Top News:
Gene Cherry / Reuters:
Burnett or Hughes Could Lose Starting Role With Yankees — NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees have decided six pitchers in their starting rotation is one too many, manager Joe Girardi said on Thursday. — “We feel we need to get it down to a five-man rotation and go with it,” …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Yanks to trim rotation; A.J., Hughes on bubble — NEW YORK — The Yankees expect to have a decision by the end of the weekend on their starting rotation, with A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes on the bubble to be nixed from what is currently a six-man staff. — “We've talked about it,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said on Thursday.
Discussion:
NoMaas.org and WasWatching.com
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Girardi expects A-Rod return later next week — Alex Rodriguez is expected to rejoin the New York Yankees during their trip to Minnesota next week, according to manager Joe Girardi. — Rodriguez, out since July 8 with a torn meniscus in his right knee that was surgically repaired July 11 …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Veteran lefty Rhodes set to join Cardinals — ST. LOUIS — Veteran lefty Arthur Rhodes has elected to sign with the Cardinals and could be activated as early as Friday for the opener of the series against Colorado. — Rhodes' agent Dan Horwits confirmed Thursday afternoon that the lefty had accepted the Cardinals offer.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish, Viva El Birdos, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and Baseball Nation
Associated Press:
Verlander wins 17th; Tigers extend Central lead — CLEVELAND (AP) — Justin Verlander gave Detroit exactly what it needed, becoming baseball's first 17-game winner as the division-leading Tigers avoided being swept by Cleveland and opened a three-game lead in the AL Central with a 4-3 win …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Rivera struggles again, but Yanks hold off Angels — NEW YORK (AP) — Mariano Rivera stunned a raucous crowd still buzzing after Robinson Cano 's grand slam. Mr. Automatic faltered for the third straight game, the rarest of slumps for the dominant closer.
Discussion:
Associated Press
RELATED:
Jonathan Mayo / B3: Big, Bald and Beautiful:
Blue Jays, Beede agree to disagree — According to a source familiar with the negotiations, it seems nearly certain that Blue Jays top pick (No. 21 overall) Tyler Beede will not join the organization and will honor his commitment to Vanderbilt University. — The right-hander from Massachusetts …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Will Alfonso Soriano be a fit with the Cubs in 2012? — Alfonso Soriano runs out a sixth inning home run during the Cubs 4-2 win over the Washington Nationals Wednesday August 10, 2011 at Wrigley Field. Tom Cruze~Sun-Times — Hack Wilson. Andre Dawson. . . .
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Power outage for Adrian Gonzalez — MINNEAPOLIS — When Adrian Gonzalez agreed to compete in the Home Run Derby, he shrugged off the notion that his swing might be adversely affected. — But he has only one homer since the All-Star break. — Coincidence?
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Cameron Maybin homers, Padres rally past Mets 3-2 — NEW YORK - Cameron Maybin homered and stole two bases before scoring the tiebreaking run on an error by substitute shortstop Ruben Tejada, rallying the San Diego Padres past the New York Mets 3-2 on Thursday for a split of their four-game series.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks defeat Houston Astros to take NL West lead — Opportunity knocked for Josh Collmenter and the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night. — Then they opened the door, grabbed it and slammed it shut on the Houston Astros in the form of a 6-3 victory at Chase Field.
Discussion:
Getting Blanked and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Pirates Re-Sign Michael Crotta — The Pirates re-signed Michael Crotta to a minor league contract, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (on Twitter). Pittsburgh designated the right-hander for assignment at the end of July and appear to have released him since.
Juan C. Rodriguez / Florida Marlins:
Florida Marlins place Hanley Ramirez on disabled list — At least in the short term, the Marlins ended the speculation about when Hanley Ramirez might suit up again. The answer now is no earlier than Aug. 18. That's when Ramirez will be eligible to come off the disabled list.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
