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11:40 PM ET, July 18, 2008

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
Lobel: Manny fined — and wasn't happy about it  —  Editor's note: The Globe's Gordon Edes reported Friday afternoon that, according to industry sources, Ramirez's fine was in the $10,000-$15,000 range, not in the hundreds of thousands.  —  According to former WBZ sports director Bob Lobel …
Joe Kay / Associated Press:
Reds snap Mets' 10-game winning streak  —  CINCINNATI (AP)—A whole lot of little things ended the New York Mets' winning streak.  —  Bronson Arroyo extended his latest surge by pitching eight innings Friday night, and the Cincinnati Reds used a minimal rally to beat the Mets 5-2, ending their 10-game winning streak.
RELATED:
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Wagner making a statement to Phillies
Discussion: MetsBlog.com
Associated Press:
Rays Try to Leave Losing Skid in First Half  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays convened for the second half of the season Thursday, confident the seven-game losing streak they took into the All-Star break is not a sign they are fading.  —  Manager Joe Maddon reiterated …
Discussion: Baseball Musings
Charles Odum / Associated Press:
McCann's 3-run double helps Braves win  —  ATLANTA (AP)—Brian McCann's three-run double gave Atlanta the lead in the third inning, and the Braves survived the Washington National's ninth-inning rally to win 7-6 on Friday night.  —  The Nationals left the tying run on third base in the ninth.
Discussion: Federal Baseball
Associated Press:
Liriano's agent wants union investigation of Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The agent for Minnesota pitcher Francisco Liriano is asking the players' union to investigate why the Twins have yet to call him up from Triple-A Rochester.  —  Greg Genske says his client is frustrated because he has pitched …
RELATED:
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Liriano to file grievance against Twins
Discussion: ShysterBall
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yankees reportedly sign Sexson  —  Slugger provides power against left-handed pitching  —  NEW YORK — Looking to add some thump to their lineup against left-handed pitching, the Yankees have added slugger Richie Sexson for the remainder of the season, according to multiple reports.
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Injury update: Team doc says surgery for Pagan  —  Team doctor David Altchek has recommended surgery for Angel Pagan to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.  Pagan will seek a second opinion in Los Angeles from Lewis Yocum.  —  The expectation is that if he undergoes surgery by Sept. 1, he'd be ready for spring training.
Discussion: Mets Fever and Hot Foot
CTV.ca:
Jays fans fight to keep the ‘Beer Guy’ in the game  —  Never mind the peanuts and crackerjacks.  Toronto Blue Jays fans want their favourite beer guy back.  —  Wayne McMahon, a 61-year-old beer vendor known for his trademark beer holler, was fired July 8 and since then, fans have turned to the web to fight for his reinstatement.
Baseball America:
Prospect Hot Sheet: July 18  —  The A's were in the news a lot this week because of the Rich Harden trade.  But as we started to put together the Hot Sheet for this week, we realized that the club deserves to be in the spotlight for another reason.  If you look at this week's list …
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Cook's star turn still the rage  —  Even as the Rockies juggle to put together a starting rotation for their last 65 games, the clubhouse was buzzing about ace Aaron Cook's three-inning performance in Tuesday's All-Star Game.  —  “I was jumping up and down,” Jeff Francis said.
Discussion: Outs Per Swing and MLB Rumors
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins left-hander Andrew Miller sidelined by knee tendinitis  —  MIAMI GARDENS — The Marlins overcame injuries to go into the All-Star break just 112 games out of first place in the National League East.  But if they hope to reach the playoffs, they'll have to overcome more injuries.
Discussion: FishStripes
RELATED:
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Treanor on target for Wednesday return
Discussion: FishStripes
Jeffrey Flanagan / Over the Top:
Whose idea was “The Mexicutioner?”  —  You've seen Joakim Soria's new nickname, “The Mexicutioner,” in Royals game stories, heard it on radio, and lately it has been spotted on increasingly popular T-shirts.  —  Bob Dutton, Royals beat writer for The Star, says the nickname didn't start with him.
Discussion: MLB FanHouse
Thor Nystrom / MLB.com:
Blalock reclaims third-base job  —  With Davis entrenched at first, veteran returns to hot corner  —  MINNEAPOLIS — It took some managerial pleading, but Hank Blalock is switching positions.  Again.  And this time he is headed back to a place that he never technically vacated.
Brian Costello / Mets Blog:
Reyes' new ink  —  Some of you watching the game might notice an addition to Jose Reyes.  The Mets shortstop got a new tattoo over the All-Star break.  —  Reyes had a spiderweb tattooed on his left elbow on Monday.  He said it took about an hour and 20 minutes and it was very painful.
Discussion: Hot Foot
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Church, Pagan to remain on shelf  —  Neither outfielder expected to be ready for Phillies series  —  CINCINNATI — The Mets' hopes to move closer to full strength before they engage the Phillies next week have been dashed.  Neither Ryan Church nor Angel Pagan is expected to return …
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:   Church's slow return clouding Mets' plans
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
El Duque exits rehab start early  —  Hurler lasts just one inning for Double-A Binghamton  —  CINCINNATI — The Mets have never counted on a return by Orlando Hernandez, and with good reason.  Now — again — his physical condition is as much an uncertainty as his age.
RELATED:
 
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 More News: 
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Future Shock  —  Draft Signings Unannounced  —  As we move …
Battlekow / Brew Crew Ball:
Projecting the Second Half
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Nothing doing on St. Louis front
Discussion: MLB Rumors
Howard Megdal / New York Observer:
Can Billy Wagner Close a Big Game?
Discussion: Hot Foot
Toronto Star:
Get ready for Burnett trade talk
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Kelly signs, volunteers to play two positions
 Earlier Picks: 
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Samson nervous about stadium opening
Discussion: Bottom9 Baseball
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Notes: Flores to return
Baxter Holmes / Boston Globe:
He's back with a bang  —  Ortiz hits a homer in Pawtucket rehab
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter set for rehab start
Discussion: MLB FanHouse
Jesse Spector / Touching Base:
Nine Innings: Giants [levitator] closer Brian Wilson
Discussion: Walkoff Walk
Greg Fieg / MLB Rumors:
Clarification on Barry Bonds' ‘Talks’ with Yankees
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Hannah Sacks / People:
Angelina Jolie Says ‘Nothing Else Matters’ to Her Except for Motherhood: ‘You Can Take Everything Else Away’

Nicki Cox / Page Six:
Ana de Armas spotted kissing Cuban President Díaz-Canel's stepson during date night in Madrid

TMZ.com:
John Stamos Responds to Comments About Wearing Bald Cap With Dave Coulier

 
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