Top News:
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Notes: Ross sent packing ... again — Outfielder dealt to Marlins as reliever Mercker activated — CINCINNATI — Outfielder Cody Ross' Friday began with a phone call from Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky. — "Cody, I've got some good news and some bad news," Krivsky said from the other end of the line.
Discussion:
Red Hot Mama
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Schilling is looking to do a number — From Kansas City to New York. From Steve Farr (1) to Chien-Ming Wang (199). And all those — Frank Castillo (50), Kevin Millwood (100), Josh Beckett (151) — in between. It has been 5,762 days since Curt Schilling took the mound in relief to record …
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Karen Guregian / Boston Herald:
Schilling takes mound for shot at win No. 200 — Curt Schilling is a baseball historian. He knows what 200 wins will mean in the context of the game should he reach that milestone tonight against Tampa Bay. He knows where it will place him among the greats.
Karen Crouse / New York Times:
With Dribbler, Jeter Reaches 2,000 — The night was damp, the Yankees' opponent was doleful, the holiday getaway traffic was dispiriting. The reason why 48,035 fans braved gloomy skies, gridlock and the Kansas City Royals last night would become as clear as an indelible memory in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Discussion:
Canyon of Heroes
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Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals ends losing streak at 13, beat Yankees — NEW YORK — It ended where it seemed least likely to end, at Yankee Stadium, and in a driving rainstorm that forced a delay in the ninth inning in the South Bronx. But it ended, mercifully, nonetheless. — Angel Berroa's three-run homer …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Pedro might retire when Mets contract expires … MIAMI — Pedro Martinez has enjoyed every pitch and every second he has spent in the majors, but he's already planning his retirement as an active player, possibly when his current contract with the New York Mets runs out after the 2008 season.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:A Rookie Helps the Marlins Take Down a Mets Goliath
Discussion:
The Eddie Kranepool Society
Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun Times:
Baker: 'I don't know what's going on' — The only thing worse than hitting rock bottom is the anxiety that the real thud hasn't yet come. — That underlying fear is one the Cubs and manager Dusty Baker are trying to erase after a numbing 6-5 loss Friday to the Atlanta Braves left emotions in tatters.
Discussion:
Red Reporter
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:'This beats them all' — Baker laments as Cubs, Dempster let another one get away in 9th
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Chuck Finder / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Tracy blames bad start on players — Jim Tracy, putting the onus of the Pirates' woeful start on his players, found a new phrase to explain their persistent problem: — Photo-finished. — As in, "When you're getting photo-finished every day, there are ways and means …
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Wells is hit after doing well — Line drive drops lefthander before Sox rally for win — David Wells lay writhing in pain, on his back near the mound, sweat pouring down his head. — The oldest pitcher to ever start a game for the Red Sox, Wells, a 43-year-old lefthander with 227 wins under his belt …
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Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Home fine with Rangers' Millwood — ARLINGTON - Kevin Millwood isn't worried about his lack of success early this season at Ameriquest Field. — "I'm not in any way intimidated by this ballpark," Millwood said. "The one thing you don't want to do is walk a lot of people because when the wind blows, the ball flies.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
NOTES — Pitching reinforcements on the way — ARLINGTON - It's still a few weeks away, but the Rangers could soon have several pitching reinforcements. Right-handed starters Adam Eaton and Josh Rupe, right-handed reliever Frank Francisco and left-hander Brian Anderson could all be options within the next two months.
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
A black(out) eye for baseball — Jey Cho is 24 years old. He helps manage trusts. He enjoys watching the Oakland Athletics in his down time. And this poses a very large problem. — See, Cho lives in Las Vegas. While he has his choice of five Cirque du Soleil shows …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Notes: Ailing Cards regroup after off-day — Molina and Isringhausen among players battling illness — SAN DIEGO — Following a big win on Wednesday, Cardinals players and coaches prepared to revel in a well-deserved off-day. When the day came, many of them were too sick to enjoy it.
Discussion:
I Bleed Cardinal Red
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Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals' GM offer on table — Braves assistant Moore is considering job but wants total control of personnel — NEW YORK — The Royals have offered the job of general manager to Braves assistant Dayton Moore but are ready to move on to other candidates if the two sides can't reach agreement by this weekend.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Jeff Seidel / MLB.com:
Dodgers' win streak comes to an end — Offense limited against a strong Washington starter — WASHINGTON — The Dodgers knew what to expect from Washington right-hander Livan Hernandez. He's crafty, changing speeds and locations easily, often while making batters swing in ways they'd rather not.
Chicago Tribune:
Adding fuel to ire — Suspensions, fines do little to cool Cubs-Sox war of words — White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had called a truce earlier this week in the war of words between the Sox and Cubs, but Major League Baseball's verdict Friday on the City Series brawl has both sides steaming again at each other.
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
