Top News:
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs' Drew hits for cycle — Shortstop is third player in team history to achieve feat — PHOENIX — You will have to forgive some of the D-backs for not realizing that Stephen Drew was going for history when he stepped into the batter's box in the seventh inning Monday afternoon at Chase Field.
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Mike Heika / Associated Press:
Vicious cycle: Texas Rangers belted by Beltre, Seattle — mheika@dallasnews.com — ARLINGTON - Ron Washington said before Monday's game that he was worried his bullpen was wearing down. — The Rangers' manager couldn't have known how prophetic that was.
Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Cashman Takes to the Road — Brian Cashman doesn't travel with the Yankees very often, so it was a bit startling to see him on the field at Comerica Park on Monday morning, chatting with Reggie Jackson and Kevin Long and - yes — hugging Gary Sheffield. — Cashman couldn't define his reasons …
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Joba to spend rest of season in pen — DETROIT - Joba Chamberlain is headed back to the bullpen. — The man Hank Steinbrenner recently called “the most dominant starting pitcher in baseball” will work the final month as a reliever after being activated from the disabled list before Tuesday's game.
Steve Herrick / MLB.com:
Dominant Lee breaks 20-win mark — Shutout makes lefty first Tribe hurler to milestone since '74 — CLEVELAND — On Sept. 1, 2007, Cliff Lee was one of the players the Indians called up from Triple-A Buffalo when the team expanded its roster. — The left-hander had struggled for most of the season …
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Blue Collar Baseball
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Mark Remme / MLB.com:
Fresh start to September for Red Sox — Byrd, big sixth ensure Orioles won't play spoilers in opener — BOSTON — It certainly wasn't the equivalent of Clay Buchholz's no-hitter when the Red Sox and Orioles met exactly one year ago. But the way balls were flying in the cool Boston air on Monday …
GuelphMercury.com:
Ricciardi contemplates next season's moves — CATHAL KELLY — While Toronto's division rivals prepare for free-agent spending sprees, Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi is planning a quiet off-season of internal re-arming. — “I don't really know how much we're going to look to spend,” Ricciardi said over the weekend at Yankee Stadium.
Jim Salisbury / Philly.com:
Kendrick chased in Phillies' defeat — WASHINGTON - There's a characteristic that managers and coaches love to see in players. They call it “good face.” Back in spring training in 1994, manager Jim Fregosi saw it in a young reliever named Ricky Bottalico.
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Notebook: Promotions on tap — PHOENIX — The Cardinals will officially promote six players from Class AAA Memphis today after elevating lefthanded reliever Randy Flores on Monday. — Today's arrivals will include infielder Brian Barden, who starred for Team USA's bronze medal entry at last month's Olympics.
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C70 At The Bat
Josh Kalk / Hardball Times:
Anatomy of a player: Josh Beckett — Josh Beckett has become one of the premier postseason pitchers in the big leagues. After winning a ring with the Marlins, he was traded to the Red Sox and was on a Series winner again last year. Expectations were high for him this year …
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
2008 Pirates minor league year in review — Despite many dramatic changes, talent pool still shallow — One must dig deep to uncover positives in the Pirates' minor league system for 2008, and that applies across the board: — • The six affiliates, with the top four having …
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers roster expansive all year — Racked by injury, club sees light September schedule — LOS ANGELES — Clubs cushion the blow of Spring Training cuts by reassuring players that it takes more than 25 men to win a pennant. But the way the Dodgers have gone about it, this year is extreme.