Top News:
NY Daily News:
Barry's Billy-club proves slugger's up to speed — SAN FRANCISCO - The radar gun read 99 mph. So much for the notion that Barry Bonds, baseball's hobbling anti-hero, can't catch up with a good fastball anymore. — Billy Wagner and the Mets found out in the most painful fashion that …
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets overcome Bonds' tater to win in 11 — Wagner allows homer in ninth, but Woodward's double wins it — SAN FRANCISCO — Even after they had showered, the Mets still were in a deep sweat. They hadn't only played a monumentally stressful game against the Giants on Wednesday afternoon, they had won it too.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
Yanks become running joke — Loss extra annoying — A night of frustration, aggravation and irritation ended with the ultimate in Yankee indignation: Mariano Rivera getting knocked around. — Deflating as that may be, Rivera was hardly the biggest culprit in an exasperating 4-2, 10-inning loss to the Devil Rays at the Stadium.
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Bill Finley / New York Times:
An Atypical Performance Throws Rivera for a Loss — Even with the score tied and their bats quiet most of this long night, the Yankees had to like their chances. Mariano Rivera was on the mound and the weakest part of a weak Tampa Bay Devil Rays lineup was about to begin the 10th inning.
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Tampa topples Rivera — Even for the Yankees, there are nights when nothing goes right. — As Mariano Rivera watched last night's game unfold from the bullpen - with walk after walk after walk turning into one runner left on base after another - he chalked it up to "just baseball."
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats can't solve Arroyo, fall to Reds — Washington held to one hit as Cincinnati finishes sweep — WASHINGTON — After watching the team lose its fourth straight and drop its record to 7-14 on Wednesday afternoon with a 5-0 loss to the Reds, catcher Brian Schneider said the Nationals are not in disarray.
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats Go Quietly As Reds Sweep — 4th Straight Loss Features One Hit : Reds 5, Nationals 0 — Once upon a time, the stands along the left field line at RFK Stadium would bounce with joy, filled with fans excited about the return of baseball to Washington.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Options available if receiver is dropped — CLEVELAND — With just one hit in 39 at-bats in 2004, he had the lowest batting average (.026) of any position player in the major leagues with at least 40 plate appearances. Last season, he went hitless in a dozen big league at-bats.
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Peña will be in middle of it — He'll get chance in center tonight — CLEVELAND — Terry Francona's declaration that he intends to play Wily Mo Peña in center field, tonight, had nothing to do with the latest win by former Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo …
Discussion:
The House That Dewey Built
Associated Press:
Top prospect hits ump with bat — PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Durham Bulls outfielder Delmon Young, the top-rated prospect by Baseball America, tossed a bat into the chest of the home plate umpire after being called out on strikes in the first inning of a game Wednesday night. — Young took a third strike on a 1-2 pitch.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Willie's pitch: Try minors — SAN FRANCISCO - Brian Bannister (strained right hamstring) hopes he can pitch Tuesday, but the Mets will start taking a close look at Triple-A Norfolk's rotation to fill any potential void. GM Omar Minaya named Darren Oliver - who picked up yesterday's win in relief …
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Rotation will be altered slightly — SAN FRANCISCO - The Mets already planned to alter their rotation before yesterday's 7-5 win over the Giants, but after seeing Brian Bannister limp home in the sixth inning while running the bases, some further adjustments may be necessary.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Andy Jasner / MLB.com:
Notes: Day's days over in Denver — Right-hander claimed off waivers by Nationals — PHILADELPHIA — There was speculation that Zach Day might file a grievance against the Rockies. — There's no need to speculate any further. — The right-handed pitcher was claimed off waivers …
Discussion:
Bad Altitude
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers keep faith in starters — Here are some excerpts from the session: — With Gerald Laird batting over .350 and Rod Barajas batting around .150, why is Barajas still the starter? The Rangers remain committed to Barajas as their starting catcher, despite his current slump.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Piazza's rough day ends with No. 400 — Long ball in ninth inning is 379th as catcher — SAN DIEGO — One of the most miserable and painful of Mike Piazza's days as a Major League superstar changed abruptly with one classic swing Wednesday afternoon. — With two outs in the bottom of the ninth …
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
MLB dismisses Nationals sale report — Major League Baseball denied a report on Wednesday generated by a Washington, D.C., television station that Commissioner Bud Selig had decided to sell the Washington Nationals to a group headed by Theodore and Mark Lerner.
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Willis for Mets' Wright? Wrong! — Marlins deny making trade proposal — CHICAGO — General Manager Larry Beinfest isn't one to comment on trade rumors. The absurdity of this one was enough to prompt him to address it. — A Newsday article this week claimed the Marlins called …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Associated Press:
Devil Rays prospect throws bat at plate umpire — PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Durham Bulls outfielder Delmon Young threw a bat into the chest of the home plate umpire after being called out on strikes in the first inning of Wednesday night's game at Pawtucket. — Young argued with the umpire after taking a third strike on a 1-and-2 pitch.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
