Top News:
People.com:
Minka Kelly and Derek Jeter Split — After dating for three years, Minka Kelly and Derek Jeter have broken up, her rep confirms to PEOPLE. — “They care about each other and it was amicable,” says a source. “They're still friends.” — Kelly, 31, the star of the upcoming reboot …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Subway Squawkers, Mike Silva's … and NESN.com, more at WeSmirch »
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Just Jared:
Derek Jeter & Minka Kelly Split — Derek Jeter and Minka Kelly have called it quits after three years together, JustJared.com can confirm. — “The split was amicable,” sources exclusively tell JJ of the 37-year-old Yankees superstar and 31-year-old actress. “But they remain friends.
Discussion:
NotGraphs Baseball, The Big Lead, River Avenue Blues, Zell's Pinstripe Blog and Deadspin, more at WeSmirch »
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards will pick up Wainwright option — The Cardinals will assume the two-year, $21 million option on starting pitcher Adam Wainwright, barring an unforeseen complication in his return from ligament replacement surgery in February, general manager John Mozeliak confirmed Thursday night.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
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Marcos Breton / Sacramento Bee:
Giants' Tim Lincecum deserves Cy Young consideration — No matter the naysayers. No matter the haters. No matter the Philadelphia Phillies fans who whistle at him like drunken sailors eyeballing a young woman. — Tim Lincecum, baseball's little big man, deserves to be in the Cy Young Award conversation …
Discussion:
Extra Baggs and Bay City Ball
Associated Press:
Gonzalez Hits 2 HRs, Red Sox Beat Rangers 6-0 — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adrian Gonzalez homered twice to give him five in four games, Andrew Miller pitched three-hit ball in a spot start and the Boston Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 6-0 on Thursday night.
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Surviving Grady, Boston Globe and Over the Monster
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Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Dan Evans the perfect fit for Cubs GM job — Dan Evans (right) helped rebuild the Los Angeles Dodgers during his three-year tenure as GM. M. Spencer Green~AP — Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts says he wants his new general manager to have a successful track record as a GM.
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Tom Withers / Associated Press:
Jim Thome traded back to Cleveland — CLEVELAND (AP)—Jim Thome(notes) is returning to the Cleveland Indians, making a homecoming to the team where his 600-homer major league career began and aiming to power the Tribe into the playoffs. — The 40-year-old slugger accepted a trade …
Discussion:
The Big Lead
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Pena happy to stay with Cubs — Although club lost again, he's glad nothing came of Yankees' waiver claim — When a player is relieved he can stay on a fifth-place team instead of going to the Yankees in the middle of a pennant race, it's reasonable to question his sanity.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and HardballTalk
Dash Treyhorn / The Fightins:
The Mentality of Closers — A week ago tonight, the Phillies suffered what is perhaps their worst loss of the season when the Washington Nationals scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning off Ryan Madson to erase a two-run deficit. In the grand scheme of things …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Kevin Lai / Hardball Times:
More Chernoffs — For your enjoyment on a lazy Friday, here's some more Chernoff Faces. The only difference from last time comes in the hair. Stolen bases and Fangraphs' Baserunning metric were used in defining the height and width of the hair, while the “style” of hair …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Adam Berry / MLB.com:
Wilson throws, return date remains unknown — SAN FRANCISCO — Brian Wilson played catch for six or seven minutes Thursday afternoon, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said, but it's still unlikely that the All-Star closer will be ready to return from the 15-day disabled list when he is eligible on Wednesday.
Discussion:
CloserNews
Associated Press:
Lenny Dykstra Charged With Indecent Exposure in LA — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra has been charged in Los Angeles for allegedly exposing himself to women he met on Craigslist. — The city attorney's office said Thursday …
Associated Press:
Reynolds, Reyes lift Orioles over Twins — MINNEAPOLIS — Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer and Jo Jo Reyes went six strong innings to lead the Orioles to a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, Baltimore's first four-game winning streak since early June.
Discussion:
Camden Chat and Associated Press
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Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com:
Liriano on 15-day DL with left shoulder strain
Liriano on 15-day DL with left shoulder strain
Discussion:
Twinkie Town and Yahoo! Sports