Top News:
Paul Newberry / Globe and Mail:
Braves complete sweep of Blue Jays — Brandon Beachy had a career-high 11 strikeouts in his return from the disabled list, Dan Uggla and Brian McCann hit two-run homers, and the Atlanta Braves completed a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 5-1 victory Wednesday.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Talking Chop and Associated Press
RELATED:
George Henry / Associated Press:
McCann backs Minor's pitching in Braves' 5-1 win
McCann backs Minor's pitching in Braves' 5-1 win
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Bluebird Banter
Larry Granillo / Baseball Prospectus:
Jack McKeon's 1962 Radio Experiment — Jack McKeon is back managing the Florida Marlins this year after manager Edwin Rodriguez resigned amid an atrocious June. McKeon, who also took over the 2003 Marlins mid-season before leading them to the World Series, is currently 80 years old.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB.com
RELATED:
Clark Spencer / Fish Bytes:
Logan Morrison blasts Hanley Ramirez in front of teammates
Logan Morrison blasts Hanley Ramirez in front of teammates
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Fish Tank
Len Kasper / Daily Herald:
Cubs' Kasper signs five-year extension — Broadcaster Len Kasper has signed a five-year extension to remain as the Cubs' TV play-by-play man through 2016. — The 40-year-old Kasper was in the final year of his current deal, but there was little doubt he'd be staying around for a long time.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Bleacher Nation and Baseball Nation
Jonah / JonahKeri.com:
NEW BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT: The Definitive History of the Montreal Expos — I'm thrilled to announce that I've agreed to terms with Random House Canada to write my next book: The Definitive History of the Montreal Expos. The book is tentatively slated for release in the spring of 2014 …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and THE BOOK
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
O'Dowd may seek pitching help at Deadline — CLEVELAND — Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd is in the early stages of determining if the Rockies will seek help via trade, but he acknowledged that losing No. 2 starter Jorge De La Rosa last month to a season-ending elbow injury has created a void.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Homer Happy Tigers Beat Dodgers 7-5 to Avoid Sweep — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Casper Wells opened the game with one of four home runs by Detroit and defensive replacement Austin Jackson made an over-the-shoulder catch on Dioner Navarro's bases-loaded drive for the final out, sending the Tigers past the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-5 Wednesday.
RELATED:
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Pujols' return is ‘fluid’ — Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols officially landed on the disabled list Tuesday. How long the three-time National League MVP stays there might eventually come under review. — “I feel pretty good,” Pujols said before his team's series opener against Philadelphia.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, The Good Phight, Brew Crew Ball and ESPN
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Frank McCourt hits back at Bud Selig — LOS ANGELES — Would you buy the Dodgers from Frank McCourt if you had to hand him one-third of your revenue every year? — McCourt threw that brushback pitch at Major League Baseball on Tuesday, the day after Commissioner Bud Selig vetoed …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and Los Angeles Times
RELATED:
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
Frank McCourt's lawyer: Don't force us to sue
Frank McCourt's lawyer: Don't force us to sue
Discussion:
HardballTalk, The Biz of Baseball and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Posada breaks out, Yanks beat Reds in game one of doubleheader — CINCINNATI, Ohio — Jorge Posada ended the second-longest homer drought of his career, connecting on a two-run shot Wednesday that sent the New York Yankees to their fourth straight win, 4-2 over the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Ike Davis might require ankle surgery … NEW YORK — New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis, who has not appeared in a game since May 10 because of a left ankle injury, may require season-ending surgery in three weeks if he is unable to run at that point, general manager Sandy Alderson said.
Discussion:
The Daily Stache
Jon Paul Morosi / mlbbuzz:
Phillies, Mariners, Reds interested in Padres' Ludwick — Outfielder Ryan Ludwick couldn't help the Padres reach the playoffs after San Diego acquired him from St. Louis last July. — But that won't prevent Ludwick from being moved again this year. — Sources say the Phillies …
Discussion:
Seattle Mariners blog, MLB Rumors and Lookout Landing
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays' Joe Maddon apologizes after sending Sam Fuld to mound against Milwaukee Brewers — OF Sam Fuld should have been required to pitch to a batter after warming up. — MILWAUKEE — Rays manager Joe Maddon insisted he thought he was working within the rules and not trying to get around them.
David Laurila / FanGraphs Baseball:
Q&A: Ryne Sandberg — Ryne Sandberg spent 15-plus seasons in the big leagues, which means that he faced a generation's worth of great pitchers. The Cubs Hall of Famer hit .285/.344/.452 overall, but how did he do against the likes of Pedro Martinez, Nolan Ryan and Bruce Sutter?
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Harvard College Sports Analysis Collective:
What do Matt Kemp and Jered Weaver have in common with Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig and Carl Hubbell? — The last time a pitcher and a batter on opposing teams in the same city faced each other in the midst of seasons as good as the one's LA Dodgers' Centerfield Matt Kemp and LA Angels …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, USA Today and Baseball Analytics Blog
Ben Shpigel / Bats:
Yanks' Gardner Finds His Comfort Zone — CINCINNATI — In three games batting first for the Yankees since Derek Jeter strained his calf, Brett Gardner has reached base in 9 of 15 plate appearances, and scored five times. In 50 games since April 28, Gardner has hit .357 with a .440 on-base percentage …
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home, HardballTalk and It's About The Money