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:
Hardball Times, Over the Monster, Bluebird Banter and BronxBanterBlog.com
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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
Chipper Jones has torn ACL, needs surgery - updated
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Walkoff Walk, Talking Chop and Deadspin
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:
Blogging Baseball, Phillies Nation and Associated Press
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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
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
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.
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Mick Meenan / New York Times:
The Mets' Francisco Rodriguez Heads to Court
The Mets' Francisco Rodriguez Heads to Court
Discussion:
Bats, NoMaas.org, New Jersey Online, New York Post and NY Daily News
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
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
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.
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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