Top News:
David Lennon / Newsday:
Mulder masters meek Mets — With help from Izzy in 9th, Cards lefthander wins duel with Trachsel — ST. LOUIS — For eight innings, Mark Mulder toyed with the Mets as if he were controlling them by puppet strings. They fished for his floating changeup, bounced into double plays …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding, Amazin' Avenue, the metropolitans, Archie Bunker's Army and Get Up, Baby!
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Bannister leaves rehab start early — Right-hander throws just five pitches before tweaking his leg — ST. LOUIS — Twenty-two days after he strained his right hamstring, and one day after he tried to pitch in game for the first time since the original injury …
Associated Press:Hamstring tightness limits Bannister's outing
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
Ben Valentine / Sportszilla and the Jabber Jocks:START THE MAN — If people read my baseball posts here at Sportszilla …
David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:
Snow Requests Trade — Agent Says First Baseman Wants More Playing Time — BALTIMORE — J.T. Snow realizes the only way he's going to play more is with another team. The Red Sox are looking to help him out by attempting to trade him, Snow's agent Dan Horwits said Wednesday.
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David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:Closure For The Cowboy — Millar Homers, Sox Streak Ends
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Pavano Says Right Arm Is Troubling Him Again — It has become as predictable as Mariano Rivera throwing cutters or Jason Giambi taking walks. When Carl Pavano pitches, he gets hurt. For almost a year now, that has been a near certainty. — Pavano, who was supposed to be the Yankees' No. 3 starter …
Discussion:
Off the Facade
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Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Rangers, injury bug bite Yanks — Offense held to just five hits; Crosby strains hamstring — NEW YORK — With two big series against the Mets and Red Sox looming over the next six days, the Yankees were hoping to finish off their four-game series on a positive note …
Joe Lapointe / New York Times:Damon Says Injured Foot Has 'Little Crack' in Bone
Discussion:
Replacement Level …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals go deep to down Cubs — Washington righty Ortiz notches first win of the season — CHICAGO — Whenever the Nationals win a game these days, manager Frank Robinson calls it big, because the victories have been few and far between. Thursday's victory was, indeed …
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Nationals sale gets owners' approval — NEW YORK — The sale of the Washington Nationals to a group headed by Ted Lerner and his son Mark Lerner was approved unanimously at Thursday morning's quarterly owners' meeting, ending Major League Baseball's four-year role in owning and operating the franchise …
Discussion:
District of Baseball
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Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Nationals sale unanimously approved — NEW YORK (AP) — Theodore Lerner got a standing ovation from his soon-to-be colleagues and competitors. All that remains to complete his purchase of the Washington Nationals is the paperwork. — The $450 million sale from Major League Baseball …
Discussion:
The Nationals Enquirer
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels' Loss Raises Tempers — Erstad is heard in clubhouse yelling at teammates to not point fingers after team blows two chances to win during an 8-4, 10-inning loss to Toronto. — The tensions of a highly disappointing season and the frustration of one of the most excruciating …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Associated Press:
Pirates place unhappy Duffy on restricted list — PITTSBURGH — Outfielder Chris Duffy, unhappy the Pittsburgh Pirates tried to alter his hitting approach after a successful rookie season, was placed on the minor league restricted list Thursday after failing to report to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Associated Press:
Pujols on Bonds: 'He's probably made some mistakes' — ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols defended Barry Bonds on Wednesday, saying he respects the accomplishments of the San Francisco Giants' slugger. — Pujols was in the St. Louis lineup after a nasty slip and fall and felt good enough to discuss …
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Jack Curry / New York Times:Pitcher's Suspension Is Expected for Using Bonds as a Bull's-Eye
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
Joe Rutter / PittsburghLIVE.com:
Reds pitcher continues verbal assault — TRIBUNE-REVIEW — Bronson Arroyo didn't back down Thursday from the disparaging comments he made against the Pirates one night earlier. Instead, he stepped up and continued to assail his former team. — Arroyo, the losing pitcher …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Barajas boosts Rangers with his bat — NEW YORK - Here's something you haven't been able to say often, if at all, this season: Rod Barajas' bat played a huge role in a Rangers win. — Barajas did it with a bunt and a blast Thursday. — Barajas, who leads the team with three sacrifice hits …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Notes: Ramirez sits with mild strain — Cubs third baseman likely to return for weekend series — CHICAGO — Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez was sidelined on Thursday with a mild strain in his lower back, but he is expected to play this weekend in the Interleague series against the White Sox.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals to open series with O's — Baltimore (19-22) at Washington (14-27), 7:05 p.m. ET — After 11 days on the road, the Nationals return to Robert F. Kennedy Stadium to start a three-game Interleague series against the Orioles on Friday night. — It's the first "Battle of the Beltways" …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Notes: Lineup misses injured Aurilia — Infielder runs, continues to make progress — PITTSBURGH — It's been hard to pinpoint exactly what's caused the Reds' recent slump, but manager Jerry Narron believed he had narrowed it down. — "I don't know if it was the rain in Colorado …
Discussion:
We Heart the Reds
