Top News:
TSN.ca:
BLUE JAYS RELEASE RYAN, ACTIVATE DOWNS — The Toronto Blue Jays gave reliever B.J. Ryan his unconditional release and activated left-hander Scott Downs from the 15-day disabled list and on Wednesday. — Ryan, 33, had appeared in 25 games this season, posting a 1-1 record with just two saves and an ERA of 6.53.
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Joel Sherman / Hardball:
RICCIARDI ON HALLADAY — Talked to Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi. He also will be a guest when I co-host “The Show” this afternoon from 4-6 p.m. on Sirius 210/XM175. He made these 10 points in our phone conversation about the potential of trading Roy Halladay:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Phils Are Early Favorites For Halladay — One source told Ed Price of MLB Fanhouse that “the Phillies are leaders at this point” in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes. However, that doesn't mean the Jays ace will be dealt. As another source points out, J.P. Ricciardi is not in a hurry to trade Halladay …
Jim Salisbury / Philly.com:
Phils should take a shot at getting Halladay — The baseball world was abuzz yesterday with news that the Toronto Blue Jays would listen to offers for ace Roy Halladay, and trade him for the right package of talent. — The news was not a surprise at Citizens Bank Park.
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
HALLADAY UPDATE, PHILS AS FRONTRUNNERS — I have talked to a half-dozen baseball executives this morning and the general consensus is that the Phillies should be viewed as the front-runner if Roy Halladay does get traded. Boy the news keeps getting worse and worse for the Mets.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:Ricciardi getting plenty of calls on Halladay
Discussion:
Projo Sox Blog
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:Toronto's Roy Halladay has Angels' attention
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Jorge Says No!, Fack Youk, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors and The Globe and Mail
Jon Weisman / Dodger Thoughts:
Kershaw twirls more zeroes in Dodger romp — As they say in the news biz, “We have a developing story.” And it's not about Manny Ramirez. — Clayton Kershaw pitched six shutout innings in the Dodgers' 8-0 blanking of the New York Mets. — In his past five starts …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, LADodgerTalk.com, Mets Geek, Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, 6-4-2 and Fox Sports
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Ben Walker / Yahoo! Sports:Crew chief: Ump told Jeter he was tagged, too
Discussion:
NY Daily News, River Avenue Blues, Newsday, Associated Press, Pinstripe Alley, Lady At The Bat and New Jersey Online
Denver Post:
Morales happy to rejoin team in any role — Franklin Morales jogged in from the heat and needed a quick drink of water. He rejoined the Rockies as a reliever Tuesday, a role he doesn't expect to be a cup of coffee in the big leagues. — “I am ready to do my job, whatever they ask,” …
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:Sources: Rockies, BoSox explore trade options
Discussion:
Baseball Trade Rumors
ESPN.com:
Bartolo Colon of Chicago White Sox missing with Triple-A start scheduled Thursday — Chicago White Sox pitcher Bartolo Colon is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday. — Problem is, the White Sox don't know where he is. — “I know where he is supposed to be right now.
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Mitchell ready to get started with Sox — First-rounder set to sign, head to Class A Kannapolis — CHICAGO — Ozzie Guillen had just finished his pregame talk with the media on Tuesday when the White Sox manager gladly gave up his hot seat to a potential star of the future for the franchise.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Larry McShane / NY Daily News:
Strike three for Lenny Dykstra: Former Met files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — It's strike three - and Chapter 11 - for Lenny Dykstra. — The one-time Mets hero, facing divorce, foreclosure on his mansion and a multitude of lawsuits, filed for bankruptcy protection in California, his attorney said Wednesday.
RELATED:
Reuters:
Dykstra files for Chapter 11 — NEW YORK — Lenny Dykstra, the former star center fielder for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, court records show. — Dykstra, 46, has no more than $50,000 in assets and between $10 million …
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …
Dan Steinberg / D.C. Sports Bog:
How the Nats Lost Last Night — Yesterday evening, I wrote that one of the reasons you have to keep watching this baseball team every night is because of the chance “that you'll see something the universe has never seen before.” That was well-timed. — “In a weird, out of body experience way …
Polls / Brew Beat:
Randolph suspended for Game 2 against Cardinals — Brewers bench coach Willie Randolph was suspended for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals and fined an undisclosed amount for what Major League Baseball called “inappropriate actions” during his argument with plate umpire Bill Hohn in Tuesday's series opener.
Mike Celizic / NBCSports.com:
Time to get over steroids — Outrage over drug use doesn't matter to people who see it as only a game — Manny Ramirez may be a drug cheat in the eyes of media members and baseball diehards, but the casual fans could care less, writes Mike Celizic. — The Mets' play-by-play guy couldn't believe what he wasn't hearing.
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
BLS Live Blog: A chat with Philadelphia's Shane Victorino — BLS Note: Earlier today, we were joined by Shane Victorino — for a little live chat that included topics like the chances of Roy Halladay — becoming a Phillie, Shane's favorite restaurants in Las Vegas and his take on Jon & Kate Plus 8.
Clay Fowler / LA Daily News Most Emailed:
Dodgers outfielder Kemp carrying his weight — There was 240 pounds of Andruw Jones. And there was 240 pounds of Matt Kemp. — The scale appeared balanced, but these two no longer are on a level playing field. — The Dodgers' Kemp is 6feet, 3 inches of fluid athleticism whose range hardly is contained to a single ZIP Code.
