Top News:
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Postgame notes: “I don't feel like myself” — Quick postgame notes tonight this morning. — Most of this goes without saying, but A.J. Burnett has been bad this month. He was terrific in April, and more good than bad in May, but he's lost all four starts in June and his ERA this month is 10.35.
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Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
How much does A.J. Burnett miss Dave Eiland? — From the outside, the impact of a hitting coach or a pitching coach is always vague at best. Clearly coaches play a role, but how much of a player's success comes from his own talent and how much comes from outside perspective and understanding?
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon says he's ready to sacrifice DH under right conditions — AL'S BEST: Rays leftfielder Carl Crawford is the AL player of the week and remains in line to be voted onto the All-Star team. — ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays are back playing under American League rules …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Adam Berry / MLB.com:
Minaya ‘pleased’ with Beltran's progress — Mets' GM keeping tabs as center fielder rehabs in Florida — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Following week after week of extended workouts on his own, Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran put in a “short day” of training on Sunday — but it was enough to leave general manager Omar Minaya impressed.
Discussion:
Mack's Mets
MLB.com:
Mets And Citi Launch “Teammates in the Community Week” to Promote Volunteerism and Service — Mets Players and Executives to Participate in Community Programs in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn Starting This Tuesday, June 22 — “Teammates Week” Joins With Mayor Bloomberg to Highlight Upcoming
Steve Popper / NorthJersey.com:
Jerry Manuel's joke is no laughing matter — Manager Jerry Manuel can be funny. Very funny. He can charm the media, raise spirits of his players and disarm the opposition. But he has another habit, one not nearly so endearing, according to some. — Inside the locker room and front office …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Zachary Levine / Houston Chronicle:
McLane: Astros open to deal before trade deadline — Optimistic owner McLane prepared to evaluate 26-44 team — Astros owner Drayton McLane said on Monday that the team was “willing to look at anything” between now and the trade deadline and that he will not rule out absorbing a portion …
Sports Illustrated:
Best decisions of the past year … While some of the best moves in baseball over the past calendar year were obvious, like the Braves' decision to keep phenom Jason Heyward on their Opening Day roster, others — such as the Cubs' acquisition of Carlos Silva — were panned at the time but have proven to be good calls.
Luke Adams / MLB Rumors:
Reds Close To Signing Gary Matthews Jr. — 9:03pm: John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer says, via Twitter, that the Reds are talking to Matthews but haven't quite finalized a deal yet. Fay expects the signing to become official within the next few days. — 8:47pm: Gary Matthews Jr …
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Mets on Twitter — Mets fans aren't the only ones clamoring at the prospects of the team trading for a top of the line starter like Seattle's Cliff Lee or Houston's Roy Oswalt. — Even the team's top pitchers are. — “What we're looking for is a championship and when your getting …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Ben Goessling / The Goessling Game:
Lannan decision reflects Rizzo's philosophies — When manager Jim Riggleman said John Lannan had earned “a lot of leash” after the left-hander was knocked out of yesterday's game, there was part of me that thought perhaps it shouldn't have been seen as the ringing vote of confidence it was.
Jeff Zrebiec / Orioles Insider:
O's acquire Fox from A's for minor league reliever Ross Wolf — The Orioles acquired utility man Jake Fox from the Oakland A's this morning for minor league reliever Ross Wolf, according to sources. Fox is on his way here and should be in uniform tonight when the Orioles begin a three-game series with the Florida Marlins.