Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Girardi holds closed-door meeting — Manager trying to spark underperforming Yankees — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Joe Girardi held the first closed-door meeting of his Yankees managerial tenure on Wednesday, addressing his team for about 30 minutes before the club's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field.
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks understand Hank's frustrations — Team says it has the energy, but that hasn't translated to wins — ST. PETERSBURG — Now that Hank Steinbrenner's voice carries a similar tone and volume to the missives once barked by his father, it was only a matter of time before the Yankees' co-chairman broke …
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Cashman Under Fire as Yankees Struggle — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The top baseball operations executive under Hank and Hal Steinbrenner in the Yankees' hierarchy is General Manager Brian Cashman, whose contract expires after the season. The more the Yankees lose, and the more impatient …
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Mussina stifles Rays, ends Yanks' skid — Veteran wins fifth straight start after closed-door team meeting — ST. PETERSBURG — In his eighth year with the Yankees, Mike Mussina has by now realized that no season will pass without a little controversy — a minor losing skid …
Discussion:
The Bronx Stop
Chicagosports / Hardball:
Hollywood Edmonds en route to Chicago — Jim Edmonds is expected to be in a Cubs uniform Thursday afternoon, playing centerfield and batting ninth in the lineup. — Ninth? — “He's going to hit ninth,” manager Lou Piniella said. “I'm going to move the pitcher to eighth, and hit him ninth.”
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs make it official with Edmonds — Veteran outfielder passes physical, could play on Thursday — CHICAGO — Jim Edmonds will now try to revive his career with the Cubs. — The veteran outfielder passed his physical, and was officially added to the Cubs on Wednesday.
Discussion:
Another Cubs Blog
Fred Goodall / Associated Press:
Rays sign Kazmir to 3-year, $28.5M deal — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Tampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir agreed Wednesday to a $28.5 million, three-year extension through 2011, a deal with a club option that could raise the contract's value to $39.5 million over four seasons.
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Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Kazmir agrees to extension — The Rays and ace LHP Scott Kazmir have agreed on contract extension though 2011, with a team option for 2012. The deal guarantees the lefthander $28.5-million and has a maximum value of approximately $39.5 million. — “As we continue to win games and play …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Broken fingernail lands BoSox's Buchholz on DL — BALTIMORE — Clay Buchholz was put on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday by the Boston Red Sox because of a broken nail on his right middle finger. — The Red Sox filled his roster spot by recalling outfielder Jonathan Van Every from Triple-A Pawtucket.
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Associated Press:
Sabathia 5-hits A's, fans 11 in 2-0 win — CLEVELAND (AP)—C.C. Sabathia pitched a five-hitter and struck out 11 in the Cleveland Indians' major league-leading seventh shutout, a 2-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night. — Sabathia (3-5) extended the scoreless streak …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Lo Duca calls WFAN — Brian Schneider is no Paul Lo Duca on his weekly spots on WFAN - not that the newest Mets catcher wants to match Lo Duca's penchant for being a lightning rod. — We were reminded of how things used to be when Lo Duca, on the DL with the Nationals with a broken hand …
Associated Press:
Lackey sharp, but Angels fall to ChiSox — ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—Carlos Quentin did what he does every day—checked the lineup card to see if he was playing. This time, he was batting third for the first time this season. — Quentin made White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen look smart …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Andrew Bagnato / Associated Press:
Diamondbacks improve to 7-1 vs. Rockies — PHOENIX (AP)—Micah Owings has made headlines with his bat. — He can pitch too. — Owings threw six shutout innings as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Wednesday night, extending their domination of the defending NL champions.
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Report: Magowan to Step Down from Giants Friday — The San Francisco Giants will be holding a special ownership meeting on Friday, at which time, managing partner Peter Magowan will reportedly step down from the leading position within the organization. — As reported yesterday …
