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Associated Press:
Boss: Cashman's on big hook — NEW YORK — Despite constant speculation about manager Joe Torre's job, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner says someone else also needs to deliver as the team looks to reverse its floundering start: general manager Brian Cashman.
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Who's most underrated? Start with Oswalt … One thing I've noticed in my short reign as America's Ultimate Czar of Underratedness and Overratedness: — It's a lot more fun to call a guy underrated than overrated. — For some reason, when I roll out my fabled reality-versus-illusion concept …
Antonio Gonzalez / Associated Press:
Marlins manager suspended one game — MIAMI (AP) — Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez served a one-game suspension Friday night for going onto the field during a bench-clearing confrontation one inning after he was ejected. — Florida's first-year manager was ejected for the first time Thursday for arguing a call.
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ESPN
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Jay Jaffe / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Hit List: Busting Out from Below — Despite dropping a series to the Yankees in the Bronx, the Sox continue to enjoy a large cushion in the AL East. Even with Manny Ramirez hitting a paltry .250/.332/.407 (at least he's up to Being Manny Jiminez), slumping J.D. Drew at .237/.346/.333 …
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
The Return of Pedro — Busy day here in South Florida. In addition to a long list of injury updates, Pedro Martinez rolled in this afternoon to say hi and see if his No. 45 still fits. As usual, the visitors clubhouse took on a circus-like atmosphere, with Martinez laughing and joking …
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Mark Hale / New York Post Mets Blog:
Busy day — I'm a bit swamped now with stories because as Edward Norton's character said at one point in Rounders — "lot of action." There was a lot of pregame stuff today, and I'll blog more about it later. — Very quick updates on Pedro Martinez, Jose Valentin and more:
Charles Odum / Associated Press:
Gonzalez to have season-ending elbow surgery — ATLANTA (AP) — Braves reliever Mike Gonzalez will miss the rest of the season and at least half of 2008 after learning he must have reconstructive elbow surgery. — Gonzalez, placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 16 with a left elbow strain …
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Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman: Texas may look to deal Mark Teixeira — Also in this column: — Baseball executives are predicting that Texas' switch-hitting first baseman Mark Teixeira could be on the trade market this summer. The last-place Rangers, already 9 1/2 games out in the AL West …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Tracy calls clutch hitting 'deplorable' — ST. LOUIS — It takes quite a bit to get Jim Tracy's dander up, so it might raise an eyebrow that he used the word "deplorable" yesterday to describe the Pirates' hitting with runners in scoring position.
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Bucco Blog
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
O's lose series finale to Jays — Struggling reliever Baez allows Rios' 10th-inning homer — BALTIMORE — The Orioles eased off veteran reliever Danys Baez in the eighth inning Thursday night, but they gave the struggling setup man an even tougher assignment.
Chris Kline / Baseball America Prospects Blog:
Gio Deals In Zebulon — ZEBULON, N.C.-We'll have more from White Sox lefthander Gio Gonzalez soon, but we felt like his Thursday outing had to me immediately addressed. — The 2004 first-round supplemental pick struck out 12-one shy of his career-high in Double-A Birmingham's 2-1, 11-inning loss to Carolina.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Jim Baker / Baseball Prospectus:
Where To Get Your Vicarious Baseball Thrills — Best National League Matchup (Best combined chances of making the playoffs according to the BP's Postseason Odds): Milwaukee Brewers @ San Diego Padres — You've got to like a team that understands that maintaining early success is not a given …
Discussion:
Mack Avenue Tigers
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Mets not having 2nd thoughts — ATLANTA — History keeps repeating itself at second base for the Mets, who once again have asked a backup player to leave the bench and step to the forefront of their everyday lineup. This year, it is Damion Easley. Last year, it was Jose Valentin.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
ESPN:
Bengals coach apologizes for police comments — Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has apologized for comments he made on Dan Patrick's ESPN radio show about Cincinnati police possibly profiling his players. — "Yesterday, I gave a radio interview and made some comments that did not illustrate …