Top News:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
He must have his reasons, but what are they? — So it's official: He really is an idiot. — I say this with no malice and all due respect. “Idiot,” you must remember, was the title of Johnny Damon's 2005 best-selling autobiography (a work often compared with Tolstoy's “Anna Karenina” and Dostoevsky's “Notes From the Underground").
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:
Damon's decision says as much about Yankees as Red Sox … The T-shirts read, “Looks like Jesus, acts like Judas, throws like Mary,” and Johnny Damon was supposed to pretend he did not see them. He was supposed to catch the first flight to Boston, do a few naked pull-ups in the clubhouse …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Respect Jeter's Gangster, Toeing the Rubber and The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Pregame notes: A plan through Sunday
Pregame notes: A plan through Sunday
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and Fanhouse MLB Blog
ESPN:
Sources: Manny Ramirez on waivers — Outfielder Manny Ramirez has been placed on waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers, sources tell ESPN.com. — Ramirez — Teams will have until Friday afternoon to put in a claim on Ramirez. Any team that's awarded the claim would have until Tuesday afternoon …
Discussion:
Projo Sox Blog
RELATED:
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
Source: Dodgers place Manny on waivers — The Dodgers placed Manny Ramirez on trade waivers today, one major-league source told FOXSports.com, raising the possibility that he will change teams in the next week. — The waiver period ends Friday. If Ramirez is claimed …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Chicago Breaking Sports
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
If Manny is made available, Sox could pounce
If Manny is made available, Sox could pounce
Discussion:
ESPN and Sox Machine
Associated Press:
Astros outlast Phillies in 16 innings — PHILADELPHIA—The Houston Astros' wild 4-2 win over Philadelphia lasted 16 innings, over 5 hours, and saw Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt play left field and ground into the final out Tuesday night. — Oswalt became the first Phillies pitcher to play …
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball, TSN.ca, Phillies Nation, The Good Phight and The Crawfish Boxes
RELATED:
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Astros outlast Phillies, win wild one in 16
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
New York Yankees not targeting Hiroki Kuroda, GM says — TORONTO — General manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that even though the pitching-depleted New York Yankees are engaged in a bitter division battle with the Tampa Bay Rays, he does not anticipate going outside the organization for help before the Aug. 31 waiver deadline.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, River Avenue Blues, Sliding Into Home, Associated Press and ESPN
Tim Marchman / Wall Street Journal:
Few Have Played Shortstop at Jeter's Advanced Age — Before this season, it would have in some parts of the city been controversial to suggest that Derek Jeter is but a man, as prone to age and frailty as anyone else. With three-quarters of the 2010 season in the books and the Captain …
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com and baseballmusings.com
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies' bullpen short; Pads could be fit for Hawpe — The road in the bullpen is bumpy today, with the bridge (Rafael Betancourt) and the Street (closer Huston Street) likely both unavailable. — Betancourt played catch but won't pitch again in a game until Friday at the earliest …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Curt Schilling / ESPN:
Mailbag: Clay Buchholz can improve — Editor's note: Curt Schilling answers user questions in an occasional mailbag for ESPNBoston.com. Click here to ask Curt a question for his next mailbag. — Q. Hey Curt, I'm glad you're doing this mailbag and we can always count on your honesty and experience.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Marlins Get More for Their Money Than Mets — You have to wonder if the Mets, deep down, are more frustrated or inspired by the example of the Florida Marlins. Year after year, the Marlins stay competitive in the National League East, getting extraordinary value for what they spend.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and FishStripes
RELATED:
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank:
Cameron Maybin may lead off with Hanley Ramirez hitting third …
Cameron Maybin may lead off with Hanley Ramirez hitting third …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Marlins' profits came at taxpayer expense — The swindlers who run the Florida Marlins got exposed Monday. They are as bad as anyone on Wall Street, scheming, misleading and ultimately sticking taxpayers with a multibillion-dollar tab. Corporate fraud is alive and well in Major League Baseball.
Discussion:
NESN.com
Arash Markazi / ESPN:
Torii Hunter doesn't have the cure — After 10-3 loss to Rays, Angels outfielder seems resigned to team's fate this season … ANAHEIM, Calif. — Torii Hunter still isn't comfortable running out to right field. The 14-year center fielder, who made the move to right field to make room …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Marksheldon / Mark My Word:
Postgame: New plan for Leake? — Reds pitcher Mike Leake was hammered in his second relief appearance during the 16-5 loss to the Giants. Leake entered in the fifth when it was 7-5 and let the game get away during a six-run inning. — Out of eight batters faced, Leake retired one.
Discussion:
Cincinnati Reds, HardballTalk, MLB.com and Redleg Nation