Top News:
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Usual suspects send Rox to 7th loss in row — Abysmal? Let us count the ways — The Denver Post — CHICAGO — Only seven months ago, the Rockies were a source of civic pride. Now, they have fans wanting to hide, closets shutting in unison across the region.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Jimenez survives blow to knee, still takes loss — CHICAGO — The noise sickened and frightened teammates. Ryan Theriot smoked a first-inning line drive off starter Ubaldo Jimenez's left knee, the thud practically echoing through the Rockies' dugout. — “It didn't sound good,” first baseman Todd Helton said.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
The Yankees And Brian Fuentes — Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post advises: … Keep in mind that Renck is not saying discussions have occurred recently. But Fuentes would certainly be a nice addition for the Yanks. He has a 2.78 ERA and 2.63 K/BB in 22.2 innings this year.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox's Guillen promises changes — Manager: Expect change; Williams: No need to panic — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After watching an offensive malaise reach a new low Sunday, manager Ozzie Guillen threatened his White Sox hitters with changes following Sunday's 4-3 loss at Tampa Bay.
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times, Mets Fever, Foul Balls, South Side Sox, MLB Rumors and Baseball Musings
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Daily Scoop (cont.) — Around the Majors — • The Rays may pass on Vanderbilt hitting sensation Pedro Alvarez, the consensus No. 1 player in the draft coming into the year and its best hitter, to take either Florida State catcher Buster Posey or Griffin (Ga.) High shortstop Tim Beckham with the No. 1 pick.
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Morgan Ensberg designated for assignment — MINNEAPOLIS - When the Yankees signed Morgan Ensberg for $1.75 million, they hoped he could give them power off the bench. But he didn't do that, and they designated him for assignment Sunday. — Ensberg was batting only .203 (15-for-74) …
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Peter Bendix / Beyond the Box Score:
What's wrong with Nick Swisher? — To say that Nick Swisher has been a disappointment this year would be quite an understatement. After becoming a member of the Chicago White Sox via an offseason trade, Swisher is currently hitting .201/.330/.310 with four homers. What's gone wrong?
Bob Klapisch / ESPN:
With three early picks, Mets have golden opportunity — NEW YORK — Forgive the Mets for thinking they're about to wake up in some alternate universe — or at least one that allows for instant makeovers. The oldest team in the major leagues has three of the first 33 picks in the upcoming amateur draft …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Kieran Darcy / ESPN:
The man who would be king — TAMPA, Fla. — It's a warm, sun-drenched weekday morning outside D.W. Webb Middle School, in the inner-city Town ‘n’ Country neighborhood of Tampa. Under a cloudless sky, Joe Molloy, a boulder of a man, bespectacled and clad in a gray Webb Middle School T-shirt …
John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Manny Nation — Ramirez no longer just for Red Sox fans — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio — BALTIMORE - Kevin Millar remembers the old Manny Ramirez [stats]. The one who only let teammates and friends see what kind of person he really was.
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Associated Press:
Braves activate Smoltz off DL, stick him in 'pen … ATLANTA (AP) — John Smoltz returned to the Atlanta Braves as a reliever, hoping the role he had from 2001-04 will help him cope with an aching right shoulder and extend his career. — The 41-year-old Smoltz was activated before the start …
Ted Berg / MetsBlog.com:
Read: Q&A with Valentino Pascucci — Val Pascucci is hitting .288 with a 1.065 OPS since signing with the Mets and joining Triple-A New Orleans. — Pascucci has more home runs in 32 games with the Zephyrs than the total produced by Mets left fielders and first basemen in 2008.
Discussion:
SNY.tv
Cameron Martin / Comcast SportsNet:
As Griffey approaches 600, MLB whitewashes history — During Sunday's Red Sox/Orioles game, which I watched on MLB.TV, the league ran a promotional commercial for Ken Griffey's approach to 600 home runs. Backed by maudlin piano music, a Costas-like narrator says the following script, to the accompaniment of pictures and video:
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Rivera AL Player of the Week — Mariano Rivera was named the American League Player of the Week. He recorded three saves (in three attempts) last week, pitching in four games, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out seven. It's the first AL Player of the Week award for Rivera.
Discussion:
Scott Proctor's Arm
Jon Blau / MLB.com:
No rest for weary Mets — New York (28-27) at San Francisco (24-33), Monday, 10:15 ET — NEW YORK — The handle on Carlos Beltran's brown wheeled suitcase had already been popped. Meanwhile, members of the Mets' equipment staff were hauling bags of bats, gloves and balls out into the hallways.
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