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:
Closure For The Cowboy — Millar Homers, Sox Streak Ends — BALTIMORE — The cord has been finally cut, perhaps. ... OK, maybe. — Sooner or later, the Orioles were going to beat the Red Sox and Kevin Millar would contribute - which is what he did Wednesday night in a 4-3 victory …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
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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
