Top News:
Steve Henson / Yahoo! Sports:
Five and Fly: Youth served — SAN FRANCISCO-This time, it seems for keeps. This time, rookies James Loney and Matt Kemp are getting more than a cursory look and are viewed as more than fill-ins until a high-priced veteran gets hot or comes off the disabled list. — And the Los Angeles Dodgers are better for it.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Jon Weisman / Sports Illustrated:
NL West: Bonds' big slump — Well, heck, his 2007 on-base percentage has just now dropped below .500. — It's important to keep things in perspective — Barry Bonds hasn't tumbled irredeemably off a cliff, not as far as on-field performance goes, anyway.
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Notes: Gotay going great as starter — Second baseman thriving in new role as everyday player — NEW YORK — It's been a tough summer for Jose Valentin. The Mets' second baseman has been persistently plagued by a gimpy right knee, an injury that won't fully be healed without offseason surgery.
RELATED:
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Mets' Alou scheduled to play rehab game today — Mets general manager Omar Minaya is hoping he will get a call sometime today telling him what he has waited two months to hear: — Moises Alou is ready to play in a baseball game. — Minaya said after yesterday's 5-2 Mets win over the Reds that Alou …
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:Thankful for 2nd chance, Gotay thrives on field of dreams
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Absent from drama class: These Sox lack theatrics — Drama queens they are not. In fact, when it comes to the 2007 Red Sox [team stats], there is simply no drama at all. — Facing a one-run deficit against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Red Sox went down in order in the bottom of the ninth inning …
Discussion:
Peter's Red Sox Forever
RELATED:
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Varitek gets thumbs down — Injured catcher is given a rest — Kevin Youkilis symbolized the Red Sox' day of missed chances when he struck out with a man on in the eighth inning. (JIM DAVIS/GLOBE STAFF) — With one out in the ninth inning yesterday and the Red Sox trailing by a run, Doug Mirabelli stepped to the plate.
Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
On James — Bill James will be inducted into the Shrine of the Eternals on Sunday, July 22, in Pasadena, California. James, Yogi Berra, and Jim Brosnan comprise the ninth class of electees in voting conducted by the membership of the Baseball Reliquary. All three honorees …
Discussion:
Long Beach Press-Telegram
RELATED:
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin:
Q & A with Bill James, baseball analyst — This week, staff writer Paul Oberjuerge spoke with Bill James, baseball analyst, sabermetrician and famed author of "The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract" (1985) and "The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract" (2001).
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Not what Williams had in mind — BALTIMORE — Before the start of this 11-game road trip, general manager Ken Williams fired his final warning shot, promising that anything less than a ''championship-caliber'' showing would leave him with no choice but to start trading off pieces.
RELATED:
USA Today:
Comeback trail painfully slow for Nats' Johnson — WASHINGTON — At 2 p.m. on a rainy Wednesday, Nick Johnson cuts a lonely figure inside RFK Stadium. It is still 5 1/2 hours before his Washington Nationals play the Chicago Cubs. As he runs the ramps toward the upper deck he dodges carts bringing …
Stephen Hart / Staten Island Advance:
Elbow knocks out Betances in loss to Vermont — Prized righty leaves after three innings in 7-2 loss — STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Losing a game was bad enough. Losing a prized prospect would be a lot worse for the Staten Island Yankees. — Right-hander Dellin Betances left after three innings …
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
President Bush Likes "Zumala" of the Tigers — The White House hosted the 17th annual "Tee Ball on the South Lawn" event yesterday. The event was hosted by President George W. Bush in honor of Jackie Robinson 's 60th anniversary of breaking the color barrier.
George King / New York Post:
TORRE MUM ON LOFTON'S WORDS — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - As he did Friday when Gary Sheffield accused him of treating white and black players differently, Joe Torre refused to comment yesterday in the wake of Kenny Lofton backing Sheffield's claims. — "I don't feel a need to respond," Torre said yesterday.
The Feed:
La Russa's Dogs Drink Phillie Tears — Celebrating losing is always a touchy thing. There are plenty of Phillie fans who don't share the glee that fans at the Park last night had for loss #10,000. Enrico of The 700 Level is one of them and since he is the man for all things Philly, we'll give him his say.
