Top News:
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 …
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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” …
Discussion:
Detroit News, CBSSports.com, ESPN, Sliding Into Home, Toeing the Rubber, Faith and Fear in Flushing and Talking Points
Jeff Riger / Detroit's 97.1 The Ticket:
Jim Joyce Right After He Robbed Armando Galarraga Of A Perfect Game — Listen To Jim Joyce After The Game..http://bit.ly/axl01b 3 hours ago
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, ESPN, lenNY's Yankees, The Big Lead, The Biz of Baseball, BronxBanterBlog.com and Uni Watch
Ben Walker / NBCSports.com:
Ump wipes away tears day after ‘imperfect’ call — Joyce greets Galarraga at home plate after mistake botches perfect game — Home plate umpire Jim Joyce, left, shakes hands with Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga while getting the lineup card Thursday. — Bad call costs perfect game
Joe Posnanski:
The Lesson of Jim Joyce — There was something beautiful lost in the Jim Joyce fiasco, something that I hope I remember for as long as I remember the blown call. Yes, it's hard to think about beautiful things when you have just watched one of the most absurd injustices in the history of baseball.
Curt Schilling / ESPN:
Missed perfection hurts pitcher and umpire … Baseball Tonight Live … Touch 'Em All
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:
Lookout Landing, ESPN, HardballTalk, CBSSports.com, Red Reporter, Beyond the Box Score, Boston Globe, Deadspin and Batter's Box Interactive …
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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.”
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Bryce Harper ejected, and suspended, perhaps ending amateur career — GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.—Bryce Harper, the 17-year-old wonderboy who raised questions with his immaturity, may have let his temper prematurely end his amateur career. — Harper, expected to be the first selection Monday …
Discussion:
B3: Big, Bald and Beautiful, HardballTalk, The Nationals Enquirer, Angels blog and The Big Lead
Baseball America:
The BA Draft — Three of our experts take their own turns picking talent … 1. NATIONALS (Conor). Well, this is a no-brainer. He was the wire-to-wire favorite and obviously I'm going with JC of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper here. Having the No. 1 overall pick is obviously bittersweet …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
New York Post:
Thibodeau nixes Hornets, but Nets not top choice — Throughout the Nets' coaching search, some names have been constant: former Mavs coach Avery Johnson and Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau. Johnson appeared the front-runner based on head-coaching experience. — And now his position is even stronger.
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.
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 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 …
