Top News:
Fox Sports:
Source: Cardinals enter Oswalt fray — Fox Sports — The Cardinals have engaged the Astros in trade talks for starter Roy Oswalt, but the teams have struggled to arrive at a fit, according to one major-league source with close knowledge of the talks. — The Astros like Class …
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SBNation.com
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Jayson Stark / MLB:
Right-handers Roy Oswalt and Dan Haren top the list of available starting pitchers — Here's one thing we've astutely noticed in our time covering baseball: — Nobody ever has enough starting pitching. — Ever. But especially in July. — This is one July, however …
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MLB Rumors
Paul Hagen / Philly.com:
Lidge would be happy to call Oswalt for Phillies
Lidge would be happy to call Oswalt for Phillies
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Fanhouse MLB Blog
Richard Goldstein / New York Times:
Ralph Houk, Yankees Manager, Dies at 90 — Ralph Houk, a third-string catcher for the Yankees who went on to win three straight American League pennants and two World Series championships in his first seasons as their manager, died Wednesday at his home in Winter Haven, Fla. He was 90.
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Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Baseball Minor Leagues Will Test for H.G.H. Immediately — Blood testing for human growth hormone will begin immediately in the minor leagues, Bud Selig, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, announced on Thursday. It is the first time a professional sports league in North America will test for the substance.
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Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Verlander, Cabrera help Tigers take down Blue Jays — DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera started a three-run eighth inning with an RBI double, and Justin Verlander settled down after a rocky start to go eight innings in the Detroit Tigers' 5-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Breaking Sports:
Ozzie: Options ‘open now’ after Jenks' blown save — SEATTLE — The White Sox's closer's role is open after Bobby Jenks blew a lead for the second time on this 10-game trip. — “Our options are open now,” manager Ozzie Guillen said Wednesday night after Jenks allowed a two-run single …
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FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
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Associated Press:
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Placido Polanco homered leading off the 11th inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies survived another poor offensive showing with a 2-0 victory that ended the St. Louis Cardinals' eight-game winning streak and averted a four-game sweep on Thursday.
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Phillies Nation
Jeffrey Flanagan / Fox Sports Kansas City:
Podsednik says he'd like to stay in KC — The name of just about every Royal is being thrown around in trade rumors these days. — And as the team continues to slump, some of these rumors are bound to come true. — Jose Guillen knows this. David DeJesus knows this.
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HardballTalk
Dallas Morning News:
MLB clears Mark Cuban to bid; judge reassures Rangers manager — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been cleared by Major League Baseball to bid on the Texas Rangers, his lawyer, Clifton Jessup of Dallas, said today. — Meanwhile, Rangers manager Ron Washington, called to court …
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baseballmusings.com
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Marlins walk-off Rockies 3-2 to win the series Miami — MIAMI — A gentle morning breeze stirred the flags at Sun Life Stadium Thursday. The grass was green, expectant. The night's wicked storm was hours away. Manager Jim Tracy, who has a place in Florida, sat back on the bench and enjoyed the moment.
Chicago Sun Times:
CUBS IN BRIEF: Brenly's hat in ring; Trammell biding time — Unlike the last two managerial hiring processes for the Cubs, in which general manager Jim Hendry had a top candidate in mind early, he says he considers this one wide open as he begins looking for Lou Piniella's replacement.
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MLB.com:
Leyland unfazed by Boesch's struggles — DETROIT — Since the All-Star break, the Tigers' offense has sputtered. No one is feeling the struggles more than rookie slugger Brennan Boesch. — Prior to the break, the rookie owned a .342 average with 49 RBIs and 12 home runs in his 65 games since …
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Thomas Lake / Sports Illustrated:
Thumbing His Way Back Home … Before we talk about sacrifice, or phantom blackbirds, or the Chipper Jones Momentum-Turn Hypothesis, let me tell you about the time Bobby Cox demolished a toilet with one bare hand. — It happened at Shea Stadium. Braves shortstop Darrel Chaney slid into home …
Tom Krasovic / Fanhouse MLB Blog:
Twelve Thoughts: Dodgers Ownership, Upton and Griffey, All-Star Bonuses — o. Bud Selig needs to find a new owner for the Dodgers. — Time to make amends, commish. You steered Frank and Jamie McCourt, the dodgy duo from the Evil Coast, into control of the Dodgers. They've shown they weren't to be trusted.
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Opinion: The Mets are Starting to Panic — It's not just me and you. — Apparently, according to a few people I know close to the clubhouse, the team is starting to panic a bit too, with one person saying, 'They're coming unhinged.' — The players know what's up. How could they not?
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jfay / Cincinnati Reds:
Reds, Baker to talk contract in August — The Reds will address manager Dusty Baker's contract situation in early August. — Baker is in the final year of a three-year deal. He's made it clear that he would like an extension. — “I didn't come here to leave,” he said.
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Fanhouse MLB Blog