Top News:
Mark Bradley / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Moves by Mets reek with panic — If a blink can make a sound, that sound you heard Thursday was the Mets blinking. A first-place team fired its hitting coach and added to its staff one of the biggest Me-Firsters in the long history of baseball. A first-place team sought to quiet …
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
After Shake-Up, the Mets Are Focusing on Stability — On his first day as the Mets' first-base coach, Rickey Henderson showed reliever Guillermo Mota how to lead off a base, teased Lastings Milledge for celebrating after his clever slide in Thursday night's game and had the starting lineup …
Associated Press:
Ichiro's extension with Mariners worth $90 million — SEATTLE — Great week to be Ichiro Suzuki. — The Seattle leadoff man signed a $90 million, five-year contract extension Friday, three days after he was the unanimous MVP of the All-Star Game. — The deal ensures Seattle …
Discussion:
Caffeinated Confines, seattlepi.com Mariners blog, Sports Illustrated and Associated Press
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Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Pods puts himself on mislabeled list — BALTIMORE — Scott Podsednik is hoping to be off the 15-day disabled list and back in the starting lineup by next week in Cleveland. — The way the White Sox' leadoff hitter sees it, he then will have about 10 weeks to try and prove manager Ozzie Guillen wrong …
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Neil Best / Newsday:
Sheffield: Yankees treat black players differently — Gary Sheffield asserts black and white players are treated differently under Yankees manager Joe Torre, says Derek Jeter "ain't all the way black," and denies he ever has used steroids because "steroids is something you shoot in your butt" …
Discussion:
Associated Press, WasWatching.com, Sox and Pinstripes, ESPN, FanHouse, With Leather and Yanksfan vs Soxfan
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Tim Booth / Associated Press:
Sheffield: Torre unfair to black players — SEATTLE (AP) — Detroit slugger Gary Sheffield had an idyllic view of the New York Yankees when he joined the team before the 2004 season. — Sheffield also had a strong friendship and trust with Barry Bonds when he went to California and to train with the slugger one offseason.
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Phillips' 6 RBIs spark Reds past Mets — NEW YORK (AP) — With do-it-all cleanup batter Brandon Phillips leading the way, the Cincinnati Reds are playing much better than a last-place team under interim manager Pete Mackanin. — Phillips hit a first-inning grand slam and drove in six runs …
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Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Royals acquire Colon from Tigers — Club will send player to be named later to complete deal — CLEVELAND — Roman Colon, a pitcher who was suspended this season for punching a Minor League teammate, was obtained on Friday by the Royals from the Detroit Tigers.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Notes: Wilkerson's role now uncertain — With Teixeira coming off the DL, spot may be filled — ANAHEIM — Brad Wilkerson, a big part of the Rangers strong finish to the first half, was out of the lineup on Friday with the return of Mark Teixeira off the disabled list.
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Hendry confident 'Z' deal can get done — When Tribune Co. put up the for sale sign on the Cubs and reportedly clamped down on any new contract for Carlos Zambrano at the end of spring training, it left the financial doings of one of baseball's highest-salaried teams in question.
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NY Daily News:
Bernie mess may haunt — ST. PETERSBURG - When the Yankees decided not to include Bernie Williams in their 2007 plans, they had no idea it could have a greater impact on the club down the road. — But that might be the case, according to a baseball source, as several members …
Joe Hamrahi / Baseball Digest Daily:
Giants Give Sabean Extension — The San Francisco Giants have signed Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sabean to a two-year contract with a club option for the 2010 campaign, club President and Managing Partner Peter Magowan announced this morning.
RELATED:
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:Giants Give GM Brian Sabean Two-Year Extension
Discussion:
Associated Press
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Giambi Meets with Mitchell Investigation — Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees met with Senator George Mitchell and members of his law firm, DLA Piper, today, Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig said this afternoon. — Details of the conversation, which was not recorded, were not released.
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Notes: Ledezma placed on restricted list — Lefty's return to U.S. delayed due to damaged visa — ATLANTA — Braves general manager John Schuerholz had no problem with Wil Ledezma heading back to his native Venezuela during the All-Star break. But he would have liked for the left-handed reliever …
David Briggs / MLB.com:
Notes: Lewis added to Tribe bullpen — Move from starter to relief role accelerates development — CLEVELAND — The summons Jensen Lewis had dreamed of receiving since he was a little boy growing up in suburban Cleveland came late Thursday night at a restaurant in Durham, N.C.
Discussion:
Let's Go, Tribe!
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter experiences setback in rehab — By — PHILADELPHIA — Rehabilitating starter Chris Carpenter's next start is "undetermined" after the 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner suffered renewed stiffness and swelling of his right elbow following Sunday's three-inning start for Class A Palm Beach.
Associated Press:
Cleveland 5, Kansas City 4 — CLEVELAND (AP) — Ryan Garko hardly had time to enjoy his game-winning hit Friday night before getting leveled by his happy roommate. — Garko singled home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Discussion:
Let's Go, Tribe!
