Top News:
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Time for Yanks to face reality — The manager berated the Yankees for failing to capitalize on back-to-back walks to Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter. — The manager berated the Yankees for their listless at-bats in what was supposed to be a showdown weekend against their division rivals.
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks' quiet loss spurs loud meeting — Subpar Pettitte combines with dormant offense to irk Girardi — NEW YORK — The doors to the Yankees' clubhouse were ordered shut on Thursday evening, remaining closed for more than 30 minutes as manager Joe Girardi took his entire roster to task for its lack of consistency on the field.
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Harper: Yankee stars didn't come through — Joe Girardi can have all the meetings he wants, and the Yankees can talk about being embarrassed all they want, but in games like these, big games the Yankees desperately need if they are ever going to look like a contender this season, they have to be able to count on their stars.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers brass meets on Thursday — Melvin, Ash and Yost talk, but won't say what was discussed — PHOENIX — For more than an hour on Thursday, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and assistant GM Gord Ash met with manager Ned Yost in Yost's office. The trio eventually was joined by head athletic trainer Roger Caplinger.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
RELATED:
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers stunned in ninth by D-backs — Parra's gem spoiled as Arizona scores six times in last at-bat — PHOENIX — Judging by the silence in the Brewers clubhouse Thursday afternoon, no one had the right words to describe what had just happened. — Some guys tried. — “Incredible,” starter Manny Parra said.
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
SKIDDING METS A REAL FIGHT CLUB — HERNANDEZ, REYES NEARLY COME TO BLOWS ON PLANE — ST. LOUIS - Jose Reyes and Keith Hernandez had to be separated on the Mets' charter plane Sunday night after a tense confrontation over Hernandez's critical comments about the All-Star shortstop.
Discussion:
The Mets Are Better Than Sex, Hot Stove New York, The 'Ropolitans and Mets Merized Online
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Piniella on Marmol: Little bit of a concern — Edmonds worried he may take heat in St. Louis — SAN FRANCISCO — Cubs manager Lou Piniella spoke to Carlos Marmol Thursday morning about his location after Marmol served up a game-tying three-run homer to Ray Durham Wednesday night.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Baltimore Sun:
O's interested in Toronto's Eckstein — Club engaged in talks with Blue Jays regarding veteran shortstop — Seeking to fill what has become the team's most glaring deficiency, the Orioles have engaged in talks with the Toronto Blue Jays regarding shortstop David Eckstein, according to industry sources.
On the Yankees beat:
Gameday Live 85: Red Sox at Yankees — Hey everyone! Katie here blogging tonight for game 1 of a four-game series against the Red Sox. Andy Pettitte (9-5, 3.98) will be on the mound tonight for the pinstripes. Jon Lester (6-3, 3.48) get the start for Boston. Hope everyone is geared up for a great Fourth of July weekend!
Kevin Baxter / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers bringing up Nomar Garciaparra, Andruw Jones today — As L.A. starts a three-game series in San Francisco, Garciaparra will start at shortstop, a position he hasn't played regularly for four seasons. Brad Penny's return is delayed for about a week.
Discussion:
Dem Bums
RELATED:
Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:Change in plans: Nomar, Andruw coming back TOMORROW
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Beck / Beck's Blog:
Cabrera's back — So am I, but that's not really news so much as it's the work schedule. — The lineups should be interesting this weekend because of the game times this series — essentially alternating night games and day games for four days. Jim Leyland knew he wanted …
Associated Press:
A's snap White Sox's 7-game win streak behind Duchscherer — CHICAGO (AP) — Justin Duchscherer pitched seven solid innings, Jack Cust and Donnie Murphy homered and the Oakland Athletics beat Chicago 3-2 Thursday night to snap the White Sox's seven-game win streak. — GAME REPORT: Athletics 3, White Sox 2
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Eric Seidman / Baseball Prospectus:
Scherzer 101 — Max the Stathead … Eric Seidman (ES): For starters, can you tell me how you came to be interested in analyzing baseball statistics? — Max Scherzer (MS): Well, it really started out with my pitching coach at Mizzou, who brought it to our attention by examining the percentage of first strikes and A3P percentage.
