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
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 — 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 …
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Jim Riggleman Resigns
Discussion:
Nats Insider and All Nats All the Time
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.
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
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 and Bluebird Banter
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.
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
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 …
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
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
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
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, Bronx Baseball Daily and ESPN
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
