Top News:
Joseph Smith / St. Petersburg Times:
Blalock could join Rays today — Though the Rays can't confirm anything at this point, it appears that Hank Blalock will be joining the team at Tropicana Field today when they face the Mariners. — Blalock, a two-time All-Star, had no big-league offers when he signed with the Rays during spring training …
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Joseph Smith / St. Petersburg Times:
Friedman: Blalock's contract situation not a factor in call-up — Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said the decision to call up Hank Blalock gives them more positional flexibility, and that with Willy Aybar hitting well against lefties, a left-handed bat “fit us better.”
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 36: Yankees vs. Twins — YANKEES (23-12) — TWINS (22-13) — UMPIRES: HP Tim Timmons, 1B Tim Tschida, 2B Bob Davidson, 3B Alfonso Marquez — WEATHER: Perfectly beautiful day here in the Bronx. Great day for a game. — Sorry for the lack of pregame notes.
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Tim Britton / MLB.com:
A-Rod makes Twins pay with winning slam — Slugger homers after intentional walk to Teixeira — NEW YORK — Like so many of the games the Yankees and Twins have grown accustomed to playing, Friday night's series opener featured multiple lead changes in a taut affair that could have gone either way.
Larry Millson / MLB.com:
Blue Jays storm back with five homers — Overbay, Snider, Wells, Hill, Lind go deep vs. Rangers — TORONTO — The struggles of Aaron Hill and Adam Lind have been part of the Toronto Blue Jays' early-season story. — So have home runs and comeback wins.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
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David Waldstein / Bats:
Reyes to Bat Leadoff, Pagan Third — MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Jose Reyes will be back in his familiar leadoff role for Saturday night's game against the Florida Marlins, and Angel Pagan, who has been hitting first, will move the No. 3 spot. — The complete lineup for the game has not been posted yet …
Discussion:
Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog
Ben Bolch / Los Angeles Times:
Angels' GM Tony Reagins says roster doesn't need an overhaul — The Angels have struggled on offense and defense this season, but Reagins says the team just needs for the players to perform at a higher level. — The help wanted sign still hasn't gone up.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Daniel Brown / Mercury News:
Soft landing for Byrnes in Menlo Park — Eric Byrnes' game didn't start until 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday, which explains why at 7:20 p.m. he was walking through a Menlo Park eatery with a pitcher of beer in each hand. — Such a late start required that The Dutch Goose slow-pitch softball players …
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
A chance to change, but a familiar ending — The Grapes of Wrath or the Wrath of Grapes? — Only the Bruins could lose a 3-0 lead twice in the same series. — Only the Bruins could lose a Game 7 on a power-play goal after getting called for too many men on the ice. — Are you kidding me?
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Rehabbing Igarashi could return in a week — Mets on Twitter — MIAMI — Ryota Igarashi could rejoin the Mets' bullpen by next weekend. — The right-hander is slated to begin a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as today for Single-A St. Lucie and move to Triple-A Buffalo later in the week.
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Hardy could rejoin Twins in Boston — NEW YORK — Shortstop J.J. Hardy is not currently on the Twins' current three-city, seven-game roadtrip as he rehabs from his bruised left wrist back in Minnesota. — Hardy is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Donnie Collins / Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees Blog:
GAME 34: Yankees vs. Charlotte Knights — feat. Romulo Sanchez rhp (0-2, 6.48) — Charlotte — Brent Lillibridge ss — Jordan Danks cf — Dayan Viciedo 1b — Tyler Flowers dh — Stefan Gartrell rf — Josh Kroeger lf — C.J. Retherford 2b — Donny Lucy c — Javier Colina 3b
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com, The LoHud Yankees Blog, River Avenue Blues and Mike Ashmore's Thunder …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Decision time for Nats on Morse — On Monday, the Nationals will have to make a decision on outfielder/first baseman Mike Morse, who is currently on the 15-day disabled list and is close to finishing up his rehab assignment. — The Nationals could bring Morse back on 25-man roster or outright him to Triple-A Syracuse.
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
David Ortiz heats up — Two-homer game lifts average over .200 — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email — DETROIT - David Ortiz [stats]' first home run last night went an unscientific 450 feet in distance, a Ruthian shot. — The next one went a more modest, but still impressive, 394 feet.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Tim Britton / MLB.com:
Mr. Perfect: Braden deals next with Angels — A whirlwind week that commenced with the 19th perfect game in Major League history and has included appearances on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Early Show” and a regional cover of Sports Illustrated will come to a close on Friday for Dallas Braden.
Jim Peltz / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' Rafael Furcal's return is delayed — The shortstop and leadoff hitter still is being bothered by his injured left hamstring, and Manager Joe Torre says it could be a few days before Furcal will be able to play. — Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal, in an exhibition game against Cleveland …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Ollie appears out of rotation — Oliver Perez appears unlikely to make his next scheduled start, Wednesday against the Washington Nationals. Jerry Manuel would not confirm such a maneuver, saying he first needed to meet with the left-hander Saturday. But Manuel met with Omar Minaya …