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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Hill's Return Will Require Decisions — With right-hander Shawn Hill due to return to the Washington Nationals' rotation next week — assuming his final rehabilitation start at Class AAA Columbus on Thursday goes well — the club will have decisions to make about how to shape a pitching staff that …
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nationals Can't Keep Party Going — Mike Bacsik has his special place now, one provided by the fastball he served up to Barry Bonds on Tuesday night, the pitch that became the 756th home run for San Francisco Giants' slugger. A day later, Tim Redding provided his own signature to the Bonds-fest …
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William World News
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:Pitcher of Record — Nationals' Bacsik Allows Bonds's 756th …
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FanIQ Blog
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
The road is paved with hot issues — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Too much going on. Hard to keep up, especially sitting here 3,000 miles removed from the panic on the streets of Boston. — First Tom Brady gets named best-dressed man in the world — an unspeakable shot at Bill Belichick, Larry Bird, and yours truly.
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Loose change for Sox — They overtake Angels to avert a series sweep — ANAHEIM, Calif. — It was apparent before last night's game in the Red Sox clubhouse that the team was gripped with the same anxiety that had seized many of its followers. — Julio Lugo was at the controls …
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Left shoulder puts Ortiz on the shelf — Manny Ramírez launches a two-run double during the Red Sox' four-run uprising in the fourth. The Red Sox hung on to win, 9-6. (MARK AVERY/ASSOCIATED PRESS) — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Before the Red Sox lost, 10-4, to the Angels Tuesday night, David Ortiz was unusually subdued.
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MLB Trade Rumors
Kent Somers / Arizona Republic:
A different sort of film session — FLAGSTAFF - The Cardinals went to the practice field twice Wednesday but worked hard in just one of them. — That's because coach Ken Whisenhunt called off the morning session and took everyone to the movies instead. Talk about a fun film session.
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
X-ray reveals fractured leg for Hirsh — Pitcher suffered injury in first inning of Tuesday's victory — DENVER — A line drive that hit the right leg of Rockies pitcher Jason Hirsh during the first inning of Tuesday night's 11-4 victory over the Brewers did more damage than originally believed.
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Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds CEO: GM Krivsky's job safe — Owner Castellini speaks about disappointing 2007 campaign — CINCINNATI — It's been a question on the minds of fans and media much of the summer as the Reds have endured through another losing season. — Is Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky's job in jeopardy?
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Redleg Nation
MLB.com:
Pedro roughed up in rehab start — Right-hander dismisses tough line as part of process — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Pedro Martinez was hit hard Wednesday night in his first professional regular-season game since rotator cuff surgery last Oct. 5, but the Mets right-hander didn't seem concerned afterward.
Robert Dvorchak / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Catching up with their competitors, the Steelers christen a mascot — Say hello to Steely McBeam — The name and the character may take some getting used to. But move over Stevie Steeler and The Terrible Fan: The mascot named yesterday as part of the 75th anniversary season of the Steelers is ... Steely McBeam.
Tim Kawakami / Mercury News:
Sabean fesses up: `I've let the whole organization down' — In the bright hours before the nighttime milestone, Brian Sabean propped himself on the dugout rail, ignored the cameras that were busily ignoring him, and stared out into the Giants' murky gray future. — He wasn't exactly sure what was out there, he conceded.
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Bucs Dugout
Leitch / Deadspin:
Forgive Us As We Weep Sweet Tears Of Hope: Ankiel Gets The Call — FORGIVE US AS WE WEEP SWEET TEARS OF HOPE — Ankiel Gets The Call — He is the The Natural, he is Young Musial, he is the alpha, the omega, the beginning, the end. And, as of today, he is a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Jamey Newberg / MLB.com:
Swapping Stories: The Helling trades — Rangers made rare move with right-hander in 1996 and '97 — August 8, 1996: Texas trades right-hander Ryan Dempster and a player to be named later to Florida for right-hander John Burkett; September 3, 1996: Texas sends right-hander Rick Helling …
Michael Morrissey / New York Post:
CHIPPER SHOCKER — BRAVE: A-ROD FACES STEROID QUESTIONS — August 9, 2007 — As if Alex Rodriguez didn't have enough to worry about . . . Chipper Jones popped off yesterday afternoon, declaring that Rodriguez will be the next slugger tainted by the specter of steroid questions.
Associated Press:
Philly trades for Branyan — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies acquired utilityman Russell Branyan from Cleveland for cash Thursday. — Branyan joins his sixth team since making his major league debut with the Indians in 1998. The 31-year-old, left-handed hitter began …
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Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
