Top News:
ESPN:
Is Granderson good, bad or ugly in CF? — In the sixth inning Thursday night, Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson made a sprawling catch to end a Red Sox threat. — There are certain plays that Granderson is very good at making. This was one of them (as Chris Singleton details in the video above).
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, WasWatching.com and Patrick Flood
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
All you need is glove: Furcal's impact on Cards — TOWER GROVE • For the second time in as many visits to Miller Park with the St. Louis Cardinals, shortstop Rafael Furcal made a back-to-home, sprinting catch on a fly ball to secure a win Wednesday night.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yankees call up three relievers, two outfielders — BOSTON — Jesus Montero's arrival may have drawn most of the attention in a cramped Fenway Park clubhouse, but the Yankees also made five other September callups as rosters expanded to 40 players. — Pitchers Lance Pendleton …
Discussion:
Yankees Fans Unite and NoMaas.org
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Mickelson takes BP, throws out first pitch
Mickelson takes BP, throws out first pitch
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Santana wins despite 7 walks, Angels edge Mariners — SEATTLE - Torii Hunter and Howie Kendrick homered for the Los Angeles Angels to help a wild Ervin Santana overcome seven walks Thursday night in a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners. — Hunter hit a three-run shot in the first inning …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Jonah KeriPosted / Grantland:
Odd Future: The St. Louis Cardinals' Big Decision — Would losing Albert Pujols really be a terrible thing? — Six playoff berths, five division titles, two NL pennants, one World Series. Rookie of the Year, nine All-Star games, six Silver Sluggers, two Gold Gloves, 10 top-10 MVP finishes, three MVPs.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Getting Blanked
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:
Phillies are clear favorites in ranking of likely playoff teams … The Phillies look like a prohibitive World Series favorite. But that guarantees nothing, of course. — The Braves of the 1990s had the same sort of starting pitching that made folks assume they'd win many titles throughout the decade.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
MLB skeptical of $1.2-billion Dodgers bid — The proposed $1.2 billion bid for the Dodgers was received with skepticism within Major League Baseball, where executives wondered whether the proposal might be used by owner Frank McCourt to stir negotiations with other potential buyers or to persuade …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano is done for season — Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano will not play for the remainder of the season, the team announced Friday. — The Cubs will resume paying Zambrano his salary at the end of the 30-day suspension, which ends Sept. 11.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Juliet Macur / New York Times:
Judge Rules Clemens Will Face New Trial — A federal judge on Friday ruled that the former baseball pitcher Roger Clemens will face a new trial in his perjury case despite Clemens's request that all charges against him should be dismissed because of governmental misconduct.
Discussion:
Getting Blanked
Associated Press:
McCutchen hit by pitch, leaves game — To: — Invalid E-mail address — Add a personal message:(80 character limit) Your E-mail: — Invalid E-mail address — Sending your article — Your article has been sent. — CHICAGO—Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen …
Dustin Parkes / Baseball Prospectus:
Divide and Conquer, AL East — A Bouquet of Bats (The Yankees in Westeros) — As a fan of a team in the American League East that isn't the New York Yankees it pains me to admit that there's something mythical about the most winning team in baseball history.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Thoughtful evening at the park — Midnight confessions and random thoughts while watching the Red Sox and Yankees for that last time at Fenway this year (unless we get the overdue dream ALCS matchup) . . . ■The length of these games has become intolerable.
Dan Szymborski / ESPN:
Yanks can't afford to lose CC — Long-term projections show Sabathia's weight shouldn't slow down his production — While most of the early winter speculation involves the possible new homes for Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder, they could be joined by another superstar, CC Sabathia.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Hudson gives rotation a lift as Braves top Nationals — ATLANTA - Tim Hudson gave the Braves' ailing rotation a lift and Atlanta got home runs from Brian McCann and Chipper Jones in a 5-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday night. — The Braves are 8 1-2 games ahead of St. Louis …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Williams honored on postage stamp — The United States Postal Service sent over a preview of the new Ted Williams stamp that will go into use next summer. — Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Larry Doby and Willie Stargell will be on the new stamps. Artist/illustrator Kadir Nelson of Los Angeles …
Discussion:
The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Elias Rankings Update — After the season the Elias Sports Bureau will take all players over the 2010-11 period, divide them into five groups for each league, and rank them based on various statistics. Then each player will be labeled a Type A, B, or none.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town and DRaysBay
Matthew Pouliot / HardballTalk:
Brett Lawrie in record territory since August callup — Brett Lawrie broke a tie with a two-run homer in the top of the eighth as the Blue Jays bested the Orioles 8-6 on Thursday. — It was Lawrie's fourth homer during his current nine-game hitting streak and seventh in 26 games since his callup.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation and Al's Ramblings
RELATED:
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Florida Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez considering offseason surgery on ailing left shoulder — UPDATE: Marlins just texted an update on Hanley's MRI: “Left shoulder instability. Willl discuss treatment options with Dr. (Lee) Kaplan this weekend.' — Hanley Ramirez is considering off-season surgery …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Fish Stripes
RELATED:
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Florida Marlins not expecting Josh Johnson to make another start this year
Florida Marlins not expecting Josh Johnson to make another start this year
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk