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:
MLB Rumors, South Side Sox, MLB Daily Dish, Lone Star Ball, Federal Baseball, Capitol Punishment and Yahoo! Sports
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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
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Jim Riggleman Resigns — In a surprising move, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman has resigned, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson (Twitter link). Riggleman stepped down after his club beat the Mariners this afternoon and improved to 38-37 thanks to an impressive stretch over the course of which they've won 11 of 12 games.
Discussion:
Nats Insider and All Nats All the Time
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Shocker: Unhappy with contract, Jim Riggleman resigns as Nationals manager — Just minutes after the Nationals beat the Mariners with a walk-off sacrifice fly in a 1-0 game to move above .500 manager Jim Riggleman announced his resignation. — According to general manager Mike Rizzo …
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.
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.
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
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
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
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:
Yahoo! Sports
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 …
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
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Joe Stiglich / Boston Herald:
Mets end Athletics' six-game winning streak at six
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, Amazin' Avenue and Yahoo! Sports
Steve Berthiaume / ESPN:
Rays need to get out of Tampa Bay — The Tampa Bay Rays must be moved. The Rays' barely tenable existence in St. Petersburg, Fla., is getting worse and it's becoming, to borrow a word from star pitcher David Price in describing a critical but sparsely attended game late last season, “embarrassing.”
Discussion:
DRaysBay, HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, Deadspin and Associated Press
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Larry Dierker / MLB.com:
Pondering Interleague Play and its effects — The other night, outgoing Astros owner Drayton McLane visited the Astros' radio booth during a game with the Braves. Broadcaster Milo Hamilton asked him if there was anything to the story of the team moving to the American League West to balance …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
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:
Dodgers Blog, baseballmusings.com, HardballTalk, Mike Scioscia's tragic illness and 6-4-2
Associated Press:
Mets' Wright cleared to start full workouts — NEW YORK — Injured Mets third baseman David Wright has been cleared to resume workouts and could rejoin the team in three weeks. — The all-star has been out since May 16 because of a stress fracture in his lower back.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
A's place Willingham on DL, recall Carter — Oakland's most productive power hitter, Josh Willingham, went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left Achilles tendon on Thursday, and Chris Carter was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento. — Willingham has a .231 average in 64 games …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation and Yahoo! Sports
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Source: Cubs prepare for trade market activity — CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs will bring in their top scouts on Monday and Tuesday to have meetings about the direction of the team with the trading deadline just five weeks away, according to a baseball source.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Rumors and MLB
