Top News:
MLB.com:
Outfielder Angel Pagan recalled; Outfielder Felix Pie optioned to Triple-A Iowa — CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs today recalled switch-hitting outfielder Angel Pagan from Triple-A Iowa. In a corresponding roster move, left-handed hitting outfielder Felix Pie was optioned to Iowa.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
No more Pie for Cubs — Felix Pie's demotion to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday was no surprise with the glut of left-handed hitting outfielders on the roster. — The Cubs finally decided that having Pie come off the bench as a late-inning defensive replacement was hurting his chances to develop …
Discussion:
Ivy Chat
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Marquis tosses brilliant three-hitter — Righty gets first complete game since '05; Soriano goes deep — CHICAGO — Jason Marquis gave the Cubs exactly what they needed Wednesday night. — Alfonso Soriano hit his 34th career leadoff homer to back Marquis' three-hit shutout and lift …
RotoAuthority / MLB Trade Rumors:
Time For Blue Jays To Think About '08? — With about 20% of the season in the books, the Blue Jays are last in the AL East and seven games under .500. Baseball Prospectus's Postseason Odds report says they have an 11.29% chance of reaching the playoffs. Looking at their runs scored and allowed …
Discussion:
The Baseball Files
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Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:
Good Side Effects — Dice-K's Extra Work Pays Off — TORONTO — To say that Daisuke Matsuzaka corrected the flaws in his mechanics Wednesday night was hardly a stretch. — After three consecutive mediocre starts - and with observers from two continents diagnosing his problems pitching …
Jeff Blair / Globe and Mail:
'Next year' is approaching fast — Toronto — Now that everyone's decided the manager, his coaches, the general manager, the trainers, Paul Godfrey and Alex Rios need to go — so far, there have been no calls for Cito Gaston's head — let's take a minute to consider the question …
Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Roger snaps at photog — LEXINGTON, Ky. - Roger Clemens went from George Steinbrenner's pulpit at the Stadium on Sunday to his own bully pulpit yesterday. — After watching his son Koby play in the Class-A Lexington Legends' 5-3 loss to Lake County yesterday morning …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Green suffering haircut remorse — Minaya joins bald brigade; Reyes considering getting buzzed — SAN FRANCISCO — It was the morning after the night before, and Shawn Green was suffering with hair hangover. The Mets right fielder, aka Shorn Green, was no more comfortable …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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Michael Morrissey / New York Post:
WIL GETS FIRST HIT SINCE '02 — Derek Jeter Jeter and Robinson Cano couldn't help laughing, and with good cause. Wil Nieves finally mustered his first hit in the majors since 2002, and the first thing he did was get thrown out. — The Yankees' backup catcher was caught stretching …
Discussion:
baseballtoaster.com
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Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Patriotism, Defined and Enforced — The most patriotic moments at Yankee Stadium can also be the most confining. — Seconds before "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America" are played, police officers, security guards and ushers turn their backs to the American flag in center field …
Discussion:
SportsJustice
Andrew Bagnato / Associated Press:
Howard's pinch slam powers Phillies — PHOENIX (AP) — Ryan Howard hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh inning to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night. — Howard, who entered hitting .198, hit reliever Brandon Medders' (1-1) …
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Paying the Price For a Plan — Stan Kasten is an idiot. Admit it, that's what you want to scream. The Washington Nationals' president gambled that his team's luck wouldn't be too bad this season. That way, despite a payroll purge, he might avoid having a historically awful team. So, what happens?
Salon:
King Kaufman's Sports Daily — An ESPN-ABC News poll has found that black baseball fans are more than twice as likely as white fans to be rooting for Barry Bonds to break Henry Aaron's career home run record, and white fans are more than twice as likely as black fans to believe …
Discussion:
Catbird in the Nosebleed Seats
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John Hollinger / ESPN:
Fisher delivers in every way — SALT LAKE CITY — It was Derek Fisher's night ... and for that, he can thank his former teammates. — Fisher forced a key turnover in the final seconds of regulation, then hit a key 3-pointer in overtime to clinch the victory as Utah beat Golden State 127-117 …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Why the defending World Series champs struggle — Maybe the Cardinals turn this around. They are, after all, the Cardinals, defending World Series champions, a post-season club six of the past seven seasons, the team with perhaps the best G.M./manager/pitching coach combination in the game.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Acta says attitude is important — Nats skipper likes effort; hitting hasn't meshed with pitching — MILWAUKEE — Despite watching his team lose seven out of its first eight games on this current road trip, Nationals manager Manny Acta continues to be optimistic that his team can turn the season around.
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
