Top News:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
News: Mets acquire Ayala from Nats — The Mets have acquired RHP Luis Ayala from the Nationals in exchange for 2B Anderson Hernandez. — Ayala is expected to join the team in Pittsburgh tomorrow. — Ayala had a 5.77 ERA this season with Washington. — The Daily News reported earlier …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals trade pitcher Ayala to Mets — Relief pitcher requested trade; club gets player to be named — WASHINGTON — The Nationals traded right-handed relief pitcher Luis Ayala to the Mets on Sunday morning for a player to be named later, but that player is expected to be infielder Anderson Hernandez.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets acquire reliever Ayala from Nats — Move could help strengthen bullpen as playoff hunt heats up — PITTSBURGH — A trade the Mets hope will be a solution to their bullpen problems — and one that could compound the problems — was consummated Sunday when the team with the third-highest bullpen ERA …
Associated Press:
Mets add Nats right-hander Ayala to bullpen mix — WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals traded right-handed reliever Luis Ayala to the Mets on Sunday for a player to be named, a move designed to provide depth to New York's struggling bullpen. — The player going to the Nationals is expected …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Associated Press:
Girardi: Yanks' Matsui on track to return Tuesday — NEW YORK — Injured slugger Hideki Matsui is back with the Yankees and is likely to be activated Tuesday, when the club begins a six-game trip at Toronto. — Matsui had 15 at-bats during a simulated game at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, facing left- and right-handed pitching.
Pat Borzi / New York Times:
Yankee Home Runs Help Mussina Overcome a Shaky Start — Yankees Manager Joe Girardi frequently refers to himself as an optimist. That posture has been tested the last three weeks, as the Yankees floundered while nearly playing themselves out of the wild-card race.
Discussion:
baseballtoaster.com
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Joe Saunders, Angels stumble in Cleveland — Left-hander struggles through five innings and Angels can't push tying run across in ninth inning as they lose a series for the first time since June. — CLEVELAND — It was bound to happen sometime, and better now than in October, the Angels figure.
Associated Press:
Ethier's 9th-inning HR gives Dodgers win — LOS ANGELES (AP)—Andre Ethier hit his second homer of the game in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers recovered to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-5 on Sunday moments after blowing a four-run lead. — The Dodgers also got homers …
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Batting practice doesn't tax Zambrano — Rothschild says no link to pitching struggles — MIAMI - Carlos Zambrano spends so much time working on his hitting that some wonder if it has had a negative effect on his pitching. — But Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild believes that theory …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Associated Press:
Jays pound Beckett, Red Sox in 15-4 win — BOSTON (AP)—Josh Beckett missed his spots early and the Blue Jays made sure he didn't last long enough to find his control. — Alex Rios had five hits, matching a club record with four doubles, and Toronto chased Beckett in the third inning …
Associated Press:
Rockies extend Nationals' skid to 10 — WASHINGTON (AP)—After the Nationals lost their 10th straight game, manager Manny Acta had a few things to say to his team. — Enjoy a barbeque, spend time with your family. These were some of his suggestions on getting the Nationals …
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Federal Baseball
New York Post:
ANOTHER DEREKTION — JETER MAY NOT BE YANKEE LIFER AFTER ALL — THE divorce rate in sports is getting higher and uglier, and we are not talking Alex Rodriguez and Cynthia. — Happily ever after has become tougher to find. In the last year, Joe Torre, Shaquille O'Neal …
