Top News:
Associated Press:
Drew powers Diamondbacks past Nationals 4-0 — PHOENIX—Stephen Drew hit a three-run triple in the fifth inning, Josh Collmenter pitched seven sharp innings and the surging Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Washington Nationals 4-0 on Friday night. — Collmenter (4-1), allowed three hits …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Let's play 154! — Shortening the season would ease players' mental and physical burdens, improve play — By our count — and it took a LOT of counting — you can find 158 big leaguers hanging out on somebody's disabled list. — And amazingly, that counts only Rich Harden ONCE.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and 6-4-2
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Zimmerman to begin assignment in Class A — PHOENIX — Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, on the disabled list with an abdominal strain, played in his second extended spring training game, playing four innings and going 0-for-4. — After the game, Zimmerman went home to Washington …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Werth out of the lineup with a stiff elbow — PHOENIX — Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth sat out Friday's game against the D-backs after being hit on his left elbow by a pitch during Washington's 6-1 victory over Arizona the previous day. — In the ninth inning …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Strasburg continuing to throw bullpen sessions — PHOENIX — Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg announced on his Twitter page on Friday that he had another week of bullpen sessions in Viera, Fla. — Strasburg, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, is heading to California on the same day.
Associated Press:
Rolen's single gives Arroyo all he needs in Reds win — CINCINNATI, Ohio — Scott Rolen hit a two-run single with two out in the fifth inning, sending Bronson Arroyo and the Cincinnati Reds to a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. — Arroyo (4-5) allowed one run and five hits …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
RELATED:
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Sources: Jon Garland headed to DL
Discussion:
MLB.com, Baseball Nation, True Blue LA and HardballTalk
MLB:
Report: Nine MLB teams out of debt compliance
Discussion:
ESPN, We Should Be GMs and Bless You Boys
Keith Law / ESPN:
Gerrit Cole still the top choice — But prep outfielder Bubba Starling could rise all the way to Seattle at No. 2 — With three days to go until the 2011 MLB draft, it seems as if the names are clearer but the order is foggier. Picks three through five are probably the same names …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and River Avenue Blues
RELATED:
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Mock Draft: The Zero Issue
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, The Process Report and ESPN
ESPN:
Surgery next for Dice-K; Rich Hill too? — BOSTON — The $103 million investment the Boston Red Sox made in Daisuke Matsuzaka took another hit when manager Terry Francona confirmed Friday that the right-hander will undergo elbow surgery. — The team transferred Matsuzaka from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Over the Monster
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Cain ends skid, helps Giants stay sharp with win over Rockies — SAN FRANCISCO — Cody Ross hit a go-ahead two-run double in the fourth, Matt Cain pitched seven innings for his first win in more than three weeks and the San Francisco Giants beat the slumping Colorado Rockies 3-1 on Friday night.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and McCovey Chronicles
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Source: Torre, Sabean to talk about comments
Discussion:
ESPN, ESPN, Florida Marlins and MLB
Associated Press:
Quentin, Lillibridge go yard as White Sox overpower Tigers — CHICAGO — Carlos Quentin hit a three-run homer and Brent Lillibridge added a solo shot to help the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-4 on Friday night. — The White Sox ended a nine-game losing steak against the Tigers …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and South Side Sox
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Associated Press:
Carl Crawford comes through again as Red Sox beat A's 8-6 — Carl Crawford blooped a go-ahead, two-run single to center field in the seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox [team stats] ended a four-game losing streak with an 8-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Boston Globe, Yahoo! Sports, Athletics Nation, Associated Press, Over the Monster and USA Today
Associated Press:
J.P. Arencibia, Blue Jays slam Orioles 8-4 to halt skid — BALTIMORE - J.P. Arencibia hit his first career grand slam, Rajai Davis had three hits and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-4 on Friday night to end a two-game losing streak. — Carlos Villanueva (3-0) …
Discussion:
Camden Chat, Bluebird Banter and TSN.ca
Associated Press:
Angels beat Yankees with Weaver's first win since April 25 — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jered Weaver tied for the AL lead with his seventh victory — 39 days after getting his sixth one — and No. 9 hitter Peter Bourjos singled home the go-ahead run for the Los Angeles Angels in a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven and Pinstripe Alley
Associated Press:
Pirates Beat Phillies 2-1 in 12 Innings — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jose Tabata hit a game-ending single with two outs in the 12th inning, lifting the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in a game without an extra-base hit. — Tabata smacked a sinking liner off of Danys Baez …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and Associated Press
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Astros release Hall; activate Bourgeois — SAN DIEGO — Bill Hall, the Astros' biggest free-agent signing this offseason, quietly packed his bags and his thoughts late Friday while exchanging hugs and handshakes with what are now former teammates. His days in Houston are done.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Baseball America:
Experts Draft 2.0 — Our draft writers take another crack at the first round … 1. PIRATES (Conor): It's a bit of a muddled year at the top, but my decision still came down to the two players we've had up there for most of the year: Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon and UCLA righthander Gerrit Cole.
Discussion:
The Process Report
Associated Press:
Alexi Ogando raises record to 6-0, Rangers rout Indians — CLEVELAND - Alexi Ogando won his sixth game without a loss, Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz homered in a five-run seventh inning and the Texas Rangers routed the Cleveland Indians 11-2 Friday night. — Ogando (6-0) held the Indians to one run and four hits in eight innings.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Associated Press:
Cards use long balls from Pujols, Berkman to beat Cubs — ST. LOUIS — Lance Berkman hit a three-run homer, Albert Pujols had a two-run shot and Jaime Garcia bounced back from the worst outing of his career to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night.
Associated Press:
Jason Vargas stars in Seattle's 7-0 win over Rays — SEATTLE - Jason Vargas tossed a four-hitter for the first shutout of his career, and Adam Kennedy and Miguel Olivo hit back-to-back homers as the Seattle Mariners roughed up Tampa Bay pitching for the second straight night, 7-0 on Friday.
Discussion:
USA Today
