Top News:
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Hurdle out as Rockies manager — The Rockies on Friday fired manager Clint Hurdle and replaced him with bench coach Jim Tracy. Hurdle talked to the media about his dismissal at Coors Field. (The Denver Post | Karl Gehring) — Clint Hurdle's seven-year run as the Rockies' manager ended today …
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Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rockies dismiss Hurdle; Tracy gets helm — Colorado's poor start leads to end of eight-year run as skipper — DENVER — The Rockies dismissed manager Clint Hurdle and replaced him with bench coach Jim Tracy on Friday. The official announcement was made during a news conference at Coors Field.
Jack Etkin / Inside the Colorado Rockies:
Rockies fire Hurdle, name Tracy interim manager — The Rockies fired Clint Hurdle today, ending his long reign as the team's manager amid a very disappointing season. Bench coach Jim Tracy, who has ample experience managing in the majors, will replace Hurdle on an interim basis.
Jon Weisman / Dodger Thoughts:
Troncoso's huge strikeouts preserve Dodgers victory — Nibblers. Dinks. It looked as if the Dodgers' comeuppance had come up. Nursing a 2-1 lead with Jonathan Broxton unavailable, the Dodgers and Manager Joe Torre placed all their faith in Ramon Troncoso — even letting him bat …
Discussion:
GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, 6-4-2 and True Blue LA
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George A. King III / New York Post:
GIRARDI MY BEST SKIPPER BY FAR, YANKEES' TEIXEIRA SAYS — CLEVELAND — Ten months ago, there were people wearing pinstriped uniforms who weren't sure Joe Girardi was the right man to manage the Yankees. — Two weeks ago, the Yankees were 16-17 and 5 ½ games out of first place …
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
From the first pitch, Alex Rodriguez has been a blast for Yankees … (Page 1 of 2) — CLEVELAND - Has a .258 hitter ever made as much of a difference as Alex Rodriguez has over the past three weeks? — Ever since A-Rod and his surgically repaired hip returned from the disabled list on May 8, the Yankees have been rolling.
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
Lupica: Mets, Yankees enjoying the view — The opening of the fancy ballparks was supposed to be the start of the baseball season in New York. But two months later, it feels as if the good parts are about to start now, as if April and May were just some out of town tryout.
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Peter Schmuck / Baltimore Sun:
Looking at Wieters, O's fans have star in eyes — Heralded Wieters being counted on to lead revival of troubled organization — Matt Wieters might or might not be the greatest Orioles prospect in history, but there is little doubt that he will arrive today at Camden Yards to greater fanfare …
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Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Welcome, Matt: Wieters debuts tonight — Highly touted Orioles catcher rocketed through Minors — BALTIMORE — Nothing about this situation is normal. — When Matt Wieters makes his Major League debut tonight, he'll do so with the unremitting glare of a media spotlight that has been trained on him ever since he was drafted.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Torre: Manny shouldn't be '09 All-Star — From baseball aspect, suspended OF hasn't done enough — CHICAGO — Dodgers manager Joe Torre said he doesn't think suspended outfielder Manny Ramirez should be an All-Star this year, even though fans have him fourth in voting at the position.
Chuck Finder / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Draft Outlook: Boras not factor in making first pick — The midnight-deadline wrangling. The 2 1/2-month machinations. The tense and terse times that included a grievance, a hearing and legal eagles from both Major League Baseball and the players association.
Discussion:
Where Have You Gone …
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman: As Peavy wreaks havoc, Bedard may become hot commodity … The Mariners made some early noise with their nice start to the season, but the club could create a much bigger national story as a trader this summer. Unlike a vast majority of teams expected to straddle the buy/sell fence …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
MLB on Blackout Policy: “There's still more work to be done” — There was hope in August of last year, albeit thin, that Major League Baseball was finally ready to make good on their efforts to address the television territories in the league that was creating so much consumer outrage when coupled with MLB's blackout policy.
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians drop David Dellucci; recall Rafael Perez — CLEVELAND — David Dellucci, the man Indians bloggers loved to hate, has been designated for assignment to make room for left-hander Rafael Perez. — Dellucci, for whatever reason, became a symbol for everything that has gone wrong …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Baseball America:
Prospect Hot Sheet: May 29 — When the Yankees signed Jesus Montero to a seven-figure bonus in 2006 out of Venezuela, scouts were skeptical about his ability to remain at catcher. But right now, it doesn't look like it matters whether he can catch—his bat is that good.
Discussion:
Pending Pinstripes
Eric Simon / Amazin' Avenue:
Jerry Manuel vs Manny Acta: The Quotes — Here's a little two-part challenge for everyone. — Part 1: Read the following quotes from two current big league managers — Manager A and Manager B — and try to figure out which is Jerry Manuel and which is Manny Acta (easy!).
David Ginsburg / Associated Press:
Orioles getting younger, winning and having fun — Buzz up! — BALTIMORE (AP)—The younger they get, the better the Baltimore Orioles seem to play. — And boy, are those kids having fun. — The Orioles extended their winning streak to four games Thursday night, using two home runs by Luke Scott
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Tom Gage / Detroit News:
Jim Leyland steamed after Tigers' loss — Baltimore — Once or twice a season. — That's how often the post-game fire within manager Jim Leyland burns so intensely that it eventually fries his patience. — Thursday night's 5-1 loss to the Orioles was one of those times.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys