Top News:
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Sox draft Michael Yastrzemski — Someday in the distant future, there might just be another Yaz in the Red Sox outfield. — In the 36th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft this afternoon, the Red Sox selected St. John's Prep (Danvers) outfielder Michael Yastrzemski.
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Eric Sondheimer / LA Times Sports Blog:
A new client for Scott Boras? How about McCourt's son — Gavin McCourt, the son of Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, was drafted in the 39th round Thursday by the Boston Red Sox. Will Scott Boras do the negotiating? — McCourt was an all-league outfielder at North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Cubs, Rays eye Pedro — A source close to Pedro Martinez indicated tonight that both the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays have watched Martinez throw in the Dominican and both teams have begun to at least explore how much money it would take to lure Martinez back to the mound.
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Jes Alexander / Herald de Paris:
Pedro Works out with Tampa Bay Rays — WASHINGTON, DC (Herald de Paris) - Future Hall of Fame pitcher, Pedro Martinez, worked out with the A.L. Champion Tampa Bay Rays, yesterday. An unnamed source close to the club said that team executives flew to the Dominican Republic, last week …
MLB:
Source: Chien-Ming Wang to remain in New York Yankees rotation — Despite having a 21.61 ERA as a starter, Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang is expected to remain in the rotation, a source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. — Wang has the highest starter's ERA through five starts since 1913 …
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Yankees must put an end to Wang disaster
Yankees must put an end to Wang disaster
Discussion:
New York Post, NY Daily News, The Yankee Universe, Blogging the Bombers, Bombers Beat and The Joy of Sox
Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press:
Orlando Hernandez agrees with Rangers — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — El Duque will try to make a comeback with the Texas Rangers. — Orlando Hernandez, who has been part of four World Series championship teams, agreed to a minor league contract Thursday with the Rangers.
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Trsullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
Rangers sign Orlando Hernandez — The Rangers have signed veteran pitcher Orlando Hernandez, 39, to a Minor League contract. He will be assigned to Triple A Oklahoma. — Hernandez hasn't pitched in the Major Leagues since 2007 when he was 9-5 with a 3.72 ERA in 27 games, 24 starts, with the Mets.
MLB.com:
Phillies Minor League Player Ozuna Suspended — The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Philadelphia Phillies Minor League infielder Pablo Ozuna has received a 50-game suspension after showing an elevated Testosterone/Epitestosterone ratio, a performance-enhancing substance violation …
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Associated Press:
Phils minor leaguer Ozuna suspended 50 games … NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies infielder Pablo Ozuna has been suspended for 50 games under baseball's minor league drug program. — Major League Baseball said he had an elevated ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone, a violation of its drug rules.
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
Yankees left fielder Johnny Damon challenges top of lineup to wake up … BOSTON — The production from top of the Yankees lineup has been a major part of the team's month-long resurgence. But against the Red Sox thus far, the head of the Yankees order hasn't come close to matching that output …
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
St. Louis Cardinals' manager Tony La Russa defends Hal McRae — MIAMI — The Cardinals enjoyed the National League's most productive offense in April. They have endured its least productive one since. To manager Tony La Russa, the same players celebrated for the earlier breakout …
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
St. Louis Cardinals finally hook one
St. Louis Cardinals finally hook one
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com:
Angels draft boxing legend Ali's son — Catcher led high school team to division title in Michigan — His world-famous father lived for the late rounds, winning his fights with his famous rope-a-dope strategy. A late round — the 40th, to be precise — was where Asaad Ali …
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
If the Nats could trade Strasburg — Opinions vary on what Washington could get in return for its No. 1 pick — It's time once again to play America's favorite second-guessing game — What If? — Here's this week's mesmerizing hypothetical question: If baseball teams were allowed to trade draft picks …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times:
The difference between real journalists and “basement bloggers” — Figured it was about time we had this discussion, given all the fuss about Raul Ibanez and his comments on that blogger who raised the “issue” that he “might” or “might not” be on performance enhancing drugs.
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Eugene W. Fields / Orange County Register:
Autopsy: Driver of car Adenhart rode in was DUI — Courtney Stewart had a blood-alcohol content of .06, above the legal limit for someone her age, prosecutors say. — Recommend — An autopsy report showed Courtney Frances Stewart had a blood-alcohol content above the legal limit …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
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Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
White flag time for Sox? — After Sox' 8th loss in last 11, Williams could be a seller — Sox general manager Ken Williams always has a plan. But in the midst of eight losses through the first 11 games in June, some people might not like the latest one.
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Associated Press:
Utley HR, Werth catch lift Phils past Mets in 11 — NEW YORK — Jayson Werth took a big gamble that paid off for the Philadelphia Phillies. — The right fielder saved his team with a diving catch, moments before Chase Utley's second homer of the game sent Philadelphia to a 5-4 victory …
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