Top News:
Sean Brennan / NY Daily News:
Jorge Posada is ready to start Thursday — Jorge Posada was getting reacquainted with the Yankees locker room following his long stint on the disabled list, when he was asked if the Bombers were ready to make a move in the standings now that the gang was, finally, all here.
Discussion:
New York Post
RELATED:
Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Posada will need surgery after season — Jorge Posada is on the Yankees active roster tonight, but not in the lineup; he is scheduled to catch tomorrow. — And he said today he will need surgery after the season to repair his labrum. — “There's no discomfort,” said Posada …
Associated Press:
Posada activated, available off bench vs. Jays — NEW YORK — Jorge Posada was activated from the disabled list Wednesday by the New York Yankees and was available off the bench against Toronto. — The All-Star catcher wasn't in the starting lineup because he caught the previous two days …
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Mussina looking like an All-Star in win — Righty wins third straight start, buoyed by Jeter's milestone — NEW YORK — If Mike Mussina had his choice of where to spend a three-day July vacation, chances are that he'd drive home to the tiny town of Montoursville, Pa. …
RELATED:
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Harper: Joba moving, doubt rising — You can feel the concern creeping into the Yankee clubhouse. By now the Yankees are practically the home office for slow starts, but the players are all too aware that improved pitching throughout the American League East means it won't be so easy to bludgeon their way to the top this year.
Discussion:
New York Post
Joe Smith / St. Petersburg Times:
Red Sox retake first from Rays 5-1 — The Rays' B.J. Upton is tossed by ump Paul Emmel in the eighth for arguing a called third strike. Boston won its 12th in a row at home. — BOSTON — The Red Sox are, like the Rays, known as one of the most aggressive baserunning teams in the majors.
RELATED:
Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
BoSox run home streak to 12, beat Rays — BOSTON (AP)—B.J. Upton was ejected for arguing a third strike. Dustin Pedroia was mad that a ball that appeared to be a homer was ruled foul. And Coco Crisp slid in hard to send a message. — That kind of emotion surfaces when teams are playing …
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Rays mum on who will be No. 1 pick — Club to select from among five players in Thursday's Draft — BOSTON — The Rays remained tight-lipped Wednesday about who will be the first player selected in Thursday's 2008 First-Year Player Draft. — The Rays hold the top pick in the Draft …
RELATED:
John Manuel / Baseball America Draft Blog:Draft Eve News & Rumors
Discussion:
Unfiltered, Beyond the Box Score, Future Redbirds, Minor League Ball and River Ave. Blues
MLB.com:
White Sox sign pitcher Esteban Loaiza to one-year contract and option Ehren Wassermann to Triple-A Charlotte — Dewayne Wise accepts outright assignment to Charlotte — CHICAGO — Prior to tonight's game vs. Kansas City, the Chicago White Sox signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Esteban Loaiza …
RELATED:
Yahoo! Sports:
White Sox sign RHP Loaiza — CHICAGO (TICKER) —Esteban Loaiza is back with the Chicago White Sox. — The 36-year-old righthander on Wednesday signed a one-year contract with the White Sox through the 2008 season. — Loaiza's best season came with the White Sox in 2003 …
ESPN:
Smoltz to have season-ending shoulder surgery — Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz, who spent five weeks on the disabled list with an inflamed rotator cuff, will have season-ending shoulder surgery. — The report first appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
RELATED:
David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Emotions boil over as losing continues — The time for patience and politeness came to a screeching halt Wednesday. — The team president started his morning by yelling at the coaches. Pieces of equipment — and a garbage can — were hurled in the postgame clubhouse.
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Clayton Kershaw's hard work doesn't pay off for Dodgers — Rookie left-hander makes 104 pitches while laboring through five innings and takes the loss, his first major league decision, as Dodgers fall to Rockies, 2-1. — Clayton Kershaw received his first major league decision in his third start …
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Statue of Liberty gets MLB makeover — Versions of landmark to adorn NYC leading up to All-Star Game — An open letter to the people of France: — Bonjour! We in America are still very thankful for the Statue of Liberty. — She is a fine lady. She still stands for freedom and huddled masses and all of that.
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Legends to make history in Bronx — More than 40 Hall of Famers to be honored at All-Star Game — NEW YORK — Yankee Stadium is not done creating history. Not quite yet. — The largest group of Hall of Famers at a Major League event in history will gather before this summer's All-Star …
