Top News:
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Notes: HoJo serving as hitting coach — Decision yet to be made on who will assume full-time post — NEW YORK — Howard Johnson is the Mets' hitting coach — for now. — Johnson took over as the team's hitting instructor on Thursday, a day after the team relieved Rick Down of those duties.
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Hal Bock / Associated Press:
Reyes, Gotay power Mets past Reds 3-2 — NEW YORK (AP) — Jose Reyes and Ruben Gotay opened with consecutive home runs, the first time that's happened in the 46-season history of the Mets, and New York beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 Thursday. — Reyes, fresh off his three-hit performance …
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Milledge's mad dash the key for Mets — Outfielder scores from first on a single in return to Majors — NEW YORK — When Lastings Milledge came tumbling into home plate with the winning run of Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Reds, Shea Stadium erupted with glee.
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets' New Image: No More Mr. Nice Guys — Howard Johnson, watching batting practice, was the Mets' interim hitting instructor Thursday. Johnson has been the team's first-base coach. — Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph grew up in New York, cheering for the Mets as youngsters.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Back-to-back jacks propel Mets — Reyes, Gotay make history in first; El Duque solid in win — NEW YORK — The great ones, they say, find a way to get it done. And Rickey Henderson unquestionably qualifies as one of them, a man of almost incalculable achievement in the game and, it seems, unnatural influence.
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Mets part ways with Franco — The Mets are expected to remove Julio Franco from their roster today to make room for Lastings Milledge, Newsday has learned. An announcement will be made before today's game. — It's not clear whether Franco, who turns 48 next month, will retire …
Discussion:
New York Post, MetsBlog.com, Mike's Mets, Mostly Mets, metsgrrl.com, Amazin' Avenue, Dodger Thoughts, Can't Stop The Bleeding, NJ.com and Mets Heads
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Sports Illustrated:
Mets designate Julio Franco for assignment, call up Milledge — NEW YORK (AP) -Julio Franco may have finally run out of at-bats. — The New York Mets cut the 48-year-old utilityman Thursday, opting to give 22-year-old outfielder Lastings Milledge another chance in the majors.
Discussion:
New York Post, Blogging Baseball, Baseball Musings, Babes Love Baseball, MetsBlog.com and Hot Foot
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Ricciardi not planning any trades — General manager expects to keep core of players together — BOSTON — There are 19 days left until the non-waiver trading deadline, but Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi isn't counting. In fact, Ricciardi isn't even sure he's making the trip to Florida …
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Dawn Klemish / MLB.com:
A-Rod leads Yankees back to .500 — Third baseman's 31st home run one of three in fourth inning — ST. PETERSBURG — At one game under .500 and 10 games out of first place, the Yankees faced much pressure to start off the second half on a good note. And with principal owner George Steinbrenner …
Discussion:
My Summer Family
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David Pinto / Baseball Musings:HItters in Charge — There's lots of scoring to start …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Christopher L. Gasper / Boston Globe: Four score — Toronto ace Roy "Doc" Halladay seems be the cure …
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
The Nats' Puzzle: Assembly Required — Management Is Trying to Find the Pieces That Fit — It is midseason, and the Washington Nationals have welcomed 39 players into their clubhouse — a roster-and-a-half's worth. Some have excelled, none more so than all-star Dmitri Young.
Discussion:
William World News
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Don Burke / New Jersey Online:
Down questions handling of release — NEW YORK — Rick Down has been around baseball for a long time. And he has seen a lot. But he wonders what would have happened yesterday had he not been tipped off by a reporter the night before. — Down was officially fired as the Mets hitting …
David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Putz converts 27th save in row after Mariners score run on blown calls — Fans left Safeco Field on Thursday night buzzing about two things — one they see all the time, and one they'd never seen before. — J.J. Putz matched the Mariners record for consecutive saves …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, Bless You Boys, Mack Avenue Tigers, Associated Press and Lookout Landing
MLB.com:
Mets and CW11 partner with Jeep to salute the troops with "Operation Gratitude" on Military Appreciation Day Sunday, July 15 at Shea — Multifaceted partnership includes donation of items, letters of support to troops in conjunction with delivery of Operation Gratitude's 250,000th care package …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Big Papi dealing with torn meniscus — Slugger may undergo offseason surgery on right knee — BOSTON — A revived David Ortiz had already delivered three hits and two RBIs Thursday night before fouling a ball soundly off his right knee. You could call it a case of bad aim or painful irony.
MLB.com:
MTA New York City Transit introduces 7 express service after Mets home games — Mets fans looking for a quicker trip to midtown after each and every home game will now be able to take advantage of express service on the 7 line from the Willets Point/Shea Stadium Station.
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
The historian of home runs — ith the crack of a bat, home runs disappear over the wall. — With the tap-tap-tap of his computer keys, David Vincent brings them back. — All 243,329 of them. — That's how many homers are in the computer database Vincent maintains for the Society …
