Top News:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Lowell on 15-day DL; Pauley recalled — Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell has been placed on the 15-day disabled list due to an oblique injury suffered during last night's game. — Righthanded pitcher David Pauley has been recalled from Pawtucket to take Lowell's spot on the roster.
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Barbara Matson / Boston Globe:
Byrd sighting — Paul Byrd had his first in-person chat with the Boston media before the game. Byrd, 37, is a righthander and was 7-10 with the Indians this season, with a 4.53 ERA in 22 games. He has a career record of 104-91 and a career ERA of 4.37. — “I'm still spinning a little bit,” said Byrd.
Mark Remme / MLB.com:
Lowell can't avoid disabled list — Strained oblique muscle sidelines Red Sox third baseman — BOSTON — The Red Sox placed Mike Lowell on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday, one day after being forced to leave Tuesday's 19-17 victory over Texas in the seventh inning with a strained right oblique muscle.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 121: Yankees at Twins — YANKEES (64-56) — TWINS (66-53) — Darrell Rasner (5-8, 5.28) vs. the Minnesota hitters. — Kevin Slowey (8-8, 4.07) vs. the New York hitters. — Notes: The lineup was delayed as the Yankees were waiting to see if Derek Jeter (bruised left foot) could play.
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yankees expected to offer GM Cashman extension in offseason … Never mind the Yankees' current standing in third place, or their recent struggles. Both Steinbrenner brothers are now said by people familiar with their thinking to be on board with Brian Cashman as their general manager, for now and long into the future.
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Mets get Piazza to help close Shea — Before the Mets tear down Shea Stadium later this year, their plan is to honor their home of the past 44 years with a special ceremony during the final weekend of the regular season. The organization has stayed tight-lipped about the details …
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
The biggest rules change since the DH is coming soon … The age of instant replay is dawning. Major league owners, with approval from the umpires and players, intend to begin using replay on so-called boundary calls before the year ends, allowing the next World Series to be the first to offer umpires technological help.
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles, Matusz closing in on deal — CLEVELAND - Orioles first-round draft pick Brian Matusz is scheduled to be in Baltimore tomorrow to take a physical, one of the final steps to reaching an agreement on a contract. — According to a source familiar with the negotiations …
Discussion:
Oriole Central
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Major League Baseball's 25 Most Improbable Success Stories — The unlikely story of Mike Aviles' ascent from a measly $1,000 signing bonus to a place among the most productive shortstops in the American League got me wondering: Who else among the current major leagues is there improbably?
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Injury forces Giese out vs. Twins — Yanks hurler exits with stiff shoulder, shouldn't miss start — MINNEAPOLIS — Yankees right-hander Dan Giese left his relief appearance after 15 pitches on Wednesday with a stiff right shoulder. — Pitching in relief of starter Darrell Rasner …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
Peter Gammons Q&A — Baseball icon Peter Gammons stopped by this afternoon to answer your questions about the Red Sox and the Hot Stove, Cool Music Summer Session concert taking place on Sunday at the Bank of America Pavilion. — JGIONTI3: Peter.. Thanks for stopping by.
Associated Press:
Cubs take both in doubleheader — ATLANTA — The Chicago Cubs are playing so well on the road, they won two lopsided games away from Wrigley Field in one day. — Rich Harden pitched five scoreless innings, Kosuke Fukodome drove in two runs with two hits and the Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves 8 …
MiamiHerald.com:
After blunders, Marlins fix signs — No one is sure what Dan Uggla saw Monday night when he thought he had been given the steal sign in the ninth inning of a 4-2 loss to the Cardinals. Uggla was thrown out, and then handled every question about his mistake, taking all the blame.
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:Sign, sign, everywhere a sign (Marlins just can't read them)
Discussion:
FishStripes
Rany / Rany on the Royals:
How About A Nice Hawaiian Punch? — If you haven't read it already, I heartily recommend Sam Mellinger's piece on Kila Kaaihue in the Sunday Star. I think this column strikes the perfect balance of wonder, optimism, and skepticism for the most monstrous season any Royals minor leaguer has put together in years.
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Giants add young trio to lineup — Ishikawa, Sandoval, Rohlinger recalled from Minors — HOUSTON — The Giants made sweeping roster changes Wednesday, recalling first baseman Travis Ishikawa from Triple-A Fresno and purchasing the contracts of catcher-first baseman Pablo Sandoval …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals, Crow far from closing deal — Club has until Friday to sign 2008 first-round Draft pick — WASHINGTON — The Nationals and pitcher Aaron Crow, the team's first-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, are not close to agreeing to terms on a contract.
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