Top News:
Jose De Jesus Ortiz / Houston Chronicle:
Astros suspend Chacon after altercation with GM Wade — Already upset that he was demoted from the Astros' starting rotation to the bullpen, Shawn Chacon was suspended indefinitely Wednesday night after a heated exchange turned violent with general manager Ed Wade an hour before the Astros played the Texas Rangers.
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Associated Press:
Astros suspend pitcher Chacon after he jumps GM — HOUSTON — Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon was suspended indefinitely by the team Wednesday for insubordination after reportedly grabbing general manager Ed Wade by the neck and throwing him to the ground. — Chacon, upset after getting demoted …
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Chacon asks Astros for trade — Right-hander unhappy about move from rotation to bullpen — HOUSTON — Astros right-hander Shawn Chacon, unhappy with being moved from the rotation to the bullpen, has informed the Astros he wants to be traded and has been suspended indefinitely.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Flores' single gives Nationals win in ninth — WASHINGTON — Jesus Flores lined an RBI single to right-center with one out in the bottom of the ninth to give the Washington Nationals a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday. — The Nationals snapped a four-game losing streak and ended the Angels' five-game winning streak.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Associated Press:
Nationals end Angels' 5-game win streak — WASHINGTON (AP)—Jesus Flores struck out three times while going hitless in his first four at-bats Wednesday night, flailing at pitches outside the strike zone. — His final time up, he waited for a good one and turned his night around.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Tim Reynolds / Associated Press:
Crawford's 2 HRs, 10-run 5th lift Rays — MIAMI (AP)—Carl Crawford had two home runs before the Tampa Bay Rays really got started. — Crawford's second homer of the game started a 10-run, 14-batter, 32-minute barrage in the fifth inning, and the Rays defeated the Florida Marlins 15-3 Wednesday night …
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Baseball's problem with bats — ESPN.com's Buster Olney wrote about this today and Tom Verducci has, too, for Sports Illustrated. At this point, it's dereliction of duty not to write about it. — Baseball needs to do something about the crisis with maple bats.
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Associated Press:
Agent: Bonds has no interest in playing in minors — NEW YORK — Barry Bonds has no desire to play for an independent minor league team in an effort to spur interest among major league clubs. — The indicted career home run leader remains unsigned, even though he batted .276 last season with 28 homers …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
Ortiz already in the swing of things — Red Sox manager Terry Francona revealed today that David Ortiz, who recently got the cast taken off his injured left wrist, hit off of a tee in front of doctors last night at Fenway Park, and that he “did OK” in the session.
Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Wakefield beats Big Unit, BoSox win 5-0 — And it was the youngest player in Boston's lineup, 24-year-old rookie Brandon Moss, who drove in the two runs Johnson allowed. — Not since Sept. 26, 1965, when Satchel Paige made a one-game comeback after a 12-year absence from the majors …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Rick Gano / Associated Press:
Cubs bounce back from rare home loss — CHICAGO (AP)—Geovany Soto drove in three runs, Jim Edmonds homered and the Chicago Cubs jumped on spot starter Matt Albers early and went on to beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-4 Wednesday night. — Jay Payton hit a pair of two-run homers off Chicago starter Ted Lilly …
Eric Olson / Associated Press:
Detwiler, Wilson Carry Fresno to Title — OMAHA, Neb. — Fresno State was smashing in its final performance as college baseball's team of destiny, winning a championship that would have been impossible to predict. — With Steve Detwiler providing all the offense Justin Wilson needed …
Discussion:
Baseball America
George A. King III / New York Post:
DAMON SITS; DL POSSIBLE — PITTSBURGH - Johnny Damon has his fingers firmly crossed that the pain coming from the left arch doesn't land him on the disabled list for the first time in his career. — “I hope not,” Damon said when asked if the shelf was a possibility. “I don't know, but Sunday it was real bad.