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.
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HardballTalk, Pinstripe Alley, Yahoo! Sports, Over the Monster, Bless You Boys, U.S.S. Mariner, sox1fan.com, Let's Go Tribe! and Halos Heaven
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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 …
Discussion:
CastroTurf, Memories Of Kevin Malone, The Joy of Sox, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Red Sox Monster
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.
Discussion:
NESN.com, Hardball Times, Halos Heaven, Pinstripe Alley, Bless You Boys and It's About The Money
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” …
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.
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HardballTalk, Beyond the Box Score, Lookout Landing, Boston Globe, ESPN, 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.
Discussion:
omgreds.com
Fox Sports:
Griffey felt pressured by Wakamatsu? — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — Read his statement. — Ken Griffey Jr. chose his words carefully, saying " …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
John Hickey / Fanhouse MLB Blog:
Ken Griffey Jr. Announces Retirement
Discussion:
The Seattle Times, Mariners blog, Lookout Landing, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Babes Love Baseball and MLB Rumors
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Recap: Red Sox 6, Athletics 4 — Another roll of Dice — THE BIG PICTURE — The question, posed only half-seriously to Red Sox [team stats] manager Terry Francona before last night's game, drew a frank response. Asked what may be expected from right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka [stats], Francona said, “I don't know.”
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Source: Clubs contacting Sox on Lowell
Discussion:
sox1fan.com, Boston Globe, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Fanhouse MLB Blog, FenwayNation and NESN.com
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Mickey Mouse statues arrive in So. Cal — All-Star-themed versions of icon displayed in 36 locations — In celebration of All-Star Week festivities, Major League Baseball Properties and Disney Consumer Products began populating key locations throughout Southern California with 36 varieties …
Rob Parker / ESPN:
It's time: Posada should be full-time DH — Yanks' soon-to-be 39-year-old catcher must give up his beloved perch behind the plate — NEW YORK — You already know a final decision will come with some resistance. — There's no way catcher Jorge Posada wants to be a full-time designated hitter and give up his perch behind the plate.
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
Mike Harrington / Buffalo News:
Bisons lose; Mets may be thinning the Herd — The Buffalo Bisons are in line for plenty of roster shuffling in the next couple of days. — The Herd could use some relievers, as another bullpen blowup led to Wednesday's rain-delayed, 6-3 loss to the Syracuse Chiefs in Coca-Cola Field.
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Nationals squander chances, lose again to Astros — HOUSTON — On Wednesday night, the Washington Nationals squandered several chances to beat the Houston Astros, a chain of missed opportunities that facilitated a more grand missed opportunity. The Nationals arrived here with a record under .500 …
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 …
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
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
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
