Top News:
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Who's on third? For an inning, it's Albert — ATLANTA — Sunday's ninth inning took Albert Pujols to a place he hadn't experienced in almost eight seasons. — Minutes after his seventh-inning miscue on a one-hop smash at first base fed a two-run rally, Pujols found himself stationed …
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HardballTalk
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Gwen Knapp / San Francisco Chronicle:
Fan says McDowell's behavior ruined day with kids
Fan says McDowell's behavior ruined day with kids
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Deadspin, HardballTalk, USA Today and Baseball Nation
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Pirates, McCutchen Discussing Extension — The Pirates are discussing a long-term contract extension with center fielder Andrew McCutchen, reports Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Kovacevic adds that “there is no sign that an agreement is imminent.”
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates, McCutchen talking multiyear extension — Center fielder says he is ‘willing to be here my whole career’ — DENVER — The Pirates and center fielder Andrew McCutchen are discussing a long-term contract extension, but there is no sign that an agreement is imminent.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, HardballTalk and Where Have You Gone …
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Phillies Notes: Utley's workout called ‘good sign’ — The progressions of Chase Utley's recovery have been measured in accomplishing simple baseball tasks made difficult by a bad right knee. Sunday brought another milestone: Utley played in a “semi-simulated” game, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.
Discussion:
We Should Be GMs and baseballmusings.com
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Associated Press:
Roy Oswalt to return to Phillies on Thursday — PHILADELPHIA—Roy Oswalt is scheduled to return to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday and could start Saturday. — The right-hander left the team last Wednesday to be with his family in tornado-ravaged Mississippi.
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ESPN
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
The Anti Ethier: Raul Ibanez in range of setting dubious record — Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier — made it through the weekend safely, extending his growing hitting streak to 27 games with an infield single against the San Diego Padres on Sunday.
Discussion:
New York Times
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Curtis Granderson's Motown momentum — A year after he looked like a bust, center fielder is busting out for the Yanks — NEW YORK — At this time last year, it looked as though the New York Yankees might have been had. Former Yankees prospect Austin Jackson ended April with a .364 average …
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Batter's Box Interactive …
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Associated Press:
Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira send Yankees past Blue Jays
Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira send Yankees past Blue Jays
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TSN.ca, Bluebird Banter, Pinstripe Alley and Yahoo! Sports
Thomas Boorstein / MLB.com:
Millwood ops out of deal with Yankees
Associated Press:
Carlos Lee's shot backs up 3-hitter in Astros' 5-0 win — HOUSTON — Carlos Lee hit a three-run homer before being taken to the hospital to have X-rays on his injured ribcage, and Bud Norris combined with three relievers on a three-hitter in the Houston Astros' 5-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
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The Crawfish Boxes, Brew Crew Ball, Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
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Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Panda out with broken hamate bone in hand — WASHINGTON — The Giants lost one of their few competent offensive performers Saturday as they announced that third baseman Pablo Sandoval will be sidelined from four to six weeks with a fractured hamate bone in his right hand.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Baseball Prospectus and Bay City Ball
Steve Kornacki / MLive.com:
Detroit Tigers reliever Al Alburquerque matches feat last accomplished in 1984 by Willie Hernandez — CLEVELAND — Al Alburquerque joined some pretty select company in what he accomplished Saturday night in the 13-inning loss to the Cleveland Indians. — He became the first Detroit Tigers reliever …
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Baseball Analytics Blog
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John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Red Sox were willing to offer King's ransom for Felix
Red Sox were willing to offer King's ransom for Felix
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MetsBlog.com, MLB Rumors and Associated Press
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Philadelphia freedom: Game takes backseat — PHILADELPHIA — New York Mets pitcher Pedro Beato watched from the roof of his Brooklyn high school as the World Trade Center collapse on Sept. 11, 2001. — The world learned Sunday night that Osama bin Laden, the terrorist mastermind behind those attacks, had been killed by U.S. forces.
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Rangers' Neftali Feliz: I'm through with starting — OAKLAND - The future role of prized Texas Rangers right-hander Neftali Feliz may still be up for debate in some quarters, but in his mind it's settled. — The reigning AL Rookie of the Year wants to remain a closer, not just the rest of this season but from there on as well.
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Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Jenks to correct mechanics after shaky frame — BOSTON — Tim Wakefield and Bobby Jenks were both watching video after Sunday's 3-2 win over the Mariners at Fenway Park. — To Jenks' surprise, Wakefield wasn't only watching his own footage. Wakefield was watching Jenks', too.
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joy of sox
Todd Karpovich / MLB.com:
Nationals trying to find offensive rhythm — WASHINGTON — The Nationals are still struggling at the plate, but manager Jim Riggleman is not hitting the panic button. — He remains confident the team is ready to break out of its offensive doldrums. Center fielder Rick Ankiel …
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Todd Karpovich / MLB.com:
Nats adjusting to life without Zimmerman
Todd Karpovich / MLB.com:
Hairston's versatility a boost for Nationals
Associated Press:
Nifty baserunning by Wells helps Angels beat Rays — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Hank Conger homered and nifty baserunning by Vernon Wells helped the Los Angeles Angels rally from a five-run deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 on Sunday. — Angels ace Jered Weaver (6-0) was scratched from his scheduled start because of a stomach virus.
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USA Today
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays working hard to prepare for potential draft bonanza
Tampa Bay Rays working hard to prepare for potential draft bonanza
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and MLB Rumors