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Fox Sports:
Hard to defend Riggleman's choice — First of all, what Jim Riggleman did is indefensible. He deserves the coast-to-coast criticism, deserves to be crushed for walking out on his team. His resignation Thursday as Nationals manager was as me-first as it gets, an inexplicable betrayal of his red-hot club.
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Dan Steinberg / Washington Post:
Jim Riggleman unloads on Thomas Boswell — Jim Riggleman's homage to Charlie Sheen took a particularly delicious turn Friday afternoon when he appeared on SiriusXM's Mad Dog Radio with host Bruce Murray. — I'm frankly stunned. For two years I wouldn't even listen to Riggleman radio interviews …
Discussion:
USA Today and HardballTalk
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
Jim Riggleman parties as the rest of us pass judgment — Soon after he stepped down as manager of the Washington Nationals on Thursday, Jim Riggleman retired to Caddies on Cordell in Bethesda, Md. Why did Riggs head there? — “I was solving the world's problems,” Riggleman told a local radio station on Friday.
Discussion:
Nats Enquirer, Washington Post, Federal Baseball and HardballTalk
Washington Post:
Jim Riggleman proves he wasn't the man to manage the Nationals — Washington Nationals Manager Jim Riggleman called General Manager Mike Rizzo 45 minutes before Thursday afternoon's game and asked for a meeting. Minutes later, Riggleman told his boss that he wasn't getting on the team bus …
Tim Kurkjian / ESPN:
Jim Riggleman's last stand — A confusing and incomprehensible day in Washington Nationals history — It seems inconceivable that the day the Washington Nationals moved above .500 for the first time since 2005, and two days after one of the biggest victories in franchise history, their manager, Jim Riggleman, resigned.
Discussion:
The Goessling Game, Capitol Punishment, Baseball-Reference Blog, FJB and ESPN
Sports Illustrated:
Why Jim Riggleman finally walked away as Nationals manager
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Assorted thoughts on Jim Riggleman's resignation
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
ESPN.com:
Phillies to get word on Oswalt after back exam — Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Roy Oswalt will be further examined Friday, a day after leaving a start with back trouble in the second inning. — Though Oswalt said after the game Thursday he wouldn't have an MRI until Monday …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
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Paul Hagen / Philly.com:
Phillies can't gloss over Oswalt issues anymore
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and USA Today
Austin Laymance / MLB.com:
Oswalt likely to miss next start with tight back
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, The Good Phight and Yahoo! Sports
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Mets closer K-Rod open to setting up for Mariano Rivera in Yankees bullpen if teams work out trade — Francisco Rodriguez is willing to pitch for the Yankees even if he's not closing games. The Bombers need a setup man with Rafael Soriano on the DL and Joba Chamberlain out for the year.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, Mets Merized Online, River Avenue Blues and Sliding Into Home
Jayson Stark / MLB:
Stark: End the Cuban embargo — Franchise owners have a say, but commissioner Bud Selig still stands in the way — Charlie Finley, a man who used to parade a mule around the outfield, once owned a baseball team. — Bill Veeck, the man responsible for Disco Demolition Night, once owned a baseball team.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Fox Sports:
Wright cleared for ‘baseball activity’ — NewsCore — Mets shortstop Jose Reyes wished David Wright good luck before the injured third baseman headed down Friday to Port St. Lucie for rehab. — Of course that had as much to do with keeping him entertained as it did with Wright's rehab.
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New York Post:
CAPTAIN'S QUEST FOR 3,000 — Jeter, who will turn 37 on Sunday, played catch for the third straight day yesterday at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, but it's what he hasn't done that indicates he won't be back in six days. — He hasn't run straight ahead, never mind around the bases.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, River Avenue Blues and It's About The Money
T.R. Sullivan / Postcards From Elysian Fields:
Jon Daniels looking at Yu Darvish — Rangers general manager Jon Daniels is in Japan looking at potential free agent pitcher Yu Darvish, who is going to be a free after this season. He is supposedly the next big thing out of Japan and the Rangers are going to be interested. He pitches for the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Brian Heyman / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Yankees pregame: On-time return for Jeter in doubt — Brian Heyman here for this weekend series against the Rockies at Yankee Stadium. Joe Girardi said during his pregame press conference that Derek Jeter isn't doing baseball activities yet in Tampa (outside of throwing) and that his calf is still sore.
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and River Avenue Blues
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Game 75: Red Sox at Pirates — Here are the lineups: — RED SOX (44-30) — Ellsbury CF — Pedroia 2B — Gonzalez 1B — Youkilis 3B — McDonald LF — Cameron RF — Varitek C — Scutaro SS — Lester LHP (9-3, 3.70) — PIrates (37-37) — Tabata LF — d'Arnaud 3B
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Over the Monster
