Top News:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Papelbon, Sox suffer tough loss to Jays — Closer allows three runs in ninth for sixth blown save of season — TORONTO — When Jonathan Papelbon walks off the mound in the ninth inning of a tie game, you know it has been an exceedingly tough day for the star reliever.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
RELATED:
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Table has turned for Papelbon — Closer blows his sixth save, but he won't be replaced anytime soon — TORONTO — You know it's a bad day when the best thing you can say about your closer is that he wasn't arrested. — Like the rest of his Red Sox teammates, Jonathan Papelbon walked …
Discussion:
ESPN and Red Sox Monster
Baseball America:
Prospect Hot Sheet: Aug. 13 — Team: Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (International) — Why He's Here: .520/.556/1.000 (13-for-25), 6 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 4 SO — The Scoop: When Montero was hitting under .220 early in June, many worried that he had suddenly regressed at the plate.
Discussion:
Talking Chop, redsminorleagues.com and Sliding Into Home
Associated Press:
Phillies shock Dodgers with 4 runs in 8th and 9th — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The biggest challenge for Carlos Ruiz was escaping a Philadelphia Phillies barrage. — His game-winning, two-run double in the ninth inning capped a frantic rally from seven runs down and topple the Los Angeles Dodgers , 10-9, on Thursday night.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, Blogging Baseball and Associated Press
RELATED:
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Phils' fierce finish deals Dodgers deja blues — PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies cannot speak for Jonathan Broxton. They cannot read his mind. They just know the results. — They know that Carlos Ruiz crushed a double to left-center field in the bottom of the ninth inning on Thursday …
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Mets organization shows a lack of backbone — Only the most naïve among us believed the Mets would finish their season in quiet desperation. That would've been too much to ask of this broken franchise. Instead, Francisco Rodriguez spent Wednesday night in jail after allegedly pummeling …
Discussion:
New York Post, MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk and ESPN
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Granderson: “I wouldn't necessarily call it big changes” — What hitting coach Kevin Long called a “total reformation of the swing” is not quite that drastic according to Curtis Granderson. After two days spent tweaking his mechanics, Granderson could return to the Yankees lineup tonight with a different look.
Discussion:
IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS, River Avenue Blues and Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
Carroll Rogers / Atlanta Braves:
Chipper Jones has torn ACL, needs surgery - updated
Chipper Jones has torn ACL, needs surgery - updated
Discussion:
Talking Chop, Walkoff Walk, FanGraphs Baseball and Deadspin
Los Angeles Times:
Pushing the Dodgers' Matt Kemp issue closer to brink — During a season in which a shrugging Matt Kemp has been benched and berated, somebody has finally stepped to his defense. — It is a giant step that could eventually lead him out of town. — Dave Stewart, Kemp's agent …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, ESPN, TYU and Los Angeles Times
Andy / Baseball-Reference Blog:
POLL: Is Mariano Rivera the greatest pitcher in baseball history? — Mariano Rivera is 40 years old, still pitching extremely well, and is first in baseball history in ERA+. Among active pitchers, he's ranked first in ERA, WHIP, H/9IP, K/BB, HR/9IP, WPA, and fielding percentage.
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and McCovey Chronicles
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Baldelli headed to Durham — Word from Port Charlotte tonight is that OF/DH Rocco Baldelli is taking his comeback attempt to Triple-A Durham. — Baldelli hit .283 for the Class A Stone Crabs in 12 games, and finished strong, going 3-for-4 on Thursday, and drawing his first walk.
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog
Howard Fendrich / Associated Press:
Nolasco, Stanton lead Marlins past Nationals 5-0 — WASHINGTON—Ricky Nolasco rebounded from a rough start by taking a shutout into the seventh inning, Mike Stanton homered for the second consecutive game, and the Florida Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 5-0 Thursday night to complete a three-game sweep.
Discussion:
FishStripes and Federal Baseball
Dave / U.S.S. Mariner:
Should The Mariners Trade Chone Figgins? — A few weeks ago, we learned that the Braves and Mariners had a discussion about Chone Figgins before the July 31st trade deadline. The Braves, in search of a leadoff hitter and a guy who could play multiple positions for them …
Discussion:
The Seattle Times, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Lookout Landing
Bobby Melok / NY Daily News:
Boyfriend who let girlfriend get hit by foul ball dumped, but couple visits CBS' ‘Early Show’ — The video of a young woman being struck by a foul ball at Monday's Houston Astros game when her boyfriend moved out of the way may have contributed to the couple's break-up.