Top News:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Thanks to round-trip Cruz, Rangers sink Sox — Slugger belts first pitch he sees in 11th over left-field fence — ARLINGTON — Nelson Cruz was the one who was mobbed his teammates at home plate and showered with beer in the clubhouse. Josh Hamilton was the one who put him in that position …
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Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Gammons On Papelbon, Ramirez, Overbay — The venerable Peter Gammons appeared on WEEI's The Big Show to discuss a few Red Sox-related hot stove topics. WEEI.com's Sam Dykstra has the transcript of some of the interview's highlights... - The Red Sox will have a hard time finding takers …
Discussion:
Full Count, Over the Monster and Boston Globe
Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press:
Cruz homers in 11th, Rangers beat Red Sox 10-9 — ARLINGTON, Texas—Talk about more bang for the buck under the Texas Rangers' new ownership. — Nelson Cruz led off the 11th inning with a homer on the first pitch thrown by Tim Wakefield and AL West-leading Texas capped a 10-9 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
TSN.ca:
Guthrie, Orioles continue winning ways in blanking of Rays — Sports Network — St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Jeremy Guthrie allowed two hits in six innings and Luke Scott went 3-for-3 with a home run, as Baltimore continued to shine in the Buck Showalter era with a thorough 5-0 win over Tampa Bay.
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Broxton demoted from closer role — ATLANTA — The day after Jonathan Broxton's monumental meltdown in Philadelphia, manager Joe Torre said the All-Star closer had lost his job, at least temporarily until he regains confidence. — Torre also revealed that he told Broxton a week ago …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Los Angeles Times:
Pushing the Dodgers' Matt Kemp issue closer to brink
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, ESPN and TYU
David Waldstein / New York Times:
Mets' Rodriguez Agrees to Treatment for Anger — Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez has agreed to have anger-management treatment after his arrest Wednesday night on charges that he assaulted the father of his common-law wife. The players union will help him find a therapist or counselor.
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog, MLB.com and Bats
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Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Mets organization shows a lack of backbone
Discussion:
New York Post, Yahoo! Sports, MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk and ESPN
ESPN.com:
San Francisco Giants acquire Jose Guillen from Kansas City Royals for player, cash — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have traded outfielder Jose Guillen to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for a player to be named later and cash considerations. — Guillen
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Post Game: Mets 1, Phillies 0 — The Mets (58-57) defeated the Phillies (64-51) by the score of 1-0 tonight at Citi Field. — The Mets have won back-to-back games for the first time since June 23. — In addition, in four games and 36 innings this season at Citi Field …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, Yahoo! Sports, Amazin' Avenue and The Good Phight
TSN.ca:
Reds bounce back in opener with Marlins — Sports Network — Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Jay Bruce homered and drove in three runs to back six sturdy innings from Edinson Volquez in Cincinnati's 7-2 win over Florida in the opener of a three-game set.
Discussion:
Red Reporter
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Howard Fendrich / Associated Press:
Nolasco, Stanton lead Marlins past Nationals 5-0
Discussion:
FishStripes and Federal Baseball
Geoff Baker / Seattle Times:
Mariners should seriously consider pulling trigger on any Chone Figgins deal with Atlanta — Going to try to write this without ticking everybody off. By now, most of you know that Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones is out for the season. We discussed, prior to the trade deadline …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
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Dave / U.S.S. Mariner:
Should The Mariners Trade Chone Figgins?
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Lookout Landing
Jeff Caplan / ESPN:
Texas Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg plans to ‘step up’ to keep Cliff Lee — ARLINGTON, Texas — New Texas Rangers CEO Chuck Greenberg declined to say if next season's payroll might reach as high as the mercury during these triple-digit days, but with a wry smile said the franchise …
Discussion:
ESPN, Halos Heaven and Yahoo! Sports
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Ellsbury being sent for exam — Jacoby Ellsbury is being sent back to Boston tomorrow to be examined. — He landed on the same spot where he fractured his ribs in April. At the moment, it sounds like a possible return to the DL. — Also Jed Lowrie left the game with heat exhaustion.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Jane Lee / MLB.com:
Ynoa to have surgery on pitching elbow — MINNEAPOLIS — The A's injury bug is seemingly doing its best to make its way from the Major League level all the way down to the Minors, where highly regarded pitching prospect Michael Ynoa will shut things down and undergo surgery Aug. 24.
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Yankees Sign Gumbs For $750,000 — The Yankees have signed second-round pick Angelo Gumbs for $750,000, the largest bonus below the supplemental first round so far this year. MLB's recommendation for Gumbs' No. 82 draft slot is $436,500. — An outfielder from Torrance (Calif.) High …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Cueto will not appeal suspension — Bailey will start in Sunday's series finale against Marlins — CINCINNATI — Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto chose not to appeal a seven-game suspension for his role in Tuesday's scuffle vs. the Cardinals and will begin serving his punishment on Friday.
Discussion:
Mark My Word and Yahoo! Sports
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Andy Pettitte has setback in sim game — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Andy Pettitte has a fully stocked locker in the visitor's clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium in anticipation of his rejoining the New York Yankees here on Saturday. — But this will not be a joyous reunion, because Pettitte …
Discussion:
NESN.com
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
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