Top News:
Joe DiGiovanni / MLB.com:
Reliever Rodriguez a late-inning option — MILWAUKEE — Despite getting saddled with a loss Tuesday night, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman likes using Henry Rodriguez in late-inning situations. — Riggleman knows that batters don't like having to face Rodriguez and his fastball, which is typically in the high 90-mph range.
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Joe DiGiovanni / MLB.com:
Morse wielding a hot bat at Miller Park — MILWAUKEE — Nationals first baseman Michael Morse says he's just trying to be a consistently good hitter, but he's certainly been on a hot streak at Miller Park. — After hitting a three-run homer in the third inning on Wednesday, Morse had five homers …
Joe DiGiovanni / MLB.com:
Nationals coming together defensively — MILWAUKEE — The statistics show the Nationals are in the middle of the pack among National League teams when it comes to defense this season. Manager Jim Riggleman says the stats don't tell the entire story about how well his team has played in the field, particularly the last month.
Associated Press:
Royals pitching great, broadcaster Splittorff dies — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Paul Splittorff, the winningest pitcher in Kansas City Royals history and a popular broadcaster for the team, died Wednesday after a battle with oral cancer and melanoma, the club announced.
Discussion:
Royals Review
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Blair Kerkhoff / Kansas City Star:
Royals great Paul Splittorff dies — He was the forever Royal. — Paul Splittorff, who entertained generations of Kansas Citians first as a durable lefty pitcher and then as an insightful and respected broadcaster, died Wednesday morning after a battle with oral cancer and melanoma. — He was 64.
Discussion:
Hardball Times and USA Today
John Shea / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's manager Bob Geren under spotlight now — The A's finally won a game Tuesday night, beating the Angels 6-1 to snap a six-game skid. The aftermath of the first victory in a week provided relief for manager Bob Geren amid public criticisms from his closer. — Ex-closer, that is.
Discussion:
USA Today, HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, Athletics Nation and Deadspin
Gary Carter / Yahoo! Sports:
Red Sox in no-win situation with Dice-K — is back in Japan, and if Boston Red Sox brass were slipped a dose of truth serum, they'd love for him never to return. It's one thing to deal with a headache. It's another to pay $103 million for it. — With his right elbow pained …
Discussion:
Cursed To First, Getting Blanked, Baseball Prospectus, baseballmusings.com and HardballTalk
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David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Games of the Day — Boston fans get a lunch-time treat as the Red Sox and Indians play the rubber game of their series at noon, with Jon Lester facing Mitch Talbot. Despite his 6-1 record, Lester is in a bit of a slump, as he allowed 14 runs in his last three starts. The Red Sox scored 28 runs in those games, however.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Over the Monster and Yahoo! Sports
Tom Withers / Associated Press:
Red Sox romp Indians 14-2
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and Associated Press
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Rafael Soriano out 6-8 weeks — NEW YORK — Yankees setup man Rafael Soriano will be out another 6-8 weeks after being diagnosed with an inflamed ligament in his right elbow. — Dr. James Andrews, after seeing Soriano on Wednesday, prescribed rest for two more weeks and then a conservative throwing program.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, NESN.com and lenNY's Yankees
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Lori Preuitt / NBC Bay Area:
Barry Bonds to Pay for Stow Kids' College — Barry Bonds shows he has heart. — The lawyer who now represents Bryan Stow's family in a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Dodgers gave a new detail on a former Giants generosity to Stow's two young children. — The lawyer who now represents …
Discussion:
USA Today, Yahoo! Sports, Getting Blanked, The Big Lead, Babes Love Baseball, Deadspin and Baseball Nation
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Associated Press:
Jays' Reyes Matches Record With 28th Winless Start — NEW YORK (AP) — The Blue Jays' Jo-Jo Reyes has matched a major league record by making his 28th consecutive start without recording a win. — Reyes was pulled after the third inning of Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees with Toronto trailing 5-0.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, lenNY's Yankees, Associated Press and TSN.ca
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Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Mets owner Fred Wilpon apologizes to Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran on phone call to Wrigley clubhouse — CHICAGO - The visitors clubhouse at Wrigley Field is the smallest in baseball, the most awkward forum possible for the Mets to share reactions to Fred Wilpon's candid comments …
Discussion:
New York Post, MLB Daily Dish, Faith and Fear in Flushing, HardballTalk, New Jersey Online and MetsBlog.com
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Associated Press:
Wilson Pitches Rangers Past White Sox — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — C.J. Wilson pitched into the seventh inning, Ian Kinsler's RBI single produced the go-ahead run, and the Texas Rangers hung on to beat the Chicago White Sox 2-1 on Wednesday. — Wilson (5-3) gave up one run and five hits …
Discussion:
South Side Sox and Yahoo! Sports
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Jim Caple / ESPN:
The official MLB owner rankings — Fred Wilpon furthered his candidacy for worst owner in baseball this week when he ripped everyone but Mr. Met in The New Yorker, then told Sports Illustrated that the Mets are “bleeding money.” He thus violated two cardinal rules of ownership.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Cincinnati Reds
Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Lenny Dykstra makes bizarre house call to Dwight Gooden during Doc's ‘Celebrity Rehab’ stint — Former New York Mets teammates Lenny Dykstra (l.) and Dwight ‘Doc’ Gooden have a long-awaited - but unexpected and unusual - reunion during Gooden's recent stint on ‘Celebrity Rehab.’
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Pujols: drought was overblown — “MY JOB IS TO HELP THIS TEAM WIN. IT'S NOT TO GO UP THERE THINKING ABOUT HITTING THE BALL OUT OF THE BALLPARK.” — SAN DIEGO • The day after snapping the longest home run drought of his 11-year career, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols voiced frustration …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
