Top News:
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
'Not a good team' — Scout rips Yanks, calls Abreu 'piece of garbage' — The Yankees continue to express confidence that they will turn their season around and make a run at the postseason, but a big-league scout from an opposing team isn't so sure they'll be able to do it.
RELATED:
George King / New York Post:
CHASIN' WITH NO JASON — FOOT INJURY LIKELY SHELVES GIAMBI FOR YEAR — On the eve of a colossal series against the Red Sox, the Yankees learned yesterday that Jason Giambi's season is likely finished. — Giambi was diagnosed with a partially torn plantar fascia tendon on the bottom of the left foot …
Discussion:
Replacement Level …
George King / New York Post:
NO FENWAY FAVORS — SUBPAR RECORD WON'T SAVE YANKEES FROM FAN VENOM — Derek Jeter rarely lets you know what he is thinking by his expression. But when asked if the Fenway Park faithful will let up on the Yankees because the Red Sox open a three-game series tonight against their blood rivals …
Discussion:
SawxBlog
Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
Theo pities Cashman — BOSTON - If the buzz about this three-game series between the Yankees and the Red Sox feels a little different, it should. — The distance in the standings between first-place Boston and the fourth-place Bombers is an astonishing 13-1/2 games, the furthest apart the teams have been since September of 2001.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Giants trade Benitez for Messenger — Beleaguered closer returns to former team, the Marlins — NEW YORK — Armando Benitez's tortured era with the San Francisco Giants ended on Thursday night when the team traded its embattled closer to the Florida Marlins for right-hander Randy Messenger.
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Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:
Maligned Benitez returns to Marlins — MILWAUKEE — Armando Benitez is returning to the team for which he had his best year in 14 major-league seasons. — The Marlins acquired the beleaguered closer from the Giants on Thursday for reliever Randy Messenger.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants close book on closer Benitez — (05-31) 21:25 PDT New York — There was one unusual sight in the Giants' clubhouse after their 4-2 loss to the Mets on Thursday night. As 24 players scurried to dress for the two-hour bus ride to Philadelphia, Armando Benitez's locker was abandoned, his chair folded and stored.
Tim Dahlberg / Associated Press:
A-Rod makes the tabloids happy, and the Blue Jays sad — The New York tabloids were already having their way with Alex Rodriguez well before he rounded second, headed for third, and exchanged pleasantries with Howie Clark of the Toronto Blue Jays. — No, this had nothing to do with hitting …
RELATED:
John Branch / New York Times:Rodriguez Keeps Straddling Baseball's Foul Line
Discussion:
Across the Seams
MLB.com:
Cubs place catcher Henry Blanco on the 15-day disabled list — Select catcher Koyie Hill from Triple-A Iowa — CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs today placed catcher Henry Blanco on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 31, with a cervical herniated disc.
Mark Hale / New York Post:
PEDRO NEARS NEXT STAGE — Four days from now, Pedro Martinez is scheduled to throw off a mound for the first time this season. — Martinez, who's recovering from a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, is scheduled for his initial bullpen session on Tuesday. He also will long toss that day.
Woody Paige / Denver Post:
Rockies again so mediocre — With a third of the season completed, the 25-29 Rockies are on pace for a 75-87 record this season. — The team clearly is improved. Over the past nine seasons, the Rockies have averaged 74 victories. — But the Rox did win 76 in 2006. — This is a trend.
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
Detour on the Scott Boras Expressway — For any young ballplayer who thinks he should have been drafted higher, treated better, offered more, there is a place where he can still go and get the signing bonus of his dreams. — LaGrave Field is on the banks of the Trinity River, between the stockyards and the skyline.
Billfer / The Detroit Tiger Weblog:
Casey hasn't produced anything — It's a refrain that has been uttered by Tigers fans over and over again. This time it is a quote from Jim Leyland. Leyland was responding to questions about Marcus Thames playing 3 straight days and said: … Since Sean Casey became a Tiger …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Speigner stays in rotation for now — Righty gets the call Saturday despite struggles as starter — WASHINGTON — The Nationals have decided to let right-hander Levale Speigner start on Saturday night against the Padres instead of right-hander Joel Hanrahan, who is pitching for Triple-A Columbus.
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Infection sends Duncan home — DENVER — Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan was admitted to a St. Louis-area hospital Thursday night and is expected to meet with a specialist to determine what kind of infection has taken root in his injured left knee, the club said.
