Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Bombers look to make dent in standings — New York (22-29) at Boston (36-16), Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET — The vibe may be a little different by the time the Yankees' team bus pulls up on Yawkey Way on Friday afternoon, unloading cases of road-gray New York uniforms, equipment and — of course …
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
RELATED:
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.
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
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
COMEBACKS CAN HAPPEN, JUST ASK BUCK — IT IS not hopeless. I know if you are a Yankees fan you are feeling that way, but I also know that I have seen this Yankees season before. And in the end - at least in the end of the regular season - it worked out just fine for the Yankees.
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Five and Fly: Giants close door on Benitez — On top of being a combustible closer, Armando Benitez was an emotional drain on the San Francisco Giants' clubhouse and season, which is why they'd pay most of his salary and take a hittable right-handed reliever in return from the Florida Marlins for removing him from both.
RELATED:
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.
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.
Discussion:
Only Baseball Matters, Loge 13, El Lefty Malo, San Francisco Chronicle and Across the Seams
Associated Press:
Indians rally for 5 in ninth, top Tigers — CLEVELAND (AP) — A different city, venue and sport produced yet another memorable Cleveland victory over Detroit. — David Dellucci singled home the winning run with two outs to cap a five-run ninth off closer Todd Jones as the Indians rallied past the Tigers 12-11 Friday night.
Discussion:
The Wayne Fontes Experience
RELATED:
Billfer / The Detroit Tiger Weblog:
Game 54: Tigers at Indians — PREGAME: The Tigers are looking for some way, some how to get their first W against the Tribe. Tonight it will be a rematch of Mike Maroth and Fausto Carmona. — Maroth was touched for a 4 run first inning, but then only allowed 6 more baserunners and managed to stick around for 8 innings.
Associated Press:
Zambrano shoves Barrett in dugout — CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Cubs didn't need another team at Wrigley Field on Friday to find an opponent. — Carlos Zambrano and catcher Michael Barrett shoved each other in the dugout, then the pitcher busted his teammate's lip in the clubhouse so badly that Barrett wound up in a hospital.
RELATED:
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.
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 …
Arizona Republic:
Valverde: Save the best for last — Closer brings excitement to the mound Bob McManaman — May. 31, 2007 10:58 PM You can call it theatrics. You can call it a flamboyant routine. Heck, call it whatever you like, be it a contrived form of "mojo" or some eccentric "voodoo superstition."
Discussion:
Out in the Desert
ESPN:
Donovan taking big-money deal to coach Magic — Billy Donovan will be named the head coach of the Orlando Magic on Friday, several sources have told ESPN. — The announcement is scheduled to be made at 11 a.m. ET, sources told ESPN.com's Pat Forde. — Thursday, after weeks of waiting …
