Top News:
George A. King III / New York Post:
PITT-IFUL YANKS HEAR IT FROM JOE — GIRARDI TO TEAM: WE STUNK — PITTSBURGH - After watching the Yankees waste multiple scoring chances, the Pirates spank his pitchers and the fielders not make plays, manager Joe Girardi told his players what he thought of last night's debacle.
RELATED:
Alan Robinson / Associated Press:Bucs beat Yanks for first time since '60
Discussion:
The Griddle, Where have you gone …, Bucs Dugout, YanksBlog.com, River Ave. Blues and NJ.com
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers to try out pitching experiment — Class A Brevard County looks to switch up starters' mindsets — ATLANTA — Brewers ace Ben Sheets believes the extinction of the Major League complete game can be traced to the Minors, where strict pitch counts protect prospects from injuries …
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Sheets To Test Free Agency — By Tim Dierkes [June 24 at 10:16pm CST] — Brewers ace Ben Sheets is in the midst of a monster contract year, and he's planning on testing the open market after the season. The Brewers might've had a chance to sign him to an extension, but GM Doug Melvin decided to pass.
Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Sheets has eye on free agency — Atlanta - I spoke with Brewers ace Ben Sheets before the game tonight to ask about his upcoming free agency and if there was any chance the club might sign him before he tests the market this fall. — Suffice it to say that Sheets is headed for free agency.
Discussion:
Spitting Seeds
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
MLB, union meet over maple bats — Next step is gathering information about remedies — The recent explosion — literally — of maple bats has forced representatives from Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association to evaluate the threat of injury …
Discussion:
The Biz of Baseball
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Plate ump Brian O'Nora hit in head by broken bat — KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Plate umpire Brian O'Nora was hit in the head by a shattered piece of Miguel Olivo's broken bat, forcing him out of Tuesday night's game between the Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Maker of maple bats gives opinion — Sam Holman tells a safety committee that teams and players need to pay considerably more for maple bats, which are breaking at a high rate and flying onto the field and into the stands, to ensure that — The most prominent manufacturer of maple bats …
Discussion:
Sabernomics
Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
Beltran gets tossed from game, calls umpire's move ‘weak’ — Carlos Beltran has been accused of playing without passion during his run with the Mets. That wasn't the case Tuesday night. The Mets' star center fielder erupted at plate umpire Brian Runge in the fourth inning and got tossed from the game …
RELATED:
Jay Cohen / Associated Press:Mariners defeat listless Mets 11-0
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk, The Musings and Prophecies …, Can't Stop The Bleeding, MetsBlog.com and Yahoo! Sports
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Dunn denies phone call with Ricciardi — Outfielder says he never reached out to talk with Jays' GM — TORONTO — Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said his feud with Reds left fielder Adam Dunn was finally settled via a phone call between the two over the weekend. — Not so, says Dunn.
RELATED:
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Home streak over — Cubs try to rally in the ninth inning but leave the bases loaded — The best deal the Cubs never made? Don't tell that to Brian Roberts or the Cubs after a monthlong home winning streak came to an end at the hands of the Cub Who Might Have Been and his Baltimore buddies.
Rob Iracane / Walkoff Walk:
Joe Morgan Besmirches Ernie Banks, Is Completely Wrong — ESPN baseball ‘analyst’ Joe Morgan is notorious for gallimaufries and assorted verbal miscues when talking about players during games. He'll misquote people, incorrectly recite stats, or worst of all, sully the career of one of baseball's all-time greats:
Todd Krise / MLB.com:
Mazeroski kicks off set vs. Yanks — Former Pirates great throws out ceremonial first pitch Tuesday — PITTSBURGH - Who would have imagined that one man's throw could make such a noise? — When Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski's ceremonial first pitch hit the glove of Pirates manager John Russell …
Discussion:
NY Daily News
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
Getting Ridiculous — The American League took all three west coast games Tuesday night. The Phillies could not hold a 1-0 lead as Moyer allowed a three-run homer to Emil Brown in the seventh, and Oakland went on to a 5-2 win. They finally scored some runs for Joe Blanton …
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Tavarez elects free agency — Reliever rejects outright assignment, ends short Milwaukee stint — ATLANTA — Right-hander Julian Tavarez surprised the Brewers on Tuesday when he rejected an outright assignment to the Minor Leagues and prompted the team to release him.
