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 — And for good reason. Billy Wagner, easily the most accessible player on the Mets, was not happy to be fielding most of the questions after today's 1-0 loss to the Nationals. The main reason? He didn't play in the game.
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.
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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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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 …
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Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
Phillies Notes: Utley has the president's vote — It probably won't improve his approval ratings in the Philadelphia area, but President Bush offered an interesting answer this week when asked who would be the first position player he would want if he owned a baseball team again. — He would want Chase Utley.
Discussion:
The Big Picture
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
Scheppers Has Stress Fracture
Discussion:
Phuture Phillies
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 …
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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, Chicago Tribune, signonsandiego.com, The Postmen and Hardball
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.
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
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman: Cashman bears brunt of Steinbrenner's wrath … According to a person familiar with what's going on in the upper reaches of the New York Yankees' hierarchy, new boss Hank Steinbrenner currently “blames Brian Cashman for everything.” — And, the way things are going right now, that's a lot of things.
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 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