Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Clock ticking on Strasburg negotiations — $15M, $20M, $25M ... ? — ESPN.com — It's a story that's been stuck in time for two shockingly quiet months. — But not for long. — In a week, we might find Stephen Strasburg standing at a podium with a smile on his face …
RELATED:
Chico Harlan / Washington Post:
Strasburg Negotiations Likely Will Go Down to the Wire — Until next Monday night, a figurative countdown clock lords over the day-to-day operations of the Washington Nationals, reminding all involved of the days, hours and minutes remaining to sign No. 1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Stark On Smoltz, Reds, Strasburg, Thome — ESPN.com's Jayson Stark adds the Astros to the list of teams interested in John Smoltz. Here are the rest of his rumors: — The Cubs could look for another bat and another starter, but it depends on how healthy Aramis Ramirez, Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano are.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Reds' Arroyo is gambling on supplements, despite risk — ST. LOUIS — Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo reaches into his locker, pulls down a clear cellophane bag and slowly opens it. — He shakes out the contents like a kid on Halloween night. There are different-colored pills …
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Youk won't appeal five-game suspension — Discipline stems from benches-clearing fracas on Tuesday — BOSTON — There is never a good time for the Red Sox to lose Kevin Youkilis from the lineup. But at the club's request, Youkilis chose to drop the appeal of the five-game suspension he received from Major League Baseball.
RELATED:
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Epstein on trade deadline, Ortiz, and more — A few of Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein's more candid comments during his conversation with the hosts of WEEI's “The Dale and Holley” show this afternoon: — On whether this is the most hectic stretch he's ever been through during his time as Red Sox GM:
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Victorino files police report in Chicago … CHICAGO — Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino has filed a report with the Chicago Police Department over Wednesday's beer-throwing incident at Wrigley Field. — “A report for simple battery has been generated …
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Daulerio / Deadspin:
Is This Person The Wrigley Beer-Tossing Hand Job? — I imagine that since we're very close to identifying the man who soaked Shane Victorino last night at Wrigley, that the Chicago PD are close as well. — One tipster claims that the man seen in the above photo — his “friend” …
Chicagosports / Hardball:Wrigley Field fan who soaked Victorino gets away
Discussion:
Chicago Sports in Haiku, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, ESPN, Deadspin, Walkoff Walk, The700Level.com and Circling The Bases
Scott Lauber / Philled In:VICTORINO: FANS SHOULD BE ‘ACCOUNTABLE’
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Tim Marchman / Sports Illustrated:
Curb your enthusiasm over Pedro … CHICAGO — Pedro Martinez has now been a spot artist for as long as he was a master with the three best pitches and the most precise command in baseball. Most of that time he's been fading or faded, injured more often than not. By his own account, the last time he felt good was 2001.
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Andy Martino / Philly.com:
Money didn't affect Moyer decision, source says — CHICAGO - Yes, Jamie Moyer's contract is laden with incentives based on innings pitched and starts accumulated. — But no, the team was not in any way influenced by money when it decided to bump Moyer out of the starting rotation …
Discussion:
Philliesflow.com
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Marlins Interested In John Smoltz — The Marlins are interested in recently-designated veteran pitcher John Smoltz, according to Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Smoltz refused a minor league assignment; the Red Sox will trade or release him soon.
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Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
DELGADO, WRIGHT INJURIES OVERSHADOW RARE METS ‘W’ — METS 6 D'BACKS 4 — PHOENIX — A brief bit of light at the end of this Western trip yesterday quickly was snuffed out by more injury darkness for the snake-bitten Mets. — HUBBUCH ON TWITTER — Despite averting a sweep …
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Fox News:
Kate Hudson Gets Cold Shoulder From Fellow Yankee Girlfriend Minka Kelly — She made it past third base with Alex Rodriguez, but Kate Hudson isn't getting a warm reception at the plate from Minka Kelly, longtime squeeze of Yankee captain Derek Jeter. — At home games in The Bronx …
Bruce Jenkins / San Francisco Chronicle:
Lincecum: It Could Have Been Cool — Asked to pinpoint the highlight of the Giants' crucial win over the Dodgers yesterday, I wouldn't go with Juan Uribe's walk-off homer. He'd made way too many mistakes along the way, leaving a million runners on base and making a sloppy error in the field.
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Marquis, Rockies sink Pirates 10-1 in finale — Questions concerning his history of slumping in the second half of the season don't sit easy with Rockies' pitcher Jason Marquis. His Staten Island accent gets a little thicker and his expression grows sterner.
Discussion:
Purple Row
