Top News:
John Ourand / SportsBusiness Journal:
Red Sox lose RSN ratings lead — Local numbers show Cardinals, Twins, Phillies, Reds in front — The Boston Red Sox's six-year reign atop MLB's local television ratings is about to end, as the team's local numbers have plummeted from first to fifth this season.
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Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers appear to be losing interest in Boston Red Sox's Mike Lowell. — ANAHEIM — Mike Lowell is doing his part in trying to prove he could be a useful piece to another club, collecting four hits in a game Saturday night and batting .357 (5 for 14) …
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
TV and radio ratings fall for Red Sox — Interesting story in the Sports Business Journal today about the decline in local television ratings for the Red Sox. — After six years atop baseball's local TV ratings list, the Sox are fifth this year as ratings have dropped 36 percent.
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Delcarmen, Ramirez on move? — ANAHEIM, Calif. — While the Red Sox are on the hunt for relievers, one major league source said Monday that the Sox have indicated some willingness to move either Manny Delcarmen or Ramon Ramirez in the right deal. — Delcarmen
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Red Sox ratings are way down this year
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Daily Rumble: Welcome to the Roy Oswalt Show — Cliff Lee is gone. Dan Haren is off the board. So strike up the band, because this is now The Roy Oswalt Show. — There's only one “premium” arm left on the starting-pitching market, and it's attached to the right shoulder of the 32-year-old Astros ace.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, The Goessling Game, Bronx Baseball Daily, The Nats Blog and Sliding Into Home
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Edwin Jackson-Adam Dunn Three-Team Rumor
Discussion:
The Nationals Enquirer, MLB Daily Dish, Beyond the Box Score, Federal Baseball and DC Pro Sports Report
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Sources: New York Mets have decided to keep coaching staff intact; Rod Barajas placed on disabled list — NEW YORK — The New York Mets' coaching staff will remain intact when the team opens a homestand Tuesday evening against the St. Louis Cardinals. — The decision to leave …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Haren trade shifts focus to Cubs' Lilly — The market for Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly just got a lot hotter with the trade Sunday of Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren to the Los Angeles Angels. — Cubs officials downplayed the idea of any deals being close, but Lilly is scheduled …
David Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Dipoto looks at Saunders W-L record, says Arizona got a ‘winner’ — A starting pitcher's won-loss record isn't what we crack it up to be. — If a pitcher hypothetically goes 16-7, he does so for the same reasons he might go 6-10. — He's at the mercy of how many runs his own team scores.
Discussion:
ESPN
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Sports Illustrated:
Angels' trade coup for Haren leaves D-backs with little assets in return
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Fox Sports, Halos Heaven, FanGraphs Baseball, The Big Lead and baseballmusings.com
Dan Woike / Orange County Register:
Angels send Saunders to Arizona for Haren
Discussion:
Touching Base, SBNation.com, Yahoo! Sports, MLB Daily Dish, The Crawfish Boxes, AZ Snakepit, Lone Star Ball and Halos Heaven
Associated Press:
Baseball Hall of Fame changes voting for veterans — COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — The baseball Hall of Fame has changed the way that managers, umpires, executives and long-retired players will be considered for election. — Candidates will be reviewed in three eras: Pre-Integration (1871-1946) …
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Fielder's future to be decided by Saturday — Brewers have three options regarding slugging first baseman — MILWAUKEE — By the end of the week, the Brewers will have declared themselves on first baseman Prince Fielder, the biggest bat available on this summer's trade market …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
ESPN:
Carlos Zambrano apologizes for tirade … Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano apologized on Monday for his dugout tirade last month, professed his love for Chicago and thanked the team for helping him receive therapy for anger management issues. — The former Cubs ace has been on the restricted …
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank:
Texas Rangers asking about Chris Volstad, but Florida Marlins don't want to deal — Add pitcher Chris Volstad to the list of Marlins players generating interest from teams around the league in the final days before Saturday's non-waiver trading deadline. — The Texas Rangers asked about Volstad …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Jeremy Greenhouse / Baseball Analysts:
Working Hard or Working Fast? — “The wrong way, but faster.” Max Power — I could point to a dozen articles discussing the varying shapes and sizes of the strike zone, but when my friend Don asked whether umpires really change their zone depending on the score, I drew a blank.
Sam Page / Amazin' Avenue:
The Greatest Trade Rumor In Baseball History — A rundown of the relevant parties: — Oliver Perez, owed $24/2: Arguably the worst pitcher in baseball, Perez has Steve Blass Disease, minus the connotation of once having good control. Perez allows more homeruns and walks at a per-nine-inning pace …
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