Top News:
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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Charlie Nobles / MLB.com:
Martinez upbeat during visit with Mets — Scheduled to return in August, ace righty offers glowing report — MIAMI — Veteran right-hander Pedro Martinez, out until possibly August while recovering from Oct. 5 surgery for a right rotator cuff tear, is feeling so good from his intense workout program …
Discussion:
My Summer Family
Associated Press:
Mets get five in ninth, beat Marlins 6-2 — MIAMI (AP) — The game was a gem for seven innings, with the New York Mets and Florida Marlins scoreless. — Florida's wobbly defense ended the pitchers' duel. — The Mets scored their first two runs on errors, and Carlos Beltran's …
Discussion:
Mets Today
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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.
Discussion:
ESPN
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Notes: Mora wants open lines — Third baseman prefers advance notice of changes — BALTIMORE — When Melvin Mora glanced at the lineup card Friday and didn't see his name on it, he waived his right to remain silent. Baltimore's third baseman became the latest Oriole to gripe about his situation …
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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.
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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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.
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Struggling without their man of steal — Much was made of the change in the White Sox offense while Jim Thome was missing, but not so for leadoff hitter Scott Podsednik. — In the American League, the White Sox are ahead of only the Blue Jays and A's in stolen bases going into Friday's game against the Devil Rays.
Elizabeth Botello / MLB.com:
Maddux gets the call against Brewers — San Diego (26-21) vs. Milwaukee (28-19), 7:05 p.m. PT — Maybe PETCO Park will provide all the good luck San Diego starting pitcher Greg Maddux needs to pull out a victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. — So far, he's prevailed in three of his four starts in San Diego.
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 …
Associated Press:
Blake, Martinez power Tribe over Tigers — DETROIT (AP) — Casey Blake and Victor Martinez hit first-inning homers and the Cleveland Indians beat the Detroit Tigers 7-4 on Friday night. — The game was the first of seven between the AL Central's top teams in the next 10 days.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
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.
Discussion:
Bucco Blog
