Top News:
Jeff Seidel / MLB.com:
Bernadina leads off with right-hander on hill — WASHINGTON — Nationals manager Jim Riggleman made a minor shift to the top of his lineup for Thursday's series finale with the Mariners, putting Roger Bernadina in the leadoff spot and moving Jayson Werth to second.
Discussion:
South Side Sox, MLB Daily Dish, Lone Star Ball, Federal Baseball, Capitol Punishment, MLB Rumors and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Washington Post:
Riggleman quits as Nationals manager — A season worth of brewing frustration about his tenuous contract status led Manager Jim Riggleman to abruptly resign today as the manager of the Washington Nationals, leaving them without a manager minutes after winning for the 11th time in 12 and achieving a record above .500.
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Seattle Times, baseballmusings.com and Baseball-Reference Blog
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Shocker: Unhappy with contract, Jim Riggleman resigns as Nationals manager
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Jim Riggleman Resigns
Discussion:
Nats Insider and All Nats All the Time
Globe and Mail:
Blue Jays move Jose Bautista to 3B — The Toronto Blue Jays are moving star slugger Jose Bautista from right field to third base to give them more production from the hot corner. — Bautista led the majors with 54 home runs last season, and is currently batting .325 with 22 home runs.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …, Yahoo! Sports and Bluebird Banter
Austin Laymance / MLB.com:
Oswalt exits with lower back tightness — ST. LOUIS — Phillies starter Roy Oswalt left Thursday's game against the Cardinals after the second inning with lower back tightness. — Oswalt gave up four runs on five hits in two innings while striking out one, as the Phillies faced a 4-0 deficit at the time.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and The Good Phight
Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
Jose Reyes to New York Yankees ‘not going to happen,’ says Brian Cashman, who supports Derek Jeter — Any conspiracy theorist who has pondered Mets shortstop Jose Reyes being fitted for Yankee pinstripes, either later this season or in the near future, can forget it.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Fox reportedly wouldn't back Frank McCourt in a bankruptcy scenario — If it came to it, Fox would tell bankruptcy judge it is not bound to Dodgers TV deal because there is no contract, people familiar with matter say, leaving McCourt with one fewer option going forward.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Dodgers Blog, baseballmusings.com, HardballTalk, Mike Scioscia's tragic illness and 6-4-2
ESPN:
Rangers' Hamilton: Blues cause daytime drama … When it comes to hitting, it's been night and day for Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton this season — and the reigning American League MVP has a theory as to why. — He has blue eyes. — Under the sun, Hamilton's numbers are dim.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and NotGraphs Baseball
Mat Kovach / Hardball Times:
Why's pitching so good? Look at a 2010 rule change — Aren't we talking about 2010 and 2011 being Years of Pitchers? I find this interesting for many reasons. — {exp:list_maker}It would seem perfectly reasonable to argue that the effects of PEDs and greenies being out the game is hurting the batter.
Associated Press:
Virginia Eliminates California — OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Virginia's Tyler Wilson didn't have any problem with the pressure of pitching in a big game. — The unbeaten senior allowed five hits and carried a shutout into the eighth inning in the No. 1-seeded Cavaliers' 8-1 victory over California …
Discussion:
Baseball America
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Trout, Harper headline Futures Game rosters — U.S., World teams set for annual top-prospects game — A year ago at this time, Liam Hendriks was beyond excited. — The Australian right-hander in the Minnesota Twins organization was so overjoyed about being named to the 2010 XM …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Backstop to the future? Not so fast — Yankee Stadium out of reach until Jesus Montero learns to focus on the here and now — MOOSIC, Pa. — The future of the New York Yankees received a two-game timeout earlier this month because the organization felt his play lacked “energy,” according to one club official.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, ESPN and Bronx Baseball Daily
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Bucs have big decision to make about Maholm — PITTSBURGH — He may not view it as such, but Paul Maholm is making a pitch for his future each time he takes the mound this season. — His hope, too, is that the Pirates are taking notice. — Maholm is nearing the end of the guaranteed portion …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
NY Daily News:
Mets' Francisco Rodriguez says he has to ‘get my head out of my butt’ calls recent play ‘pathetic’ — Francisco Rodriguez wasn't about to take solace out of Justin Turner being clipped by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 13th inning for the Mets' first walkoff win of the season Wednesday night against the A's.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Joe Stiglich / Boston Herald:
Mets end Athletics' six-game winning streak at six
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Athletics Nation and Yahoo! Sports
