Top News:
Associated Press:
Utley breaks right hand — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Phillies All-Star second baseman Chase Utley broke his right hand when he was hit by a pitch during Thursday's 7-6 loss to the Washington Nationals. — Utley was hit in the fifth inning by Washington's John Lannan, who was making his major league debut.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Lannan ejected against Phils — Left-hander plunks Utley and Howard in big-league debut — PHILADELPHIA — Nationals left-hander John Lannan made his Major League debut against the Phillies on Thursday afternoon and it was an eventful one at that. Lannan was ejected by home-plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt in the fifth inning.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Teixeira trade watch continues in Texas — Angels, Braves now leading teams interested in first baseman — ARLINGTON — Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira could go to the Atlanta Braves or the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Or he could just stay in Texas.
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Can Braves afford Tex and Andruw? — We're 102 games into the season, 60 to go, and I honestly don't have a much better feel for the Andruw Jones situation than I did when we left spring training. Or when last season ended, for that matter. — If anything, I'd say his performance this season …
Discussion:
Chop-n-Change
Howard Fendrich / Associated Press:
Young, Nats close to $10M, 2-year deal — WASHINGTON (AP) — Dmitri Young and the Washington Nationals were on the verge of a $10 million, two-year contract extension Thursday. — Young would earn $5 million each in 2008 and 2009, and the contract also would contain a $6 million option …
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Steve Brisendine / Associated Press:
A-Rod's 499th homer could become No. 500 — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Just in case his 499th homer turns out to be No. 500, Alex Rodriguez already has the ball. — The Yankees' third baseman, set to become the youngest member of the 500-homer club, hit an eighth-inning drive off Gil Meche …
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Smith's Pitches Are Up, So the Mets Send Him Down — Joe Smith's career has followed the opposite trajectory of his best pitch, the sinker. A blindingly quick ascent from a college closer to a minor league stopper to a spring training phenom earned him a job in the Mets' bullpen without facing the downs to balance the ups.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Hal Bock / Associated Press:Pirates end Mets' 3-game winning streak
Discussion:
Where have you gone …
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Costas not upset about Bonds' comment — NEW YORK (AP) — A day after Barry Bonds called him a "little midget man who knows (nothing) about baseball," broadcaster Bob Costas said he wasn't upset with the San Francisco Giants slugger and responded with a jab of his own.
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Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Trade Winds: D-Train on the block? — Sources indicate Marlins may have softened stance on Willis — Will the D-Train be pulling out of the South Florida station? — The Marlins have publicly insisted they want to keep Dontrelle Willis, not trade him, but multiple Major League sources …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Drew Davison / MLB.com:
Botts eyeing one-way trip to Arlington — Tearing it up in Triple-A, slugger ready for return to Rangers — OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Jason Botts has a new attitude, a new approach to hitting and a .318 batting average with 74 RBIs for Triple-A Oklahoma. — Everything has gone well for him …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Penny hurt during Dodgers game — Dodgers starter Brad Penny leaves game with a stomach cramp after running to first base in the seventh inning. — DENVER - Brad Penny reached base, then reached for his stomach. — Like Derek Lowe the previous evening, Penny was forced out of the Dodgers' 5-4 victory Colorado Rockies
Discussion:
Associated Press
Tom Withers / Associated Press:
Red Sox win 14-9 slugfest over Indians — CLEVELAND (AP) — Over the fence, over the bushes and into the trees. Manny Ramirez's homer was something to behold. — Ramirez hit the third-longest home run at Jacobs Field, a tree-clearing solo shot into a monument area …
Geremy Bass / MLB.com:
Notes: Orioles set to play two ... sort of — Team will resume suspended game, then play scheduled one — BALTIMORE — In a very rare occurrence, Baltimore and New York will resume a game that was suspended on June 28, due to torrential rain at Camden Yards.
Alex Gyr / MLB.com:
Notes: Depleted 'pen feeling effects — Rodney heads to Triple-A, Tigers unsure of his return to club — CHICAGO — Sometimes it takes a blown six-run lead to put things in perspective. — The Tigers squandered a 7-1 lead in Tuesday's, 8-7, loss to the White Sox, with six of the runs coming …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
Piazza hit in head by water bottle thrown from stands — (07-25) 17:54 PDT Anaheim — Mike Piazza was steaming after Wednesday's game after being struck in the back of the head by a half-filled water bottle thrown by a fan at Angel Stadium. — "I'm pressing charges,'' Piazza said. "
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