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.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, River Avenue Blues, Bronx Baseball Daily, The Yankee Universe, Fack Youk and iYankees
RELATED:
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.
Discussion:
Baseball Trade Rumors
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
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.
RELATED:
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 …
Associated Press:
Manny slips to fifth in All-Star voting for NL OFs … NEW YORK (AP) — Suspended slugger Manny Ramirez has dropped in the latest round of fan voting for the All-Star game, falling to fifth among NL outfielders. — Ramirez was fourth last week in the first set of results …
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
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Taking stock of Sox while rounding a third — In a manner of speaking, the Red Sox today rest at the first intermission. Two months down, four months to go. And while the Red Sox will not play their 54th game until Thursday — which will put them precisely one-third of the way through their schedule …
RELATED:
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 …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, MetsBlog.com, Kranepool Society, The 'Ropolitans and The Mets Police
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 …
Danny Knobler / CBSSports.com:
Look Ahead: Brewers not likely to stand pat during trade season — You might have read over the weekend that Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said he has no trade discussions going on right now. — While that might well be true, the “right now” part is the key.
RELATED: