Top News:
Colin Stephenson / New Jersey Online:
Willie: ‘This happened way, way too early’ — Speaking extensively for the first time since he was fired early Monday morning, Willie Randolph fielded questions outside his Franklin Lakes home with his usual temperance. — “I can't control how things were handled,” Randolph said this morning.
RELATED:
Jack Etkin / Rocky Mountain News:Hurdle likely will find All-Star sub for Randolph
Discussion:
New York Times, New York Post, JSOnline, Sliding Into Home, It's Mets For Me and The Baseball Zealot
Kirby Arnold / Herald:
M's meet to discuss Sexson's future — A source within the organization says team is planning to release the first baseman soon. — SEATTLE — Struggling first baseman Richie Sexson's time with the Seattle Mariners could end soon. — One day after general manager Bill Bavasi was fired …
RELATED:
Larry Stone / The Seattle Times:
Mariners' pick for GM will reveal path — This was a man who had finally reached the limit of his patience, and seemed ready ... Howard Lincoln's eyes were flashing fire on Monday. — This was a man who had finally reached the limit of his patience, and seemed ready — indeed, aching — to try a new way.
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Geoff Baker / Mariners Blog:
The next GM — The most often-asked question I've had to deal with on radio and in the streets the past few days is...why can't Erik Bedard go more than six innings? I'll leave that one to all the Bedard experts out there who insist he's simply a misunderstood ace-in-waiting, much-maligned by the media.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs call Murton back up, but only as trade bait? — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Cubs recalled Matt Murton from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and sent Eric Patterson back down, though they may just be showcasing Murton for a possible deal. — “We hated to send Patterson out, we really did,” manager Lou Piniella said.
RELATED:
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
Sox matinee today — Today is a day to soak in the Celtics win, but the Red Sox have some unfinished business in Philadelphia this afternoon as they try to take the rubber game of a three-game set with the Phillies. — The Sox will send rookie Justin Masterson (3-1, 2.90 ERA) to the mound in 1:05 p.m. start.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
RELATED:
Geoff Young / Ducksnorts:
Chatting with Sandy Alderson (Part 3) — This is the third of a three-part interview (Part 1 is here; Part 2 is here) with San Diego Padres CEO Sandy Alderson. Big thanks to Mr. Alderson for taking time out of his busy schedule to make himself available, and also to his assistant …
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Johnson to make Class A rehab start — Right-hander advancing in recovery from Tommy John surgery — SEATTLE — Encouraged by a couple of Gulf Coast League starts, the Marlins are advancing Josh Johnson to pitching in games for Class A Jupiter in the Florida State League.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
ESPN:
Woods set to have season-ending knee surgery — Tiger Woods has decided to have surgery on his left knee, which will end his 2008 season. — Woods said on his Web site that he will have surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament. He also wrote that he needs time to rehabilitate …
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Is MLB's Diversity Keeping Advertisers Away? — When The Biz of Baseball ran its roundtable compilation entitled, State of Major League Baseball - 2008, we got 30 responses from a broad range of people that cover the sport. None of the panelists consulted one another, yet topics intersected.
Discussion:
ShysterBall
Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Texas Rangers' Blalock waits his turn — rdurrett@dallasnews.com — ARLINGTON - Hank Blalock will have to stay patient a little longer. The newest Rangers first baseman won't play this weekend in Washington as previously planned. The target date for his return is now Tuesday in Houston.
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Reuniting Zito with old coach makes sense — (06-17) 20:09 PDT — Rick Peterson was Barry Zito's pitching coach through the pitcher's best years in Oakland. Now that Peterson is unemployed, would it not make sense for the Giants to hire him as a special instructor to work with Zito and help right him?
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter gets upbeat news — Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter returned from his trip to Alabama for a second opinion on his right elbow with reassuring news that he shouldn't hesitate to restart his rehab. — “All of my tests were fine; my ligament and my reconstruction looks good,” …
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
REYES HURT AS MANUEL LOSES DEBUT — ANAHEIM — Jerry Manuel's debut started ominously last night and got worse from there. — Manuel and the Mets lost Jose Reyes to a tight left hamstring just four pitches into the game, then watched ace Johan Santana look mortal in a 6-1 interleague loss to the Angels.
