Top News:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Blue Jays stun Red Sox in 9th, 6-5 — Game Over: Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 5 — Another Jonathan Papelbon meltdown in the bottom of the ninth and another reason to question why on earth was John Lackey taken out of the game? In the end, Fred Lewis' bases-loaded sacrifice fly off Daniel Bard won it for the Jays.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, BronxBanterBlog.com and TSN.ca
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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
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:
Red Sox Monster
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:
River Avenue Blues, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS, Sliding Into Home and MLB.com
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Carroll Rogers / Atlanta Braves:
Chipper Jones has torn ACL, needs surgery - updated — It's been 17 years since the Braves have had to make a run to the playoffs without Chipper Jones as a fixture at third base. To get back there now, they'll have to do it without him. — An MRI Thursday revealed Jones has a tear …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Walkoff Walk, Talking Chop, Deadspin and Fanhouse MLB Blog
ESPN:
Francisco Rodriguez charged … NEW YORK — Suspended Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez has been released without bail and told to stay away from his girlfriend's father while facing charges he assaulted the man. — Rodriguez appeared at a Queens courthouse on Thursday afternoon.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine and Faith and Fear in Flushing
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Mick Meenan / New York Times:
The Mets' Francisco Rodriguez Heads to Court
Discussion:
Bats, NoMaas.org, New Jersey Online and New York Post
ESPN:
Police: New York Mets' Francisco Rodriguez charged with assault on father-in-law
Discussion:
Subway Squawkers, Amazin' Avenue and We Should Be GM's
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Rodriguez to be charged with assault
Discussion:
New York Yankees Fan Blog and Faith and Fear in Flushing
NY Daily News:
Mets' Francisco Rodriguez arrested after allegedly punching father …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, NESN.com, Walkoff Walk, New York Times, The Big Lead, Amazin' Avenue, HardballTalk and Yahoo! Sports
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
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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
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.
Larry Stone / Seattle Times:
Bobby Valentine reportedly would be interested in Mariner job — (Bobby Valentine is pictured as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines before a Japan Series game against the Hanshin Tigers in October, 2005. Photo by Associated Press) — One of the first names to surface in speculation …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, HardballTalk and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Dan Steinberg / D.C. Sports Bog:
Rob Dibble amazed by women at baseball game — “Those ladies right behind there, they haven't stopped talking the whole game,” Rob Dibble said in the sixth inning of Wednesday night's Nats broadcast. “They have some conversation going on. Right here,” he said, circling the offenders.
Discussion:
Camden Chat and Can't Stop The Bleeding
Associated Press:
McGehee sets Brewers record with 9th straight hit — MILWAUKEE—Casey McGehee set a franchise record with his ninth straight hit, going 4 for 4 and leading the Milwaukee Brewers over the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-4 Thursday. — McGehee had a solo homer, a two-run double, an RBI single and another single.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Cueto, Baker, La Russa hit with suspensions — Reds starter gets seven games, skippers two games apiece — Major League Baseball handed Reds starter Johnny Cueto a seven-game suspension and also suspended Reds manager Dusty Baker and Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa for two games each …
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Chicago Sun Times:
CUBS IN BRIEF: In-season housecleaning seems likely to continue — SAN FRANCISCO — The Cubs' trade of Mike Fontenot to the San Francisco Giants a few hours before the teams played Wednesday night might not be the last of the in-season deals the Cubs make. — “It's hard to say if it'll …
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune, Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB Rumors
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