Top News:
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Joba to go on regular rest, start Sunday — Yankees look ahead on young righty with eye on innings — NEW YORK — Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced prior to Tuesday's game that Joba Chamberlain will make his next scheduled start on Sunday against the White Sox.
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Brian Costello / New York Post:
GARDNER HOPES TO RETURN IN A WEEK — Brett Gardner took another step toward returning to the lineup yesterday when he swung a bat for the first time in a month. — If Gardner feels good today, the Yankees will increase his activities. Besides taking some light swings, Gardner also threw and ran the bases.
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
The Rockies' Road to the Playoffs — With another extra-inning win, their second straight, the Rockies closed the Dodgers' National League West lead to just two games, the closest any NL West team has been to Los Angeles since April 24, coincidentally a day the Dodgers won at Coors Field.
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Mark Zuckerman / Washington Times:
Nats sign Hernandez to ease burden on young arms — Not wanting any of their young starting pitchers to pile up too many innings at this early stage of their development, the Washington Nationals turned to an old friend to help get them through the rest of the season.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Livan signs deal, returns to Nationals — Right-hander pitched with franchise from 2003-06 — CHICAGO — The Nationals signed right-hander Livan Hernandez to a Major League contract on Tuesday night, six days after the Mets gave the veteran his unconditional release.
Jack Curry / Bats:
Would You Have Asked? — The Yankees were staging a dramatic comeback against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. They scored four runs in the ninth inning to trim their deficit to 10-9, and they had runners on first and second with no outs. Frank Francisco, the Rangers' closer, was aching to get an out.
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Benjamin Kabak / River Avenue Blues:
The bunt that drove us all crazy — If you want to read our indictment of Joba Chamberlain's poor outing last night, head on down to Joe's recap. I'm not here to talk about Ol' Two-Out Run Joba. I want to talk about bunting and why it's generally a very bad idea. — Baseball is a game played without a clock.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Angels had interest in reliever Billy Wagner — General Manager Tony Reagins says he continues to explore waiver claims and trades. But Angels could face Red Sox in the playoffs. — Former Mets reliever Billy Wagner went to the Red Sox on Tuesday as the Angels continue to look for bullpen help.
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New York Post:
OMAR KEEPS HURTIN' AMAZIN'S REP — FOR a little while, yesterday could have been classified as one of the finer days of the Mets' season. — SHERMAN ON TWITTER — Sure, Johan Santana needed surgery and all the Mets received for Billy Wagner were two players Boston considered non-prospects.
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John Barone / MLB.com:
Martinez accepts challenge of knuckler — Chicago (63-63) at Boston (72-53), 7:10 p.m. ET — BOSTON — At 30 years of age, Victor Martinez already has quite the Major League resume. — A veteran of 843 career games, he's made three trips to the All-Star Game, finished in the Top 10 …
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Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:Thoughts and observations on the two beasts of the AL East
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Chico Harlan / Washington Post:
Willingham, Dukes Flex Muscle for Nats in Rout — Though he's been gone for a solid decade now, Jim Riggleman knows how it sounds — that communal sigh of sadness and acceptance that falls heavy upon Wrigley Field every year. Maybe it comes in August. Maybe, in the rarest seasons, it comes in October.
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Andy Martino / Philly.com:
Stairs wants to return to Phillies in 2010 — PITTSBURGH - Matt Stairs expressed two wishes yesterday, one obvious and the other newsworthy: to break out of an extended slump and return to the Phillies for one more season before retiring. — “I'll play one more year and I'm done,” …
Chicagosports / Hardball:
Bradley: I face hatred on a daily basis — Milton Bradley said after Tuesday's loss he's “never” comfortable playing at Wrigley Field. — “It's hard to be comfortable when you don't get a hit and get booed every time,” he said. “When I go home and look in the mirror, I like what I see.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Melvin not inclined to trade veterans — Milwaukee (61-64) vs. Cincinnati (53-71), 7:05 p.m. CT — MILWAUKEE — The metaphorical buzzards are starting to circle above Miller Park. — Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said he has been receiving calls from rival GMs interested …
Associated Press:
Court: Investigators wrong to seize MLB drug list — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An appeals court ruled that federal agents were wrong to seize an infamous drug list of 104 Major League Baseball players who allegedly tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.
