Top News:
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' Manny Ramirez suspended 50 games after failing drug test — The suspension, for using what a source says is a female fertility drug, will cost him $7.7 million. Ramirez takes responsibility, while the Dodgers support the testing program and back their star slu
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, William World News, Fox Sports, San Francisco Chronicle, The washington times Blogs, Red Sox Monster, McCovey Chronicles, True Blue LA, sox1fan.com, Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, dodgerfan.net, Newsvine, Blogging Baseball, Beyond the Box Score, Sons of Steve Garvey, Washington Times, Dodger Thoughts, The Schmuck Stops Here, MLB FanHouse, You Been Blinded, LAist, NESN.com, The House That Dewey Built, Los Angeles Dodgers, Full Count, Home Run Derby, Mets Today, American Legends, FanGraphs Baseball, Sox and Pinstripes, SPORTSbyBROOKS, MetsBlog.com, Projo Sox Blog, Bats, Yahoo! Sports, THE BOOK, Over the Monster, Deadspin, New York Mets Fan Blog and Fack Youk
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Manny Ramirez of Los Angeles Dodgers will serve 50-game suspension for drug violation — Major League Baseball announced Thursday that Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games for violating its drug policy. — Ramirez — The commissioner's office …
Discussion:
MLB.com, Yahoo! Sports, Baseball Prospectus, Baseball's Steroid Era, ESPN, NBCSports.com, Newsvine, The Yankees Dollar, It is about the money, stupid, LAist, True Blue LA, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Dodger Thoughts, MLB, Big Apple Sports, NESN.com, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine, ESPN, The Big Lead, Sons of Steve Garvey, Baseball Insider, Deadspin, DC Pro Sports Report, Bronx Baseball Daily, Sliding Into Home, Baseball Reflections, 3:10 to Joba, Fire Ned Colletti Now, Bottom9 Baseball, Jorge Says No! and MLB FanHouse
Yahoo! Sports:
Source: Ramirez's substance a sexual enhancer — Buzz up! — LOS ANGELES - A source close to Manny Ramirez — said Thursday that the illegal substance for which the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger tested positive was not “an agent customarily used for performance enhancing.”
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Manny is latest star to fall under drug cloud; banned 50 games — Major League Baseball, battling to woo fans in a recession, now must overcome the perception the sport remains polluted with players using illegal performance-enhancing drugs. — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez became …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Dodger Thoughts, MLB.com, Los Angeles Times, Yahoo! Sports and Halos Heaven
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:Manny reportedly used HCG, gets 50-game ban
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Baseball Prospectus, Robots Took My Medicine, dodgerfan.net and The Good Phight
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.
RELATED:
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 …
Tyler Bassett / KTAR.com:
Bob Melvin to be replaced as Diamondbacks manager — The Arizona Diamondbacks had high expectations for this season and have under-performed, leading to the team making a change at the managerial position. — Sports 620 KTAR's John Gambadoro reports Bob Melvin will be out as manager …
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.
ESPN.com:
Bob Melvin fired as Arizona Diamondbacks manager — PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks fired Bob Melvin on Thursday, hoping a new manager will be able to get the most out of their talented core of young players. — The Diamondbacks said they will select Melvin's replacement …
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.
Discussion:
MLB.com, A DIE HARD YANKEES FAN, ESPN.com, Fox Sports, Los Angeles Times and River Avenue Blues
RELATED:
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
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? …
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 …
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
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.
Frank Fitzpatrick / Philly.com:
Former Phillies manager Danny Ozark dies — Danny Ozark, the Phillies manager whose hound-dog face and penchant for malaprops sometimes obscured the success his teams enjoyed during the 1970s, died today at 85 in Vero Beach, Fla. — Mr. Ozark, who during his 6-plus years at the helm managed …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
RELATED:
