Top News:
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Notes: Righting left field — Ford hot after return from surgery; Kubel back to DH — MILWAUKEE — One of the most unsettled positions for the Twins this season has been left field. — It was just a few weeks ago that manager Ron Gardenhire challenged someone to step up and take the spot.
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La Velle E. Neal III / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Twins: Missed chances, kept secrets — Ron Gardenhire lamented not sweeping the Brewers, but was irritated to hear AFTER the game that Dennys Reyes' shoulder was hurting. — MILWAUKEE - The Twins are losing one reliever per series now, weakening a bullpen that has been durable and dominant for most of the Ron Gardenhire era.
Discussion:
Nick & Nick's Twins Blog
Kelvin Ang / MLB.com:
Jenkins hits 200th career homer — Milestone jack ties game, sets up game-winning single — MILWAUKEE — Geoff Jenkins still remembers standing at his locker after the Brewers' home finale last September, choking back tears after a trying year. — With rumors circulating that he might …
Alan Robinson / Associated Press:
Big Unit strikes out 10, beats Pirates — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Try telling the Pittsburgh Pirates that Randy Johnson is 43 years old. — Johnson, rounding into shape following offseason back surgery, struck out 10 in 5 2-3 innings to win his second start in a row and pitch the Diamondbacks to a 5-2 victory over the Pirates on Sunday.
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Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Big Unit dominant in win over Bucs — Veteran lefty notches season-high 10 strikeouts — PITTSBURGH — There are going to be games when Randy Johnson just doesn't feel good. — After all, he is 43-years-old and is less than seven months removed from major back surgery.
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Delcarmen adds arm to bullpen — After Kason Gabbard [stats] got the win in the Red Sox [team stats]' 6-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves yesterday, he was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket. PawSox reliever Manny Delcarmen will take Gabbard's roster spot in time for tonight's series opener with the Yankees in New York.
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster
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Associated Press:
Sox beat Atlanta, 6-3 — Kason Gabbard came up from Triple-A and struck out a career-high seven batters while shutting Atlanta out for the first five innings to lead the Boston Red Sox [team stats] to a 6-3 victory over the Braves on Sunday. — Called up earlier in the day to make his 2007 debut …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
NY Daily News:
Let's break a deal — Yanks may look to jettison Jason — Jason Giambi's admission to USA Today that he once used steroids could lead to the Yankees taking another shot at voiding his contract. — According to baseball sources familiar with the situation who requested anonymity …
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Maddon keeping an eye on closer's comeback — ST. PETERSBURG - Do you think the Devil Rays could find room in their bullpen for a veteran with a track record of success and a reputation as a tremendous leader? — Former All-Star closer Troy Percival, a longtime favorite of manager Joe Maddon …
Geoff Baker / blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com:
Mariners Blog … M's now five back — Ouch! That one hurts. Another very winnable game goes by the wayside. Over in Los Angeles, Kelivm Escobar does what he's done to every team he's faced this year — save for the Mariners last week — and tosses a three-hit shutout over eight innings.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Down the line — Weaver to St. Louis? Not in the cards — The Cardinals have the worst starting pitching in the National League. Jeff Weaver has been the worst starting pitcher in the American League, for the Mariners. — Weaver and the Cardinals made for a nice combination last season …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
John Perrotto / Baseball Prospectus:
Every Given Sunday: Records Big and Small — Records Big and Small — Barry Bonds insists he doesn't like to talk about his quest to become baseball's all-time home run leader. "I'm tired of talking about me, I'd rather talk about the team," the San Francisco Giants left fielder has said repeatedly in recent weeks.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers pound Astros to win series — egrant@dallasnews.com — HOUSTON - The Rangers are coming home today. Tom Hicks is going to Greece. — Hicks spent the weekend catching up with general manager Jon Daniels on Saturday and on Sunday watching his team drub Houston, 14-1, to win its first road series of the season.
Associated Press:
Dempster goes from closer to starter back to pen — Ryan Dempster was ready to go from closer to starter. The switch was a short one. — After telling reporters Sunday how excited he was to join the Cubs' rotation, he was called in for a meeting with manager Lou Piniella.
