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Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Buehrle's shelled ... then ballistic — Buehrle takes out frustration on dugout heater — Mark Buehrle didn't wait for Ozzie Guillen to complete his walk to the mound, marching out to meet the White Sox manager and handing him the game ball. And that was just the beginning of one of Buehrle's …
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Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
To THE Stadium and Back — I'm planning on putting up a follow-up post regarding our second day in Cooperstown, complete with photos and a few personal stories. However, for purposes of timeliness, I want to skip ahead to Wednesday night when Joe and I attended our first game at Yankee Stadium …
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Bronx Banter, New York Post, Bombers Beat, Dodger Thoughts, Let's Go Tribe!, Pinstripe Alley and Baseball Musings
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates acquire Michaels, demote Morgan — The Pirates today acquired outfielder Jason Michaels and cash from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named. — Michaels will take the roster spot of outfielder Nyjer Morgan, who was optioned this afternoon to Class AAA Indianapolis.
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MLB.com:
Pirates acquire Jason Michaels from Indians — The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have acquired outfielder Jason Michaels and cash considerations from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for a player to be named. The announcement was made by Senior Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Steve Buckley / Boston Herald:
Julio Lugo lets it go — Questions about errors spark a Lugo outburst … DETROIT - Julio Lugo [stats] has been around the big leagues long enough to know how it works: When you make a ninth-inning error that sets up the winning rally for the opposing team, you're going to find …
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Steve Phillips / ESPN:
TRICKS OF THE TRADE — How do you restore a once-proud franchise? Glad you asked. — The Reds haven't made the playoffs in 13 years, and a slow start this season cost GM Wayne Krivsky his job. So how can new boss Walt Jocketty build a new Big Red Machine?
Jack Etkin / Rocky Mountain News:
Source: Reynolds to make Rockies debut Sunday — Greg Reynolds will make his major league debut Sunday at San Diego, according to a source close to the situation, replacing struggling Mark Redman as the Rockies seek to rectify their sagging rotation. — Reynolds started for Triple …
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Up in the Rockies
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ESPN.com:
A-Rod needs another MRI before returning to play — New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi wants third baseman Alex Rodriguez to have another MRI before he comes off the disabled list. — “He will not play a rehab game before he has the MRI,” Girardi told reporters, according to the New York Post.
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Kit Stier / MLB.com:
Yankees power their way past Tribe — Cano, Giambi break out of slump, hit two of team's four homers — NEW YORK — Robinson Cano and Jason Giambi, a couple of Yankees who have been struggling at the plate, found some life in their bats on Thursday and helped their team get out of town …
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NJ.com
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Offseason trades with plenty of teeth … Is there anything America loves more than a good old-fashioned baseball trade (OK, with the possible exception of a nationally televised Paula Abdul meltdown)? — Of course not. And never in recent memory have so many offseason trades left such a monumental imprint on a season.
Scot Gregor / Daily Herald:
Guillen still regrets A-Rod situation — Regrets? White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has less than a few. — Actually, the outspoken Guillen said he has only one. — “I don't feel guilty about anything,” Guillen said Wednesday. “The only regret I have was A-Rod (Yankees star Alex Rodriguez), making that kid suffer.”
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Webb, D-Backs resume contract talks — Looking to lock up one of the best pitchers in baseball into the next decade, the Diamondbacks have resumed talks with ace Brandon Webb on a contract extension, and it appears the sides are getting closer to a deal. — “Yeah, some progress has been made,” Webb said.
Gene Duffey / MLB.com:
Lo Duca reaggravates right hand injury — Catcher has to leave game prior to finishing at-bat, will have MRI — HOUSTON — Washington catcher Paul Lo Duca reinjured his right hand swinging at a pitch in the seventh inning during Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Astros.
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Federal Baseball
Michael Milici / Bugs & Cranks:
Mr. Redlegs Loses His Head — While making his pre-game laps around Great American Ballpark with his trusty sidekick “Gapper” at the wheel, Mr. Redlegs* took a spill off the back of a golfcart and literally lost his head. — I feel bad for the poor kids in attendance who were under the impression Mr. Redlegs was real.
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With Leather, Red Sox Monster, Blue Collar Baseball, Walkoff Walk, Hot Foot, Awful Announcing, FanHouse and SPORTSbyBROOKS
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Today — Applied Knowledge — On April 20, before their game with the Detroit Tigers, the Toronto Blue Jays released veteran designated hitter Frank Thomas. Just two days prior, Jays manager John Gibbons had announced that Thomas' playing time would be reduced, which inspired a petulant reaction by Thomas.