Top News:
Larry Lage / NBCSports.com:
Blown call costs Galarraga perfect game in 9th — Veteran Joyce admits 2-out call that denied Tigers' Galarraga history wrong — DETROIT - Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers lost his bid for a perfect game Wednesday night with two outs in the ninth inning on a call that first base umpire Jim Joyce later admitted he blew.
Discussion:
sox1fan.com, Over the Monster, Halos Heaven, HardballTalk, Let's Go Tribe! and Bless You Boys
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Missed call ends Galarraga's perfect bid — Tigers righty loses perfect game on 27th hitter — DETROIT — Tigers right-hander Armando Galarraga nearly made history, and might have anyway. He fell one batter and a disputed call shy of a perfect game, settling for a one-hitter …
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Instant. Replay. Now. — We've all seen it. We can't un-see it. And because we've seen it — and because we'll watch it over and over again for the next 48 hours or longer — we know it's wrong. But baseball won't see it. Not officially. Baseball has decided against the expansion of instant replay beyond home run calls.
Keitholbermann / Baseball Nerd:
You're (Blankin') Out! Give Him The Perfect Game! (Updated) — SECOND UPDATE: The Detroit News posts a very unusual story about the possibility that the Tigers have contacted, or will contact, MLB to in some way protest or seek to reverse Jim Joyce's mistaken “safe” …
Armando Galarraga / Yahoo! Sports:
It's the perfect time to expand replay
Associated Press:
Seattle Mariners announce Ken Griffey Jr. retiring … SEATTLE — The Kid has called it quits. — Just the way Ken Griffey Jr. wanted, there will be no farewell tour for one of the greatest players in baseball history. Instead, Griffey simply informed the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night his career was over.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, HardballTalk, ESPN, omgreds.com, CBSSports.com, Batter's Box Interactive … and Deadspin
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MLB.com:
Griffey Jr. announces his retirement from game — Griffey Jr. ends historic career ranked 5th on all-time home run list with 630 — SEATTLE, Wash. — After 22 seasons, 630 home runs and a highlight reel of catches, Seattle sports icon Ken Griffey Jr. has announced his retirement from professional baseball in a statement today.
John Hickey / Fanhouse MLB Blog:
Ken Griffey Jr. Announces Retirement — SEATTLE — Ken Griffey Jr. has retired from baseball. — FanHouse was first to report the news of his retirement, and the future Hall of Famer announced his decision officially in a formal statement Wednesday night
Discussion:
Mariners blog, Lookout Landing, The Seattle Times, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Babes Love Baseball and MLB Rumors
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Ken Griffey Jr. Retires After 22 Seasons
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Source: Clubs contacting Sox on Lowell — BOSTON — A Red Sox source ruled out any possibility of Mike Lowell going to the Los Angeles Angels in the wake of first baseman Kendry Morales going down with a broken ankle suffered while celebrating a walk-off grand slam over the weekend. — Lowell
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Fanhouse MLB Blog, NESN.com and FenwayNation
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Blister puts Bush's next start in doubt — MIAMI — Dave Bush's next Brewers start is in doubt after the right-hander exited his outing on Tuesday after six innings because of a blister. — Asked on Wednesday afternoon whether Bush would be able to start as scheduled against the Cardinals on Sunday …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Jim Armstrong / Denver Post:
Rockies denied sweep at San Francisco — SAN FRANCISCO — Jim Tracy was talking about that famous failure-to-launch pad, AT&T Park, Wednesday night. — “We're facing the three guys at the forefront of their rotation,” said Tracy. “And with what the Rockies are running out there …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Cuddyer to be placed on bereavement list — SEATTLE — Twins right fielder Michael Cuddyer was in the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Mariners, but he'll miss the next four games following the passing of his father-in-law, Jon Rente, who passed away in his sleep Monday night.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions — Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here. — An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Cardinals Close To Completing $1.5 Million Deal With Top Dominican Arm — One of the best available international arms might be bringing his high-90s fastball to St. Louis, which agreed to terms with Dominican righthander Carlos Matias for $1.5 million. — The Cardinals have Matias under contract …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Crawford's ninth-inning slam lifts Rays past Jays — TORONTO (AP) — Down by a run heading into the ninth inning, the Tampa Bay Rays had the Toronto Blue Jays right where they wanted them. — David Price became the American League's first eight-game winner, Carl Crawford hit a grand slam …
Associated Press:
Anderson, Dodgers top slumping D-backs in 14 — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Garret Anderson came up in the 10th inning with a runner at second base and a chance to win the game. He struck out, and the crowd predictably booed. — The 17-year veteran went hitless in his first five at-bats …
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Sherrill struggles in first rehab appearance — Reliever allows two runs in one inning at Class A — LOS ANGELES — George Sherrill was greeted by Class A hitters with two singles and a double Tuesday in his first rehab start with Inland Empire. Sherrill allowed two runs in his one inning of work …
MLB.com:
Draft, prospects dominate Coonelly's chat — Bucs president answers fans' questions in monthly session … Frank Coonelly: Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining me to chat this month. Let's get started. — walker18: What do you think of Neil Walker's performance so far?
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Plenty of tight races for NL All-Star spots — Pujols, Utley have big leads, but other positions up for grabs — Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols and Phillies second baseman Chase Utley hold sizable leads at their positions, but the right side of the infield currently serves …