Top News:
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Dream World Series matchups, latest on Billy Wagner and notes … It's time now to start dreaming about the best possible World Series matchups. Here are my favorites for this year. — The best matchups: — 1. Yankees vs. Dodgers: Joe Torre vs. his old team.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Rumors: Damon, Pettitte, Matsui — Last year it was Mussina, Abreu and Giambi. This year we've got another set of free agents-to-be in the Bronx, so let's take a look at the latest rumors surrounding them: — Johnny Damon doesn't expect to negotiate with the Yankees before the season's over …
Yahoo! Sports:
Damon's contribution typifies Yankees' surge — BOSTON - The bruise on his left knee, the result of a foul ball that ricocheted off his bat two nights earlier, had yet to complete its natural cycle of discoloration - fire-engine red, a touch of magenta, indigo blue. But because Johnny Damon
Discussion:
YanksBlog.com
George A. King III / New York Post:
GIRARDI SAYS HE WON'T SPLIT UP A.J. AND POSADA — BOSTON — Despite communication problems between A.J. Burnett and Jorge Posada during the three most recent games they worked, Joe Girardi doesn't plan to split them on purpose. — “The way that I have caught Jorge and [Jose] …
Discussion:
The Yankee Universe
Tim Britton / MLB.com:
Mets seek relief for 'pen from Parnell — New York (57-67) vs. Philadelphia (71-50), 1:10 p.m. ET — NEW YORK — Oliver Perez lost one game for the Mets on Sunday. The Mets hope Perez's inability to get out of the first inning doesn't also cost them the series finale with the Phillies on Monday afternoon at Citi Field.
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Andy McCullough / New Jersey Online:
NY Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur held out of lineup with bruised thumb … NEW YORK — Jeff Francoeur's diving catch in the ninth inning Sunday saved potential runs and cost him an appearance in Monday's game. — Francoeur bruised his left thumb and will be held out of the lineup for the final game of this series with Philadelphia.
MLB:
Billy Wagner to Boston Red Sox: Nix option to seal deal … NEW YORK — Billy Wagner wants to be a closer next season, regardless of the team. — That's why the New York Mets reliever says Boston must guarantee it will decline his contract option for 2010 before he would approve a potential trade …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Full Count, USA Today, Projo Sox Blog, 24 Hours From Suicide, MiamiHerald.com and Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog
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John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Deal for Wagner hits potential roadblock — Red Sox, veteran closer must resolve issues, agent says — The Red Sox and Billy Wagner reportedly need to resolve some issues in order for the veteran reliever to waive his no-trade clause and clear the way for a deal with the Mets.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Harper: CC shows he's a big winner — BOSTON - Strictly by the numbers, CC Sabathia's start didn't meet the standards for an ace vs. ace matchup. But then again, he did meet the only standard that really matters, outpitching the other ace, Josh Beckett, and beating the Red Sox Sunday night.
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Dave Krieger / Denver Post:
Krieger: At last, Rox can play an ace — For 17 years, the Rockies have been searching for the rarest, most valuable commodity in baseball. They once spent $121 million trying to buy one on the open market, a disaster that set them back years. — Call off the search party.
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Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Depth makes Rockies' staff dangerous — Reliability defines a rotation headed by budding Jimenez — DENVER — Rockies manager Jim Tracy spent this past weekend as Don King — without the spiky hair and bizarre flourishes. Tracy had a big match to promote and a challenger to sell.
Ben Bolch / Los Angeles Times:
Manny Ramirez hears the boos in Dodgers' 3-1 loss to Cubs — He makes two shaky plays in the outfield and is 0 for 4, dropping his average to .200 over the last seven games. Dodgers' lead over Colorado in the National League West shrinks to 31/2 games. — On The Dodgers
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Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:Dodgers' bullpen sees a role reversal
Discussion:
Around the Majors
Gary Armida / fullcountpitch.com:
Mariners Get Defensive — The Seattle Mariners are in the midst of a fine rebound season from their 101 loss 2008 season. The organization has changed the culture in so many ways. First year General Manager Jack Zduriencik had quite a challenge in rebuilding the once proud franchise.
Discussion:
Circling The Bases
Nick Steiner / Hardball Times:
Huh, so that Smoltz guy is still pretty good... A little while ago, I wrote that the Dfa'd Smoltz still had some stuff in the tank and would be a good pick up for a contending team. The basis behind that was that a lot of his terrible performance in Boston was attributable to luck, and his stuff still looked pretty good.
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