Top News:
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Milledge on style: What, me worry? — Lastings Milledge is aware that his flamboyant style of play might ruffle some feathers around the National League. He just doesn't care. — "I like to use the word 'colorful,' " Milledge said last night before he went 2-for-4 with a double and run in the Mets' 6-3 win over the Pirates.
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Drama and Milledge Go Hand in Hand — Since he was recalled from the minors on July 12, Lastings Milledge has driven in a team-high 11 runs, played exceptional defense and — until Tuesday night — done nothing to spark the controversy that defined his rookie season.
Discussion:
Mets Lifers
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Schilling's words bring response from Canseco — Sox pitcher called hypocrite and liar — Barry Bonds came under fire on HBO's "Costas Now." (DINO VOURNAS/REUTERS) — CLEVELAND — Former big leaguer Jose Canseco called Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling a "hypocrite and a liar" …
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Bonds shoots back at HBO piece — SAN FRANCISCO — In a rare occurrence, Giants slugger Barry Bonds took his shots on Wednesday night at the steroids controversy surrounding him that evidently won't go away. — Speaking to a small group of reporters by his locker only about an hour …
Discussion:
FanHouse
Associated Press:
Outspoken Schilling calls out Bonds, McGwire — NEW YORK — Curt Schilling says that Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire's refusals to address accusations of steroids use are tantamount to admissions. — "If someone wrote that stuff about me and I didn't sue their [butt] off …
Alex Gyr / MLB.com:
Sheffield dismisses latest steroid claims — Chemist alleges slugger's usage on "Costas Now" — CHICAGO — Another day, another steroid accusation. That's how it feels according to Gary Sheffield, who was greeted at U.S. Cellular Field on Wednesday with the newest claim made against him.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers acquire Linebrink from Padres — Milwaukee sends three pitching prospects to San Diego — CINCINNATI — They had to part with three valuable pitching prospects to do it, but the Brewers accomplished their primary trade deadline goal by acquiring reliever Scott Linebrink from the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
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Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:Padres trade Linebrink to Brewers
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Associated Press:
Fill-in Raburn has 7 RBIs to lift Tigers — CHICAGO (AP) — Ryan Raburn laid down a sacrifice bunt in the first inning. Then he started swinging the bat. — Raburn, making an emergency start after Gary Sheffield was scratched from the lineup, hit two homers and drove in seven runs to lift …
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Notes: Podsednik prefers top of order — Outfielder expresses desire to bat first or second — CHICAGO — Excelling from the leadoff position made Scott Podsednik an All-Star in 2005 and played a strong contributing role in the White Sox first World Series title in almost 90 years, achieved that very same season.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
A-Rod gets No. 499 off Meche in KC — Another blast will make slugger 22nd member of 500 HR club — KANSAS CITY — For some time, it hasn't been a matter of if, but when. Now, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez sits just one home run shy of joining baseball's prestigious 500 home run club.
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Possible Teixeira trade sets clubhouse abuzz — San Francisco — There was a buzz in the Braves' clubhouse, and it had nothing to do with Barry Bonds. — Players were excited to hear the Braves have been discussing a possible trade for Texas Rangers slugger Mark Teixeira …
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:Rangers, Braves talk deal for Tex
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington, Boston Globe, Chop-n-Change, Fire Brand of the …, MLB Trade Rumors and Lone Star Ball
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Grudzielanek Leaves Game — UPDATE: Turns out Grudz is just day-to-day with knee soreness. The Mets deny any rumor that they've traded for him. Two Royal false alarms today, sorry about that. — A friendly emailer tells me that Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek was in the original lineup …
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Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Notes: Uggla reaches mark again — Second baseman has hit 20 home runs in consecutive years — PHOENIX — Second base is not traditionally a huge power position. But Dan Uggla is making it one for the Marlins. — After going deep twice on Tuesday night at Chase Field in Arizona …
NY Daily News:
Yank travel secretary subject of IRS probe — Yankee traveling secretary Dave Szen is the latest casualty of the IRS' investigation into illegal activity in baseball, the Daily News has learned. — Szen is under investigation by the IRS for allegedly failing to declare income derived …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Dempster patiently working on velocity — ST. LOUIS — Ryan Dempster was throwing as high as 97 m.p.h. before being sidelined by his oblique injury, the best velocity he has had in quite some time. Dempster isn't concerned about getting back to 97 too quickly now that he's back.
Discussion:
GoatRiders of the Apocalypse
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Lowe goes out early with groin injury — He joins list of injured pitchers, leaving early with strain in Astros' win. MRI exam is set for today. L.A. gets just six hits for second game in a row. — HOUSTON — The Dodgers were nearly out of a period that Manager Grady Little had likened …
USA Today:
At 88, Bob Feller is still living the baseball dream — GATES MILLS, Ohio — Seventy-one years after leaving Iowa to begin his pro baseball career, Bob Feller relives his boyhood farm days on a wooded driveway in a quaint Cleveland suburb. — Wearing jeans, sneakers and polo shirt …
