Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Hip check: A-Rod's three jacks power Yanks — Slugger works out mechanical flaw in power display vs. Royals — KANSAS CITY — Alex Rodriguez might have saved the most impressive blast for the finale of his own personal power showcase, rocketing a ninth-inning drive into the scarcely-reached …
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Associated Press:
Power surge: A-Rod belts three homers as Yankees rout Royals — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Rodriguez (FSY) hit three home runs in a game for the fourth time in his career, putting on a late power show that led the New York Yankees past the Kansas City Royals 8-3 Saturday night.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and Yahoo! Sports
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Yankees Pull Further and Further and Further Away — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The first baseball plopped into the left-field stands, but that was only the beginning. The next one caromed off a concrete wall beneath the batter's eye, and the third one shot off Alex Rodriguez's bat with such power …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and Pinstripe Alley
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Nationals Spend Big On Solis, Cole — The Nationals likely will go down to the midnight deadline Monday to sign No. 1 overall pick Bryce Harper, who's expected to break the record for the largest guarantee ever given to a position player in the draft ($9.5 million by Mark Teixeira from the Rangers in 2001).
Glenn Rabney / MLB.com:
Jays, Romero agree to five-year extension — Left-hander inks contract worth $30.1 million on Saturday — ANAHEIM — The Blue Jays on Saturday signed left-hander Ricky Romero to a five-year, $30.1 million contract extension for the 2011-15 seasons with a club option for the 2016 season.
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Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Votto ejected for arguing strikes — Second time this season first baseman thrown out in first — CINCINNATI — Reds first baseman Joey Votto was ejected in the first inning of Sunday's game against the Marlins for disputing a strike call. — Votto took a 1-1 pitch from Anibal Sanchez …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Sports Network / Toronto Sun:
Reds hope to sweep Marlins — Former phenom Homer Bailey makes his first big-league start in nearly three months when the Cincinnati Reds go for the sweep against the Florida Marlins in today's finale of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park. — The Reds made it two straight wins …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Red Reporter
Associated Press:
Red Sox 3, Rangers 1 — Lester pitches Red Sox past Rangers — ARLINGTON, Texas - Jon Lester [stats] pitched eight scoreless innings and the Boston Red Sox [team stats] stopped the AL West-leading Texas Rangers 3-1 on a steamy Saturday night. — Lester (13-7) was sharp …
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Boston Globe, Over the Monster, Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Torre to announce plans in September — Skipper won't let intentions be known until LA's fate determined — ATLANTA — Joe Torre said Saturday he'll announce his plans for next season when this year's Dodgers clinch a postseason berth or are eliminated from one.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Yahoo! Sports
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
2006 to 2010: How the New York Mets have flushed four years down the drain — Things have soured for the Mets since the night Carlos Beltran took strike three to end Game 7 of the 2006 NL Championship Series. Here's a look at the embarrassments and oddities of the last four years:
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Dallas Morning News:
Rangers getting a playoff primer in homestand vs. Beasts of the East — ARLINGTON - Imagine the AL playoffs. It's easy if you try. — They will look an awfully lot like the last week's worth of baseball in Arlington. — Should the Rangers close out the AL West …
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' finances include an unusual revenue-generating plan: ‘Own to rent’ — The team has been charging itself rent on Dodger Stadium property it owns, and the tab this year, a whopping $14 million, is far greater than what is typically paid by teams that rent their stadiums from independent landlords.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Jim Armstrong / Denver Post:
Street gets rocked by Brewers in 10th — Helton homers at Coors for first time this season — Milwaukee Brewers' Jonathan Lucroy scores ahead of a tag by Colorado Rockies' catcher, Chris Iannetta in the second inning of a baseball game at Coors Field in Denver on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and Purple Row