Top News:
Screech's Best Friend / Nats320:
Nurturing His Best — Yeah, "The Guz" hit his first home run since 2005. Dimitri Young and Felipe Lopez continue to wield Hot Bats. "The Chief" closed out a tight 4-3 win. And, Our Washington Nationals are no longer the holder of the WORST RECORD IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.
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Ctrosecrans / Cincinnati Reds:
Redlegs-Leatherpants 5.24 — My sources tell me Gary Majewski is in the building. I've heard rumblings about which pitcher named after a beverage has been sent down, but have not confirmed that yet. You know I will as soon as I get it. — Freel cf — Gonzalez ss — Griffey rf
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
Associated Press:
Marlins drop Phils in 11 — MIAMI (AP) — The Marlins and Phillies swapped shoves in a standoff Thursday night, then played past midnight before Miguel Cabrera made Florida a winner. — Cabrera doubled off the scoreboard to score Hanley Ramirez from first base with no outs in the 11th inning, and the Marlins beat the Phillies 5-4.
Discussion:
Archie Bunker's Army
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins pitchers plagued by walks — MIAMI GARDENS — The most walks the Marlins allowed in a game was 12 on Oct. 5, 2001, but that record should have an asterisk. Outfielder John Mabry, called in to pitch during a 20-3 loss to the Braves, walked three batters.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Tim Kirby / MLB.com:
Tigers hang on to oust Angels — Ordonez homers twice; bullpen gives up three runs — DETROIT — A series of bizarre events unfolded in the ninth inning of the Tigers' game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Comerica Park. — A fan ran onto the field and disrupted …
Discussion:
Roar of the Tigers
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Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Santana struggles in loss to Tigers — Angels starter gives up eight earned runs in 3 2/3 innings — DETROIT — Starting pitching is the engine that drives the Angels. — The past three days in the Motor City, it sputtered and misfired like an Edsel that hadn't been out of the garage for decades.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Lester right on course — He retires the first 11 in rehab start — Lefthander Jon Lester took another significant step toward a return to Boston, allowing just one run on five hits in five innings in Pawtucket last night. — Lester retired the first 11 batters of the game and left with the score tied at 1.
Associated Press:
Hancock's father files suit against restaurant — ST. LOUIS — The father of Josh Hancock filed suit Thursday, claiming a restaurant provided drinks to the St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher even though he was intoxicated prior to the crash that killed him.
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Percival's comeback intriguing to Marlins — · The Marlins' search for a closer has shifted back outside the organization. — A source who has spoken with the club said Wednesday the Marlins are closely monitoring Troy Percival's comeback bid. A long-time member of the Los Angeles Angels …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Braun brought up for his bat — Dessens placed on 15-day DL — San Diego - With third base turning into a black hole offensively in a lineup struggling to score runs, the Milwaukee Brewers could wait no longer to call up Ryan Braun. — The Brewers announced late Thursday night that Braun …
Charles Odum / Associated Press:
Braves' Smoltz gets 200th win, tops Mets — ATLANTA (AP) — For only the second time in a regular-season game, John Smoltz sensed an extra excitement that normally only comes in the postseason. — "Euphoria," Smoltz said. — For baseball's all-time leader in postseason wins, the added edge made him feel right at home.
Dawn Klemish / MLB.com:
Ramirez leaves game with tightness — Pitcher listed as day-to-day, will be re-evaluated — ST. PETERSBURG — Mariners lefty Horacio Ramirez left Thursday's start after just two innings, but was optimistic that the shoulder tightness he felt wasn't going to keep him out of action for too long.
Discussion:
Caffeinated Confines
Dan Fox / Baseball Prospectus:
Batter Versus Pitcher, Gameday Style — "Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop." —Lewis Carroll (1832 - 1898), Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, said by the King to the White Rabbit — There's no doubt that baseball provides a vast number of avenues for the fan who wants to sift through data.
Discussion:
Dan Agonistes
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The Young Nucleus / WBRS Sports Blog:
Michael Vick Just Makes It Too Easy — "Turn my headphones up! I can't hear Bone Crusher!" — Ah, Michael Vick. Is there any place you aren't involved these days? You've got dog-fighting on the one hand, and Kissing Suzy Kolber emasculates you completely on a semi-regular basis.
Rob Bradford / Bradford Files:
Buchholz and the other guy — Just getting on a plane for Boston, but wanted to get a few things in: — Clay Buchholz is good. It was one thing to hit 95 mph, but to drop the hammer of a curve he has developed was impressive. A huge positive was that he throws all four pitches (fastball, curve, slider, change) for strikes.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Stark: "The Stark Truth" — Editor's Note: The following is an excerpt from "The Stark Truth: The Most Overrated and Underrated Players in Baseball History" by Jayson Stark. Copyright (c) 2007 by the author. This excerpt has been printed with the permission of Triumph Books.
David Picker / New York Times:
With a New Sock, the Red Sox Add Some Distance — In 2004 Curt Schilling's bloodied socks — the ones he wore that October while he conquered the Yankees and the St. Louis Cardinals on the way to Boston's first World Series championship in 86 seasons — were the symbol of the Red Sox.
