury Puts Sheffield at First Base for Playoffs
Discussion:
NY Daily News
Gil LeBreton / Dallas Star-Telegram:
No need to fire Buck; he'll resign — In Seattle today, Buck Showalter will manage his final game with the Rangers. — That's not a scoop, nor is it an announcement. — Owner Tom Hicks, in fact, told the [Randy] Galloway and Co. radio audience on ESPN/103.3 FM on Friday that the manager's fate remains "open-ended."
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Futures game — Can Rangers change their prospects? — The Rangers truly believed they could be a playoff team this year. So the disappointment at failing is every bit as real as if everyone else had thought so, too. — "It's always disappointing when you don't accomplish the things …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers' Millwood: 'Exactly as advertised' — SEATTLE - Though he suffered a loss Saturday, Kevin Millwood put the finishing touches on a hallmark season. It does seem possible now that a big-time starting pitcher can come to Texas and continue to thrive.
Denver Post:
Tale of two seasons — After a promising start, Rockies return to mediocrity … On May 8 in St. Louis, the Rockies, powered by two home runs from Matt Holliday and a sterling start from lefty Jeff Francis, beat the Cardinals 6-2, improved to 20-13 and climbed seven games above .500 for the first time since July 7, 2000.
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Irv Moss / Denver Post:
Harvest from farm fruitful — But yield won't fill all Rockies' needs for 2007 season — A search of the top of the Rockies' minor-league clubs over the past six weeks of the big-league season has produced several players who have given manager Clint Hurdle reason to say they'll help Colorado be a better team in 2007.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
GM sees errors of his trades — Epstein mapping plans for '07 Sox — Of all the questions swirling around the Red Sox this offseason, from the future address of outfielder Manny Ramírez, to the role of pitcher Jonathan Papelbon, to the keep-him-or-not debate over shortstop Alex Gonzalez …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Robinson's departure a hot topic — Hall of Famer will manage his final game with Nats on Sunday — WASHINGTON — Nationals bench coach Eddie Rodriguez was one person who had a tough time keeping his emotions in check on Saturday. — Early in the day, Rodriguez went into Robinson's office to give him a thank you card.
Discussion:
District of Baseball
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Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Under the radar — Twins' Mauer, Pirates' Sanchez unlikely batting title candidates — "There's nothing wrong with me," he said. "I feel fine." — Just in case, setup man Justin Duchscherer has gone 9-for-11 in save tries. — Class act — Alan Trammell, the longtime Detroit shortstop …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Have stats, will travel — Soriano going places after a huge season — In another time and under a different set of circumstances, Alfonso Soriano would be the face of the Washington Nationals for the long haul. But they are still two years from opening a new ballpark …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
The Evvy Awards: Check the hauls — Winners, losers on display at second annual Evvys — It's that time of year again. Another Rangers season ends today without a playoff berth. And another edition of the Evvy Awards is about to roll your way. — Haven't heard of the Evvys? Don't worry.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Howard taking MVP swings — Like a lot of people who have seen Ryan Howard swing, Clint Barmes remembers the terror that flashed though his mind the first time he saw him take a cut. — Howard was at Southwest Missouri State on his upward path to stardom. Barmes was a budding star at Indiana State.
Discussion:
Purple Row
NY Daily News:
Willie: Haze run of mill — WASHINGTON - Willie Randolph insists the treatment Lastings Milledge has been getting from teammates is the routine stuff that happens to rookies. The actions and words of everyone else in the Mets' clubhouse say otherwise. — When Milledge came off …
