Top News:
Karen Price / PittsburghLIVE.com:
Pirates pull off dazzler, sign Cole and Bell — The Pirates pulled off what many believed was impossible late Monday night, signing both the No. 1 overall draft pick, Gerrit Cole, and their second-round pick, Josh Bell, before the deadline at 12:01 a.m. today.
Discussion:
Where Have You Gone …, Baseball America and MLB Rumors
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John Manuel / Baseball America:
Deadline Winners And Losers — Now that the signing deadline has passed, we can start picking winners and losers, even though we know judging a draft isn't a black and white issue. — We know the process has just begun for many players, and that late bloomers and other players will be better (or worse) after getting into pro ball.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Nathan Rode / Baseball America:
Several Picks Signed At The Wire — After weeks of waiting, a flurry of draft picks were signed in the final 10 minutes before the midnight deadline. Here is a list of the players who signed for bonuses of $500,000 or more right before the deadline—or at least, their deals were announced just before or after the buzzer.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Boston Globe
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Games of the Day — The Red Sox play a split admission double header on Tuesday against the Rays, with James Shields and Jon Lester battling in game one. Most of the power against Shields came on the road this season. In 75 fewer at bats, opponents collected the same number of extra base hits.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Surviving Grady, Over the Monster and DRaysBay
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Julian Benbow / Boston Globe:
Final: Red Sox 3, Rays 1 — Seven strong innings from Jon Lester and a three-run home run by Jacoby Ellsbury pushed the Red Sox to a 3-1 win over in the first game of a double-header with Tampa Bay. — After giving up a run on a pair of doubles in the first inning, then hitting Sean Rodriguez …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Over the Monster
Tim Kurkjian / MLB:
Kurkjian: Road to 600 home runs a memorable one for Thome — Having reached 600 home runs, 'world's nicest man' headed straight to Hall of Fame — The boy was 9 years old when he snaked through the crowd at Wrigley Field, then silently, miraculously, wiggled his way inside the Cubs dugout minutes …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and ESPN
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Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com:
Thome becomes eighth to hit 600 homers
Thome becomes eighth to hit 600 homers
Discussion:
Deadspin and New York Times
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees DH Jorge Posada says he can still catch ‘here and there,’ hopes to play beyond age 40 — KANSAS CITY - Jorge Posada was back in the Yankees' lineup Monday night, and while that seemed notable given the events of the past week, the veteran didn't find it very newsworthy.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and New York Post
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ESPN:
Posada: I could catch next year — Jorge Posada, back in the lineup as the DH for the second straight game after going 3-for5 with six RBI and a grand slam Saturday against the Rays, said today if it was up to him, he would return to catching in 2012. — “I could catch next year,” …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, HardballTalk and Sliding Into Home
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Crew turns sixth triple play in franchise history — MILWAUKEE — Had the Brewers stopped at a double play in the second inning of Monday's game, it would have been highlight-worthy enough. Instead they turned three and made some history. — Four Brewers defenders combined …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, HardballTalk, Hardball Times and True Blue LA
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals sign first four 2011 Draft picks — Rendon, Meyer, Goodwin and Purke agree to terms at deadline — WASHINGTON — The Nationals agreed to terms with their first four selections — infielder Anthony Rendon, right-hander Alex Meyer, outfielder Brian Goodwin and left-hander Matthew Purke — in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Federal Baseball and MLB Rumors
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Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins reach deal with first-round Draft pick
Marlins reach deal with first-round Draft pick
Discussion:
Fish Stripes and MLB Daily Dish
Jelisa Castrodale / NBCSports.com:
Little League gets a big overkill — As kids try to win a World Series, 69 games on TV is excessive and unfair — Site powered by msnbc.com Latest news: Cops: Neighbor chases kidnapper, saves child — OLYMPICS
Discussion:
HardballTalk, NBCSports.com and It's About The Money
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox have Lackey's back — Beckett is righty's No. 1 supporter — John Lackey doesn't have to look far for support. The Red Sox righthander has earned the praise of teammates this season. (Barry Chin/Globe Staff) — That John Lackey is waiting for him in the clubhouse every …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Halos Heaven, Over the Monster, Baseball Nation and Fenway West
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
In-depth: New jersey, blue horizon — The Mets, including Ryota Igarashi, wore blue “Los Mets” jerseys on Fiesta Latina night Aug. 5. The look — minus the “Los” — should be part of the Mets' regular uniform rotation come 2013. — The New York Mets will reach back to their beginnings for a new …
Discussion:
Kranepool Society and MetsBlog.com
Adam Berry / MLB.com:
Pierzynski placed on DL for first time in career — Fractured wrist sidelines catcher; White Sox buy Lucy's contract — The White Sox placed catcher A.J. Pierzynski on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a fractured left wrist and purchased the contract of catcher Donny Lucy from Triple-A Charlotte.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Canadian Press:
Blue Jays' Rauch undergoes appendectomy, placed on DL — SEATTLE — The Toronto Blue Jays placed Jon Rauch on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday after the right-handed reliever underwent an appendectomy in Seattle. — The Blue Jays also designated left-hander Trever Miller for assignment …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, TSN.ca and Associated Press
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox sign Barnes, Swihart and Owens — The Red Sox signed a series of players right at the deadline. Here's the list: — RHP Matt Barnes (UConn, 19th overall) for $1.5 million. — Catcher Blake Swihart (Cleveland HS, Rio Rancho, N.M) for $2.5 million.
Discussion:
Over the Monster, FenwayNationWorld and MLB Rumors
Chicago Tribune:
Zambrano apologizes, wants to remain a Cub — Carlos Zambrano said he apologizes to Chicago Cubs fans and the team for his actions in leaving the Cubs last Friday and wants to remain “a Cubbie for the rest of my life ... the organization has been good to me,” he told Comcast SportsNet's David Kaplan in an interview Monday.
Discussion:
WGN Radio
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Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun Times:
Zambrano sad about incident, wants to stay with Cubs