Top News:
Mike Nichols / MetsBlog.com:
News: Mets Acquire Trot Nixon — Following tonight's game, Omar Minaya announced the Mets have acquired OF Trot Nixon from the Diamondbacks for cash or a player to be named later. — Nixon was batting .309 with a .437 OBP, 15 2B, 10 HR and 31 RBI in 181 at-bats for the D-backs Triple-A Tucson affiliate.
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets acquire Nixon from D-backs — Veteran to join club Saturday; new teammates await arrival — NEW YORK — When the Mets saw their outfield crumble due to injury last season, they did nothing to fix it. Now it's happened again, and this time, the team has acted.
Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Nixon acquired in trade — Hoping to inject some fire into a sleepy clubhouse, the Mets acquired veteran outfielder Trot Nixon from the Diamondbacks tonight. — Nixon, 34 and a key member of Boston's 2004 World Series winner, had spent all of this season with the D'backs' Triple-A affiliate in Tucson.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:Mets Add Trot Nixon in a Trade With Arizona
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing
Newsday:
Willie has the weekend to save his job — Source confirms Mets manager has until the end of this weekend's series against Texas to turn team around — A source confirms Mets manager Willie Randolph has until the end of this weekend's series against Texas to turn the team around.
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Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Video: The Willie Randolph Comedy Hour — In the final moments of Willie Randolph's post-game press conference with reporters, the team's public relations guru Jay Howritz informed the room that Omar Minaya would be making an announcement. — Randolph then began to kill time …
Sports Illustrated:
Mets seriously considering changes … Willie Randolph's status as Mets manager is extremely tenuous now. General manager Omar Minaya is seriously considering changing managers and at least a couple of the team's coaches, sources told SI.com. — A Mets official indicated that nothing …
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Rays surprised by Papelbon's remarks — Players express feelings that incident ended in Boston — ST. PETERSBURG — Rays players were surprised for the most part after hearing the comments made by Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon that “this thing isn't all settled and done” between Boston and Tampa Bay.
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Sources: MLB working to start replay this season … Major League Baseball is attempting to institute instant replay on home run calls before the end of this season, according to two sources familiar with those discussions. However, in order to accomplish that, MLB still needs to settle …
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Paul White / USA Today:MLB may use instant replay starting Aug. 1
Discussion:
Baseball Digest Daily
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Baseball a big part of Russert's life — ‘Meet the Press’ host was board member of Hall of Fame — Tim Russert, the host of NBC's “Meet the Press” and a board member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, collapsed and died at work on Friday after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 58.
Chris Duncan / Associated Press:
Jeter's HR in 8th lifts Yanks by Astros — HOUSTON (AP)—Little by little, Joba Chamberlain is getting more comfortable as a starting pitcher. — Derek Jeter hit a solo homer in the eighth inning off Doug Brocail and Chamberlain pitched six strong innings in his first career road start …
Associated Press:
Diamondbacks option RHP Scherzer — PHOENIX (AP)—The Arizona Diamondbacks optioned heralded right-hander Max Scherzer to Triple-A Tucson before Friday night's game against the Kansas City Royals. — Scherzer, the Diamondbacks' top pick in the 2006 amateur draft, was 0-2 with a 2.90 ERA in 10 appearances …
Associated Press:
Blue Jays snap Cubs' 4-game win streak — TORONTO (AP)—Booed off the mound in his last start, A.J. Burnett left to a much warmer reception Friday. — Burnett struck out seven over five innings to win for the first time in four starts, Scott Rolen and Matt Stairs hit back-to-back home runs …
Andrew Seligman / Associated Press:
ChiSox rally, win ninth straight at home — CHICAGO (AP)—Juan Uribe could be excused for feeling like a forgotten man. He has struggled at the plate and had not played since being reinstated from the disabled list two weeks ago. — He got a chance on Friday and made his case for a few more opportunities.
