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.
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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.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
They found a spark — NEW YORK - The Red Sox had to get out of Florida to find an easy game. They had to come to the Bronx to find a patsy. — Talk about your alternative universe. — A safe distance from the Big, Bad Trop Dome and those devilish Rays, the Red Sox got back on message …
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!
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:
MetsBlog.com, The Mets Are Better Than Sex, The 'Ropolitans, Hot Stove New York and Mets Merized Online
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
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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.
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Inside Pitch: Garcia on comeback trail — Right-hander expects to be fully healthy; could help contender — Freddy Garcia took another step toward returning to the mound this week and could be ready to help a contender by the end of August. — “I saw him pitch this week and he's at 75-80 percent …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Sky falls on Cardinals — The first pitch of Thursday night's Cardinals-New York Mets game at Busch Stadium was delayed 26 minutes by rain. But Cardinals righthanded rookie Mitchell Boggs never got started at all. — Boggs walked six hitters in his six innings and five of them scored.
Discussion:
Mets Geek
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.
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
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Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:Change in plans: Nomar, Andruw coming back TOMORROW
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
