Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN.com:
Source: MLB may try instant replay in fall league — Major League Baseball is making tentative plans to experiment with instant replay in the Arizona Fall League, according to a baseball official with knowledge of those discussions. — If that experiment proves practical and successful …
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Ben Walker / Associated Press:
Yankee Stadium adds net after blown call — NEW YORK (AP)—A day after a blown home run call, the House that Ruth Built became the ballpark that A-Rod remodeled. — Yankee Stadium workers put up netting Thursday on a staircase just beyond the right-center field wall, the spot that confused the umpires …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Wright expresses dismay at losses — Third baseman disappointed after dropping three games — ATLANTA — Through all that slippery slope sliding in September, all the moonwalking the Mets have done thus far this season and through most of what they have presented to their public since …
Discussion:
New York Post, MetsBlog.com, Mets Merized Online, Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog and Hot Foot
Mark Bradley / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Mets are a major league mess — Working with half a pitching staff, the Braves awoke Thursday two games ahead of the Mets. This tells us much about the Braves, and it tells us more about the Mets. It tells us the Mets are done. — For 2 1/4 seasons the Mets have acted as if they're …
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
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Dionisio Soldevilla / ESPN:
Pedro says he hopes to pitch two or three more seasons … SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The end is near. But not so fast. — Pedro Martinez, who returned to the Dominican Republic to be with his sick father, said Wednesday that he plans to stick around for at least two more seasons.
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Awful Announcing:
Albert Pujols Is A Wrecking Ball — It's not often that you knock one player out of the game, allbeit two in one inning. Well that's exactly what Albert Pujols did on Monday night against the Padres..... Hell....reading is for suckers. Let's just watch it go down. Via Fan IQ....
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Leyland will honor pace of game memo — Tigers manager not happy about new orders but will obey — DETROIT — The Tigers will comply with Major League Baseball's attempts to speed up the pace of the game. But that doesn't mean manager Jim Leyland is happy about doing it.
Discussion:
The Daily Fungo
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
MLB to ban LaTroy Hawkins three games — For the second time this season, a Yankees reliever has been suspended for NOT hitting an opposing batter. — The Daily News has learned Major League Baseball will hand LaTroy Hawkins a three-game suspension later Thursday, also fining …
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Pat Jordan / Slate:
Josh Beckett Won't Return My Phone Calls — ATHLETES DON'T TRUST REPORTERS, REPORTERS RESENT ATHLETES, AND READERS DON'T KNOW THEIR HEROES AS THEY USED TO. — In January, I got an assignment from the New York Times Magazine to write a profile of Josh Beckett, the Red Sox pitcher.
David Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Answer Man: Bert Blyleven talks the Hall, swearing on air — Minnesota Twins broadcaster Bert Blyleven loathes waiting. He wants a decision now. Suffering the indignity of being omitted from the Hall of Fame — when he should qualify with room to spare — is bad enough.
Anthony Witrado / Brewers Blog:
Gagne has rotator cuff tendinitis — Pittsburgh - Assistant general manager Gord Ash just told me closer Eric Gagne was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis and received a cortisone injection to help speed the recovery process. — Gagne will rejoin the team tomorrow in Washington …
Discussion:
Fox Sports
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals notebook: Bannister looks to continue day-game dominance — The form chart offers an imposing daily double that favors the Royals as they seek to avoid a sweep in today's series finale against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. — Brian Bannister and an afternoon game. — “To me,” he said, “it's not a big deal.
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Moose to pitch as injured Wang sits — Mike Mussina will start Saturday's game against the Mariners on short rest, giving Chien-Ming Wang an extra day between starts to rest his injured right calf. — Wang suffered the mild calf strain on Sunday night, and while he felt fine after throwing …
Discussion:
New York Post
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Today — Central Surprise — Behind two big homers by Jermaine Dye and another good start by Javier Vazquez, the Chicago White Sox extended their winning streak to seven games and their lead in the AL Central to 2½ games with a 7-2 win over the Cleveland Indians last night.
Discussion:
Baseball America
ESPN.com:
Mets COO Wilpon declines comment on Randolph — Embattled New York Mets manager Willie Randolph apologized Wednesday for the “distraction” he has caused his team, but the silence that followed from the team's owners was deafening. — Randolph tried to reach out to the Mets owners Wednesday …
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ESPN