Top News:
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
Next notice for Manny Ramirez should be an eviction — The slugger is a selfish player who can no longer be trusted. — The best and brightest neighborhood in the Los Angeles sports landscape is a very different place today. — Mannywood has officially gone to hell. — The giddy streets are lined in shadows.
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Craig Calcaterra / Associated Press:
Manny's suspension: less crisis than opportunity — Come and step into my time machine for a moment. I want to show you something. … I can see that, can't you? As the news of Manny Ramirez's suspension was breaking yesterday morning, the Dodgers were sitting pretty with a six-and-a-half …
Tim Sullivan / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Does L.A. now have cash for Peavy? — From a competitive standpoint, Manny Ramirez's suspension matters to the Padres in much the same way a hamburger does to a devout Hindu. — It is a curiosity, but not really much of a concern. That the Dodgers'outfielder would find use for a drug designed …
Michael Hiltzik / Los Angeles Times:
Baseball's anti-doping program faces renewed scrutiny in light of Ramirez case — Some officials say the Dodger slugger's suspension shows that Major League Baseball is serious about stamping out doping. For others, it is a reminder that the program has a long way to go.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Yahoo! Sports:Source: Ramirez's substance a sexual enhancer
Discussion:
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:Manny is latest star to fall under drug cloud; banned 50 games
Discussion:
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Daulerio / Deadspin:The Case Of Manny Not Being Manny — So for the past few months …
Discussion:
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Hinch expected to replace Melvin — SAN DIEGO - Off to an uneven start to a season that was brimming with expectations, the Diamondbacks fired manager Bob Melvin on Thursday night. — Melvin was given the news Thursday night after the team returned from its road trip in San Diego …
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Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs to replace Melvin with Hinch — Club dismisses skipper, coach after 12-17 start — SAN DIEGO — The D-backs will name farm director A.J. Hinch as the team's manager Friday, a baseball source said. — Hinch, who has no prior managerial experience, will replace Bob Melvin, who was dismissed Thursday night.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Hinch to succeed Melvin as D-backs manager — Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin has been fired and will be replaced by A.J. Hinch, who was Arizona's VP of Player Development, SI.com has learned. — Hinch, 34, played with the A's, Royals, Tigers and Phillies between 1998 and 2004.
Sports Illustrated:
AP Source: Melvin out as Diamondbacks manager — PHOENIX (AP) -A person familiar with the decision says Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin will be fired by the end of the day. — The person told The Associated Press of the decision on the condition of anonymity because it had yet to be announced.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Rare Collapse by Rivera Sends Yankees to Fifth Straight Loss — When the greatest savior in franchise history crumbled at the end a dismal homestand on Thursday, it was the nadir of the Yankees' rocky season. At least, that is how it would seem. Things can only improve — can't they? …
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John Amato / Pinstripe Alley:
Now Girardi tells us Mariano's shoulder has been bothering him — In the post game show tonight on YES, Joe Girardi admitted that Mariano Rivera's surgically repaired shoulder has been bothering him for a while now. He said it wasn't a major issue, but that it just seems to be a little tired which is affecting his velocity.
MLB:
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez plays in what could be final rehab game — TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez played what could be his final rehab game Thursday, going 0-for-2 with two walks and putting in three innings of defense.
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:Game 28: Rays at Yankees (updates with A-Rod news: He'll be back tomorrow)
Discussion:
MLB.com, The Voice of Yankees Universe, New York Post, Sliding Into Home, NY Daily News and Pinstripe Alley
Mark Pratt / Baltimore Sun:
Dom DiMaggio dies at 92 — BOSTON - Dominic DiMaggio, the bespectacled Boston Red Sox center fielder who was overshadowed by his older brother Joe's Hall of Fame career, died early Friday at his Massachusetts home. He was 92. — DiMaggio was surrounded by his family at his death, according to his wife, Emily.
Keona Gardner / TCPalm.com:
Mets player Angel Pagan arrested for traffic violations in Martin County — MARTIN COUNTY — New York Mets baseball player Angel Pagan has been arrested for traffic violations, according to Florida Highway Patrol arrest report. — On Thursday troopers stopped Pagan, 27 …
Associated Press:
Mets jump Moyer, Phillies early to get two-game sweep — NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Beltran and David Wright each hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5 on Thursday night for their fourth consecutive victory.
