Top News:
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: MATSUI, MANAGERIAL STUPIDITY, PUTZ — Yes, I am at twitter at http://twitter.com/nyp_joelsherman — 1. In Sunday's Post, I wrote a column about the death of the traditional DH; the single-dimensional type who need not even have a fielding mitt ordered for him.
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George A. King III / New York Post:
YANKEES' WANG READY TO START, IF ... CLEVELAND — If Andy Pettitte's lower-back problem prevents him from taking the ball Wednesday, the Yankees feel good about having a resurgent Chien-Ming Wang as a backup. — However, Wang replacing Phil Hughes in the rotation doesn't sound like an idea manager Joe Girardi is contemplating.
Erik Boland / Newsday:
Step back for Hughes, step forward for Wang — New York Yankees' Phil Hughes pitches to the Cleveland Indians in the first inning in a baseball game, Sunday, May 31, 2009, in Cleveland. (Tony Dejak, Associated Press / May 31, 2009) — CLEVELAND - Let the debate begin anew.
Discussion:
New York Times, Pinstripe Alley, bronxbanterblog.com, New Jersey Online and NY Daily News
MLB.com:
Raul Ibañez, Hanley Ramirez join leaders in N.L. All-Star balloting — Hometown Favorite Albert Pujols Continues to Be Overall Leader with 1,240,395 Votes — Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Raul Ibañez and Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez have joined …
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John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Phillies beginning to pile up ASG votes — Ibanez joins Utley in starting slot; Pujols leading vote-getter — When Charlie Manuel fills out his National League lineup card for the All-Star Game next month, he might have more than one familiar name to write down.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Draft Preview: Selection highly important — Mariners hold second overall pick, badly need to bolster hitting — SEATTLE — To put the next First-Year Player Draft in perspective from the Mariners' standpoint, Tom McNamara, the organization's new scouting director, said …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Draft Preview: Nats eyeing their prizes — Washington will take Strasburg first, another pitcher in top 10 — WASHINGTON — Nationals acting general manager Mike Rizzo called the 2009 First-Year Player Draft the most important in team history, and for good reason.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
John Romano / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays' pick of Josh Hamilton over Josh Beckett is looking smarter 10 years later — Josh Beckett or Josh Hamilton? — Once, it was the only question that mattered in Tampa Bay. Two phenomenal talents, and one chance for the Devil Rays to get it right.
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers' bats come alive to thump Cubs — LA puts up five in first, doesn't look back in series finale — CHICAGO — The Dodgers scored more runs in the first inning on Sunday night than they had in the other three games of the series combined and went on to whip the Cubs, 8-2, to split the set.
Discussion:
GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Reflections of Blue, True Blue LA, Dodger Thoughts and 6-4-2
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
With Myers on the shelf, Philly's in search of starting pitching … The Phillies were scouring the trade market for starting pitching help even before Brett Myers became the latest big-name casualty with the increasingly fashionable torn hip labrum. Teammate Chase Utley beat the four-month prediction …
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Glavine could join Braves during homestand — Atlanta (25-25) vs. Chicago (25-23), 7 p.m. ET — PHOENIX — It'll be home sweet home for the Braves, who open a 10-game stand at Turner Field against the Cubs on Tuesday night. The Brewers and Pirates follow them in.
Lane Meyer / The NoMaas Yankees Draft Spot:
Pre-draft interview with Damon Oppenheimer — Every time I'm able to bring you guys (and gals) information from Damon I feel very fortunate. While he obviously can't give away information about specific players, he's been very candid with the ideas he can share, and is always willing …
NY Daily News:
Bondy: Horwitz is Mets' man in middle — Funny thing is, Jay Horwitz never thought he'd be doing anything like this. Didn't think he'd be escorting wayward Mets into Smithers rehab center during the turbulent '80s, or dismissing a hooker at his hotel door to shortcircuit a practical joke …
Curtis Granderson / Yahoo! Sports:
The Grandstand: After big series, a tip of the cap to Luke Scott — Well, we came out of Baltimore this weekend with a hard-earned split, but after losing the first two games to the Orioles, there was an easy answer as to why we lost after arriving in town on a pretty good roll. — Luke Scott.
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Pitching update: Lohse improves, Piniero does not — SAN FRANCISCO — The Cardinals' pitching news got better and worse almost in the same breath Sunday. Kyle Lohse, once considered unlikely to make Tuesday's start against the Cincinnati Reds, completed a side session before Sunday's …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
