Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Pudge to be in reserve role for rest of season — WASHINGTON — It appears unlikely that Ivan Rodriguez will start another game behind the plate this season. — Nationals manager Davey Johnson said that he plans to start Wilson Ramos at catcher, with Jesus Flores serving as the backup.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Joseph White / Associated Press:
Dodgers end wet Nats series with win, rainout — WASHINGTON—Here are three words for which the Los Angeles Dodgers can be thankful: sunny Southern California. — After this week, the Washington Nationals might want to move there, too. — The Dodgers completed a series win over the Nationals …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Dodgers rule out Andre Ethier for the season with knee injury
Dodgers rule out Andre Ethier for the season with knee injury
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Boston Globe:
Final: Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 4 — The Red Sox suffered their third loss in four games vs. the Blue Jays in a 7-4 defeat Thursday night before a Rogers Centre crowd of 17,189. — LHP Andrew Miller (6-7, 5.58 ERA) absorbed the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, Over the Monster, Yahoo! Sports and Canadian Press
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
The inexplicably bad eighth inning of Daniel Bard
The inexplicably bad eighth inning of Daniel Bard
Discussion:
Baseball-Reference Blog and IT IS HIGH!
Andrew Baggarly / Mercury News:
San Francisco Giants update: Brandon Belt will play winter ball after all — SAN DIEGO — Brandon Belt wasn't excited when Giants officials broached the subject of playing winter ball. But the rookie had a change of heart after meeting with manager Bruce Bochy on Wednesday.
Discussion:
NotGraphs Baseball, HardballTalk and Yahoo! Sports
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Jason Isringhausen wants to pitch in '12 — New York Mets reliever Jason Isringhausen will be sidelined for at least a few days with a herniated disk in his lower back that is pinching the sciatic nerve and causing tingling in his right foot. — But the 39-year-old reliever …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, CloserNews, MLB Rumors and Yahoo! Sports
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
How valuable is Curtis Granderson? — Yankees center fielder finds himself right in the middle of AL MVP debate — NEW YORK — Most players arrive in a new city and spend their free time looking for a comfortable place to live, enrolling the kids in school, scoping out the restaurant scene …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and River Avenue Blues
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Source: MLB wants Astros to move to AL — League would seek move pending new ownership — HOUSTON — As the Astros await approval of a transfer of ownership to a group led by Houston businessman Jim Crane, an industry source has confirmed for MLB.com that Commissioner Bud Selig has asked Crane …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
The Enquirer / Cincinnati.com:
Joe Morgan to lead Oktoberfest chicken dance — Reds great and Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan will lead the annual World's Largest Chicken Dance at Oktoberfest next Saturday. — Morgan, a 10-time All-Star and MVP in 1975 and 1976 when the Reds won back-to-back World Series titles …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Baseball Think Factory
David Ginsburg / Associated Press:
Orioles rally to beat Yankees 5-4 in 10 innings — BALTIMORE—Robert Andino singled home the winning run in the 10th inning after tying it in the eighth, and the Baltimore Orioles rallied to beat the New York Yankees 5-4 Thursday. — Vladimir Guerrero homered, doubled twice and scored …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
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Associated Press:
Chipper Jones to Bat 2nd for Struggling Braves — NEW YORK (AP) — Chipper Jones is batting second in the Atlanta Braves' lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets on Thursday, his first start in that spot since 1996. — Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez …
Discussion:
Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports
David Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Great photo: Tony La Russa shakes maracas for Carlos Santana — ¡Oye como va! It's not hard to make out the blurry figure with his arms raised behind the percussionst. That's St. Louis Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa providing a little backup for legendary musician Carlos Santana(notes) at a recent show.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Will Graves / Associated Press:
Alex Presley making waves atop order for Pirates — PITTSBURGH—Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Alex Presley hasn't let a little nerve damage stop him from having a breakthrough season for the Pirates. — The 25-year-old Presley is batting .314 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 33 games …