Top News:
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: RIVERA, YANKEE ROSTER, A-ROD — Yes, I am on Twitter. — A while back I was playing a game with a few colleagues trying to decide who was the best player we had seen play in our time covering baseball. The list of the usual suspects came up led by Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez.
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Rivera takes place in history with No. 500 — Yankees' closer just second player to hit saves milestone — NEW YORK — Another save? You'd have to excuse Mariano Rivera if that particular milestone didn't boost his excitement level — after all, he's been there and done that, now 500 times and still counting.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:For Jeter, Memories of Shea Are Not All Happy
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:Career Milestone for Rivera and Sweep for Yanks
Discussion:
BASEBALL HOT CORNER
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Sox hoping Lowell responds well to shot — Infielder could require DL stint if right hip doesn't improve — ATLANTA — The earliest that Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell will be back in the starting lineup would probably be Wednesday afternoon at Camden Yards against the Orioles.
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Feeling uneasy the rule vs. NL — ATLANTA - Adios, farewell, and good riddance to National League rules. The Red Sox won't see another double switch until 2010. — Or, perhaps, October. — “I just feel so embarrassed when I do something wrong out there,” designated hitter …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Ted Keith / Sports Illustrated:
The most exciting play in baseball … Earlier this season, Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury was standing on third base at Fenway Park in the fifth inning of a nationally televised game against the Yankees. It was a relatively common occurrence in an otherwise common game …
Discussion:
bronxbanterblog.com
Craig Calcaterra / Newsvine:
Yankees and Mets fans are unimaginative — sports, yankees, mets — Freakonomics — the book, the blog, the phenomenon — is basically about applying economic theory to non-traditional things. Things like parenting and sumo and the Ku Klux Klan and what have you.
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Stephen J. Dubner / Freakonomics:The Failure of Yankees Fans (and Mets Fans Too)
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Snell fans 17 for Indianapolis — Ian Snell found one good way to escape the “negativity:” Strike 'em all out. — In a superb return to Class AAA Indianapolis yesterday, he fanned 17 batters over seven innings, including his first 13 outs of a 2-1 victory against visiting Toledo.
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Perfect time for Cubs to waive bye-bye to Carlos Zambrano — Carlos Zambrano covers his face as he listens to pitching coach Larry Rothschild. (Nam Y Huh, Associated Press / June 28, 2009) — As Lou Piniella was saying on Friday, enough's enough. — Get Carlos Zambrano out of here, even if the Cubs have to give him away.
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Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
BREAKING: Surgery for Beltran? — (UPDATED) MILWAUKEE — In a ominous-sounding move, Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran flew to Vail, Colo., today for a second opinion on his ailing right knee from the inventor of microfracture surgery. — The Mets confirmed that Beltran was in Colorado …
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Phillies looking for arms in tight market — GM soliciting trades, but pitchers are hard to come by — PHILADELPHIA — General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has been on his Blackberry incessantly in recent weeks. — He is looking for pitching help, and he is finding this year is much like previous years.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals activate Olsen for opener — Washington (22-51) at Florida (38-39), 7:10 p.m. ET — BALTIMORE — After Sunday's 5-3 win over the Orioles, the Nationals activated left-hander Scott Olsen from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-hander Shairon Martis to Triple-A Syracuse.
Associated Press:
Ex-Brewers top pick gets 100-game suspension … NEW YORK (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers prospect Jeremy Jeffress was suspended for 100 games Monday after his third violation of baseball's minor league program for a drug of abuse. — A 21-year-old right-hander, Jeffress also was suspended for 50 games on Aug. 30, 2007.
Jeff Blair / Globe and Mail:
Jays may finally act on slumping stars — Ricciardi's all but at the bag of balls stage with Wells and Rios — Special Report: Salt - Weather - Globe editorials - Blogs - RSS Feeds - Globe Books - TV listings - Globe on Twitter - Globe Campus — Hey Alex Rios and Vernon Wells …
Associated Press:
Cardinals' Greene goes back on DL with anxiety … ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals infielder Khalil Greene was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the second time with social anxiety disorder on Monday. — The Cardinals purchased the contract of right-hander Clayton Mortensen, 24, from Triple-A Memphis.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Ken Rosenthal Joins MLB Network, Will Keep FOX Sports Duties — MLB Network today announced that Ken Rosenthal has joined its roster of on-air talent. Rosenthal will join the cast of MLB Tonight beginning Tuesday, June 30 at 6:00 p.m. ET. Rosenthal, who will continue his reporting …
Trent Green / Sports Illustrated:
Guest MMQB (cont.) — 10 Things I Think I Think — 1) I think with teams going pass happy, there will be at least 10 quarterbacks to throw for over 4,000 yards this season. Seem like a lot? I see six locks and seven more with potential. Let's break it down:
