Top News:
Fox Sports:
Rangers' Hamilton in league of his own — BALTIMORE — Walking out of Camden Yards, Rangers catcher Mike Napoli still couldn't believe what he had just seen. — “It was like a video game — stupid,” Napoli said. “He's 5A, 6A. There's Triple A, the big leagues and then there's one ahead.
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New Jersey Online
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Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Josh Hamilton's record-tying four home runs add intrigue to renewed contract talks with Rangers — The Josh Hamilton who hit four home runs Tuesday night is a player the Texas Rangers would love to sign long term, and considering that sources told Yahoo! Sports they've reopened negotiations with him on an extension, they're trying.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, MLB Daily Dish, Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
FOXSportsSouthwest.com:
Hamilton's hot start raises contract questions — Josh Hamilton is the current MLB leader in all three Triple Crown categories, which should bode well for him when he discusses a new deal with the defending AL champs. — Andro, a Texas A&M grad, spent nearly 12 years at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram …
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Bobby V looking into Beckett golf outing — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In his weekly appearance on WEEI's “The Big Show,” Bobby Valentine addressed, but didn't confirm, a report by 98.5 The Sports Hub that Josh Beckett [stats] was spotted playing golf last Thursday after the Red Sox [team stats] …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Why Youkilis has to go — With Middlebrooks likely here to stay, a trade makes sense for all sides — The idea of trading Kevin Youkilis to make way for top prospect Will Middlebrooks gained early traction back in April, when Youkilis got off to a slow start and Middlebrooks was tearing …
Discussion:
Over the Monster and the joy of sox
Steve Silva / The Buzz:
Report: Josh Beckett played golf before missing Red Sox start — Move over chicken and beer. Golf has been entered into the Red Sox mix. — According to a report by 98.5 The Sports Hub's Hardy, Red Sox righthander Josh Beckett played golf in the area last Thursday afternoon …
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Will Middlebrooks no overnight sensation
Will Middlebrooks no overnight sensation
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Over the Monster and Red Sox Monster
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Fenway announcer Carl Beane killed in car crash — Carl Beane, the public address announcer at Fenway Park, was killed in a single-car accident in Sturbridge this afternoon. — Beane, 59, was pronounced dead at Harrington Hospital in Southbridge a short time after the crash on Holland Road early this afternoon.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, baseballmusings.com and Fragile Freddy's
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
On Keppinger's status, Matsui's contract — * The Rays placed INF Jeff Keppinger on the “restricted list” so he could deal with what was described as “a personal matter” and so they would not have to play shorthanded while he was gone, which may only be for a day or two. OF Brandon Guyer was called up to take his place.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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David O'Brien / Boston Herald:
Dan Uggla's single in eighth lifts Braves to win — CHICAGO — Randall Delgado didn't get a win with his strong performance Tuesday night, but the Braves made sure the rookie pitcher didn't get a loss. — Dan Uggla drove in two runs with a tie-breaking, bases-loaded single in the eighth inning …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs waste another fine Dempster performance
Cubs waste another fine Dempster performance
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and baseballmusings.com
Dave Skretta / Associated Press:
Butler's 3-run shot lifts Royals over Red Sox 6-4 — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Billy Butler isn't the fastest guy on the base paths by any stretch, so the chances of him hitting into a double play are pretty good if he puts the ball on the ground. — Maybe that's why he was so keen on popping a pitch over the outfield wall instead.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Over the Monster and Associated Press
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
No finishing touch as Royals top Sox
Ccolton / CBS New York:
Sweeny: Going One-On-One With Michael Pineda — While most of the talk around Yankee Stadium still revolved around Mariano Rivera and news spread of Andy Pettitte's imminent return, Michael Pineda sat in the dugout Tuesday afternoon, his right arm in a sling, staring at the rain falling on the tarp-covered field.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and River Avenue Blues
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Dontrelle Willis drops grievance — Pitcher Dontrelle Willis has agreed to drop his grievance against the Baltimore Orioles after the team granted his request to pitch as a starter in the minor leagues, his agent told ESPN.com. — Willis, 30, will report to extended spring training …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers measure offense by ‘team production’ — MILWAUKEE — The Brewers' offense is not clicking the way it has in recent seasons, at least according to the traditional measures. But the team's coaches have other ways of tracking production, including one they track called “team productive at-bats.”
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and Brew Beat
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
The Sacrifice Bunt: The Real Rally Killer — Last night, the Dodgers trailed the Giants 2-1 in the seventh inning. Juan Rivera and James Loney led off the inning with back-to-back singles, putting the tying run in scoring position and the go-ahead run on base with nobody out.
Discussion:
The Seattle Times, McCovey Chronicles, True Blue LA and U.S.S. Mariner