Top News:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Watch: Wagner's Frustation — Following the Mets 1 to 0 loss to the Nationals today, reporters attempted to interview Billy Wagner, but were unsuccessful. — Wagner, on the offense and pitching, said: … According to eye-witnesses, Wagner directed his final comments in the general direction of Carlos Delgado's locker, saying:
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David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
Wagner calls out teammates (again) on ESPN 1050
Wagner calls out teammates (again) on ESPN 1050
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Wanting Answers, Wagner Adds Questions — Billy Wagner had nothing to do with the outcome of the Mets' game Thursday. He had nothing to do with their questionable base-running or inept offense, their squandering of the best start of Mike Pelfrey's young career or their third loss in four games to the last-place Washington Nationals.
Discussion:
Rumors and Rants
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Nationals Prevail in Pitching Duel With Mets
Nationals Prevail in Pitching Duel With Mets
Discussion:
New York Post
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Kennedy can't command in comeback — Righty allows five runs after being recalled from Triple-A — ST. PETERSBURG — When the Yankees' road trip opened a city ago, Ian Kennedy couldn't help but glance at the scoreboard in whatever Triple-A park he was working, looking toward the day he could help the big league club again.
Discussion:
iYankees
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Draft / MLB.com Geeking on the Draft:
Tanner Scheppers injury update — A week ago, Fresno State ace — and potential top 10 pick — Tanner Scheppers was scratched from his weekend start. The Bulldogs tried to give him some extra rest and back him up to Sunday, but ended up scratching him altogether. The reason given was shoulder tenderness.
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Aaron Fitt / Baseball America College Blog:
Scheppers Has Stress Fracture — Jonathan Mayo has reported in his blog and Baseball America has confirmed with two scouts that Fresno State junior righthander Tanner Scheppers has a stress fracture in his shoulder and will not be able to throw for six weeks.
Discussion:
Phuture Phillies
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers sign Braun to eight-year deal — Contract for $45 million is largest for ‘zero-plus’ player — MILWAUKEE — It was left to the 24-year-old to reveal how much he will be paid to play baseball for the next eight years. — “Forty-five million dollars,” Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun said without a flinch.
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Edmonds patient while Cubs, fans adjust — What an interesting introduction to Wrigley Field for Jim Edmonds: Something old and something new, sometimes bold and sometimes booed. — When he ran onto the field in the first inning, he was cheered for being in Cub blue.
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Jay Mariotti / Chicago Sun Times:
If Edmonds produces, fickle Cubdom will love him
If Edmonds produces, fickle Cubdom will love him
Discussion:
Daily Herald, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Bleed Cubbie Blue, signonsandiego.com, The Postmen, Hardball and Gaslamp Ball
NY Daily News:
NYU grad tackled during Yankee dash — Newly minted NYU grad William Lopez turned a day of pomp and circumstance at Yankee Stadium into a day of cop and gown when he took off his pants, dashed onto the field and tried to steal home. — Ignoring warnings to stay off the field …
Discussion:
SPORTSbyBROOKS
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Chan Ho Park left a mark on the series — His kick at Tim Belcher in 1999 still gets replayed, and now he's back with the Dodgers. — Chan Ho Park returns to the Freeway Series this weekend, but he won't have Tim Belcher to kick around. — The rivalry between the Angels and Dodgers is relatively tame.
Discussion:
Royals Review
Associated Press:
Thome lifts White Sox over Angels 4-3 — ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—Slumping slugger Jim Thome had former teammate Jon Garland on the ropes in the second inning, coming up with the bases loaded and three runs already across the plate. — He grounded out that time, but came through in the ninth when it mattered most.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Owner: Clemens undecided about future — McLane says personal services contract hasn't kicked in — MILWAUKEE — Despite mounting legal troubles regarding his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs, Roger Clemens apparently hasn't decided whether he will retire, one of his former owners told MLB.com on Thursday.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
DeWitt sidelined by lower-back pain — Martin in lineup at third base; Maza makes first big league start — MILWAUKEE — Dodgers third baseman Blake DeWitt, who tweaked his back the night before, was a game-time scratch for Thursday's series finale with the Brewers.
Mike Schmidt / Associated Press:
Call us at: 800-927-2770 — Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt hit 548 home runs and was a 12-time All-Star before retiring in 1989. A three-time NL MVP, the third baseman was MVP of the 1980 World Series when the Phillies won their only championship. — If you're a baseball fan …
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Q&A with Joba Chamberlain — Yankees' phenom hurler sits down with MLB.com … MLB.com: What do you remember about the circumstances of being called to the big leagues for the first time? — Chamberlain: It was kind of hectic, because I was getting out that night [on Aug. 6, 2007] …
Discussion:
Bombers Beat
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Rockies could be in market to trade Holliday — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Izzy blows it again — Closer or not, Jason Isringhausen continues to blow games for the Cardinals. — Thrust into an eighth-inning role today with the Cardinals leading Pittsburgh 5-4 at Busch Stadium, Isringhausen coughed up four runs — one on his throwing error and three on a Jason Bay homer …
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Madden: Hank lights fire, threatens to burn bridges — You have to understand, it's not easy being Hank Steinbrenner, entrusted with restoring his dad's Yankees to their past glory, looking at the standings and seeing them wallowing around .500 while, of all people, those longstanding baseball doormats …
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