Top News:
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Percival's return to bring tough choice — Closer coming back Friday; Rays must decide who will go — ARLINGTON — Troy Percival is due to return from the disabled list on Friday, which sets up Rays management with having to make a tough choice regarding whose place Percival will take on the roster.
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rangers beat Rays 6-3 — ARLINGTON, Texas — From the way the Rays talked about it after Sunday's 6-3 loss, it was as if there was nothing more than a casual conversation, an “exchange of ideas,” as manager Joe Maddon said. — But what happened was very obvious and very public …
Discussion:
Outs Per Swing
Associated Press:
Texas vs. Tampa Bay — Rangers earn victory against squabbling Rays — CBSSports.com wire reports — ARLINGTON, Texas — David Murphy filled in aptly in the No. 3 spot of the Texas lineup with an early home run before German Duran and Ramon Vazquez also homered in the Rangers' 6-3 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday.
George Vecsey / New York Times:
In a Forced Conversion, the Pitch Count Is the Boss — When the ascetic-looking gent with No. 42 on his back enters the game, maybe it doesn't matter how the Yankees arrived at this propitious moment. — When the entire stadium quivers to the ominous chords of “Enter Sandman,” that means the Mariano Rivera era is still going strong.
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Joba better, but Yanks' 'pen, pop win it — Giambi goes deep; Abreu drives in three against Royals — NEW YORK — This seemed like an ordinary jam in an ordinary inning, with a runner on second base and Joba Chamberlain on the mound. But the fact that it was Chamberlain, and not someone else, made it different.
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Testimony on Steroids in Baseball Is Questioned — When baseball and union officials appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on March 17, 2005, they presented figures that showed that baseball's two-year-old testing program had substantially reduced the number …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Good News: Mets Score More Than a Run. The Bad News: Don't Ask. — SAN DIEGO — Willie Randolph handled the Mets' first three losses to the Padres reasonably well. He lamented what went wrong, praised what little went right and expressed hope that tomorrow, yes, tomorrow, would be the day it all got better.
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Associated Press:
Clark's homer gives Padres sweep of Mets — SAN DIEGO (AP)—Tony Clark took a smooth swing and let Billy Wagner supply the power. — Clark connected for a pinch-hit, three-run homer off Wagner with two outs in the eighth inning Sunday, sending the San Diego Padres to an 8-6 victory and a four-game sweep of the New York Mets.
Mike Heika / Dallas Morning News:
Mathis makes rotation bid in Texas Rangers' win — mheika@dallasnews.com — ARLINGTON - Doug Mathis understands the Texas Rangers are trying to fill two openings in the starting rotation since the release of Sidney Ponson, but he said he knows he has to earn his way onto the team.
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Zachary Osterman / MLB.com:
Bowden keeping track of Nats' house — Washington (25-38) vs. San Francisco (27-35), Sun., 1:35 p.m. ET — WASHINGTON — Before Saturday's game against San Francisco, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden touched base with reporters on a number of housekeeping topics regarding the team.
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
How Joe DiMaggio Revolutionized Cooperstown Voting — Baseball's highest honor, of course, is enshrinement into its Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. As many have noted over the years, the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) which controls the “front door” to the Hall …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Bullpen salvages series finale win — Villanueva, Torres work out of jams to secure Brewers' victory — DENVER — It certainly was not easy. Then again, nothing seems easy for the Brewers away from Miller Park. — An error by second baseman Joe Dillon in the seventh inning and another …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Charles Odum / Associated Press:
Howard lifts Phillies to sweep of Braves — ATLANTA (AP)—The Philadelphia Phillies' three-game sweep of Atlanta left the Braves fearing they could be on the verge of being left out of the NL East race. — Ryan Howard drove in two runs in the ninth inning with his third double …
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Associated Press:
Cuban prospect defects to U.S. … MIAMI (AP) — One of Cuba's top baseball prospects has defected and settled in South Florida in hopes of playing in the major leagues. — Dayan Viciedo arrived in the United States at the end of May and is now living with friends and family, his agent, Jaime Torres, said Sunday.
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