Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
The Mets May Be Climbing Out of the Back Seat — It is hard to say, for sure, if the Mets have caught up with the Yankees. The Mets, after all, have not reached the playoffs since the Yankees beat them in the 2000 World Series. The Yankees get there every year.
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Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Switch pulled on A-Rod — Dismal display ends with Joe's maneuver — There was nothing to it other than by-the-book National League managing. The last batter to make an out usually gets removed when a double switch is executed, to preserve that team's bullpen.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
Wagner Returns to Form and Closes Out Yankees — The Mets learned last night that a one-legged duck swims in circles and that Billy Wagner can still pitch. — Wagner showed up at Shea Stadium yesterday armed with a healthy sense of Southern humor in addition to his 98-mile-an-hour fastball.
Chad Jennings / Boston Globe:
Wells pronounces himself set to go — David Wells gave up two runs in five innings for Pawtucket. He could be in the Boston rotation as early as Friday. (AP Photo) — MOOSIC, Pa. — David Wells said he's ready, that five innings yesterday in Pennsylvania were enough to prove his right knee …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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Associated Press:
Strong opinions — Wells unimpressed with Bonds' latest achievement — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Count David Wells among those unimpressed by Barry Bonds' move up the all-time home run list. — The outspoken Boston pitcher had harsh words for Bonds, who tied Babe Ruth for second all-time with his 714th home run Saturday.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Wells' needle point stings: Sox offer Dellucci apology — PHILADELPHIA - Because David Wells held court on Saturday, the Red Sox were back in spin control yesterday. — Before yesterday's 10-5 loss to the Phillies, Sox manager Terry Francona, accompanied by Curt Schilling …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Jaw inspiring — Cubs get off canvas, salvage series finale — Chants of "sweep" swept through U.S. Cellular Field in the bottom of the seventh inning Sunday as psyched-up White Sox fans sensed a three-game pillaging of the rival Cubs. — But the Cubs seized the moment …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Pierzynski's grown tired of controversy — Catcher loved by teammates, hated by opponents — CHICAGO — There probably never was a time where A.J. Pierzynski enjoyed his somewhat controversial reputation more than when he stepped into the athletic entertainment venue of professional wrestling last December in Orlando.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Tony La Russa on Ozzie Smith: 'He's not welcome' — KANSAS CITY — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, after reading a story in Sunday's Post-Dispatch that, in part, reiterated Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith's disinclination to participate in club-related field activities as long as La Russa was manager …
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Clark Spencer / Miami Herald:
A rare form of futility — ST. PETERSBURG - The odds are staggering, but the Marlins are bucking them. — The chances of a team losing four consecutive games in which they've taken a lead into the ninth inning — something only the Marlins and 2002 Tampa Bay Devil Rays have managed to accomplish — come out to about one in 160,000.
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Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:Blown leads put Marlins in dubious company
Discussion:
FishStripes
Daren Smith / minorleaguebaseball.com:
Mets bring Soler to The Show — Right-hander has dominated Florida State, Eastern Leagues — After reaching out to Triple-A Norfolk in recent weeks for a pair of veteran pitchers, the New York Mets have turned to Double-A Binghamton and one of their top prospects.
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:With Hobbled Offense, Torre Hopes for a Solid Defense
Discussion:
NY Daily News
Maury Brown / Hardball Times:
Sale of the Braves Fuels the Corporate vs. Family Ownership Debate — They say that the only sure thing in life is death and taxes. They didn't say that the sale of the Braves would be involved, but that may well be the case. — Bear with me. — While the sale of the Nationals …
Rachel E. Stassen-Berger / TwinCities.com:
Pre-dawn vote gives Twins their stadium — After hours of committee meetings, years of waiting and dozens of starts and stops, the Legislature Sunday passed a $522 million measure to build a new Minnesota Twins ballpark in Minneapolis. — The bill will soon be on Gov. Tim Pawlenty's desk …
Associated Press:
Mixed emotions — Fans, players express admiration and trepidation — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Tyler Snyder caught Barry Bonds' 714th homer on the fly Saturday, snagging it cleanly with his glove. The people around the 19-year-old Athletics fan cheered wildly, with nobody assaulting or gouging him.
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers Flip the Switch on Angels This Season — The kid third baseman settled in for the sort of sixth-inning battle that the Angels always won. — Only, this kid played for the Dodgers. — Willy Aybar fouled off the first pitch. He fouled off the third pitch. He sawed off his bat in fouling off the fourth pitch.
