Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Minus a Star, the Bullpen Stays Strong — The topic makes Kyle Farnsworth cringe. Some people may be surprised that the Yankees' bullpen functions without Joba Chamberlain, but Farnsworth is not. He was signed as the Yankees' setup man when Chamberlain was still in college.
RELATED:
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Eiland hands Farnsworth key to success — NEW YORK - Dave Eiland remembers the first time he saw the fatal flaw in Kyle Farnsworth's delivery last winter - a subtle bouncing of the hands when the Yankee reliever should've been taking the ball out of his glove. There it was, every batter, every pitch, over and over again on video.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:Pettitte outpitches Santana as Yankees edge Mets
Discussion:
Archie Bunker's Army
On the Yankees beat:
Gameday Live 82: Yankees at Mets — Pitchers: Darrell Rasner (4-5, 4.50 ERA) v. Oliver Perez (5-5, 5.29 ERA) — Hey guys - It's the fourth game of this Subway Series (the last at Shea) and the Yankees will be looking to take the series against Oli Perez.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Game 81: Yankees at Mets — As expected, Ryan Church came off the DL this morning and is in the lineup for today's finale of the Subway Series at Shea Stadium. — Church had been sidelined since June 6 with post-concussion syndrome but made two minor-league rehab assignments this week and pronounced himself ready to go.
Ben Bolch / Los Angeles Times:
Jered Weaver could do without the trivia part — But after he and reliever Jose Arredondo combined to keep the Dodgers hitless only to lose, the effort will go down in history. — This was a piece of trivia that Jered Weaver could do without. — The question: Who were the last Angels pitchers …
RELATED:
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
No-Hit Loss — The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim suffered a 1-0 loss at Dodger Stadium last night, despite collecting zero hits. Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo combined for eight no-hit innings, but only get credit for a no hitter less than nine innings as the Dodgers score on two errors and a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Phillies may move Myers to bullpen — Struggling righty endured shortest start of career Friday — ARLINGTON — Struggling starting pitchers typically say the worst part about a poor outing is waiting five days until the next one. — Brett Myers may have to wait longer.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
RELATED:
Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press:Phillies may demote RHP Myers to bullpen
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Santana keeps getting aced out — The boxscore line looks presentable. It usually does. Shoot, the way Johan Santana began Saturday's game, we thought we might get a run at Tom Seaver's and David Cone's team record of 19 strikeouts in a game. — Yet once again, if you stood on the Mets' side …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Thor Nystrom / MLB.com:
Mota lowers ERA during off-day — Successful scoring appeal helps reliever's statistics — MINNEAPOLIS — Guillermo Mota lowered his ERA by more than half a run on Thursday. What made the development especially interesting was that Milwaukee was enjoying an off-day.
RELATED:
External / ESPN.com:Parra quiets Twins as Brewers end Minnesota's win streak
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Detroit Free Press:
Tigers' Magglio Ordonez hurt, will miss first game of season — Tigers right fielder Magglio Ordonez left Saturday night's game against the Colorado Rockies because of a spasm in his right side and back. — Ordonez appeared to pull up as he went after Troy Tulowitzki's leadoff double off the right field wall in the top of the third.
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Rockies finally rally, then let it slip away — Tigers overcome Colorado's amazing four-run ninth — DETROIT — Halfway home, the Rockies are a million miles from where they thought they'd be. — Saturday night, they suffered their most crushing loss of the season.
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Gibbons so close, yet far — Ex-Oriole's road to redemption takes him to independent-league series in York, Pa. — YORK, Pa. - Jay Gibbons is a 50-minute drive from the place where he was once a hero, 50 minutes away from a stadium where his best buddies are still revered.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
