Top News:
Baseball America:
Monday Morning Mock Draft — When Royals officials went to bed Sunday night, they still didn't know whose name they'd call with the No. 1 pick in the draft Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET. Insisting money wouldn't be the determining factor, they still were debating the merits of North Carolina …
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Baseball America:
Royals May Be Moving Past Miller — CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—If the Royals were looking for some kind of affirmation that Andrew Miller is the right choice with the No. 1 overall pick in Tuesday's draft, they probably didn't get it in his NCAA regional start against Winthrop on Saturday.
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
KC's first pick to go down to last minute — Royals favor both college pitchers Miller and Lincoln — KANSAS CITY — Deric Ladnier, Royals senior director of scouting, wasn't being coy or evasive. — Quite honestly, he believes the Royals' decision on their first No. 1 overall draft choice …
Joe Posnanski / Kansas City Star:
The Royals' No. 1 dilemma — The only consensus on first pick is that KC better be right
The Royals' No. 1 dilemma — The only consensus on first pick is that KC better be right
Discussion:
Purple Row
Mark Herrmann / Newsday:
Can you have a pretty loss? — After 2 comebacks, Randolph 'ecstatic' about his team's play — It was not so much a loss as it was a matter of running out of comebacks. That is the way the Mets looked at it. They played well, they stayed with it and they did come back twice.
Discussion:
the metropolitans
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Laird earning playing time — CHICAGO - Gerald Laird's status changed Sunday. No longer does Rangers manager Buck Showalter search for occasional off-days for catcher Rod Barajas. He searches for ways to get Laird into the lineup. — Laird is making the most of every opportunity he gets to play.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Benoit is baffled by recent struggles — CHICAGO - If Joaquin Benoit knew what he was doing wrong, he'd fix it. — If Benoit knew what had led to his giving up runs in each of his past six relief appearances for the Rangers, causing his ERA to swell from 2.55 to 5.61, he would stop making that mistake.
John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Schilling: Yanks skipper keeps team afloat — DETROIT - Curt Schilling stopped to watch ESPN before yesterday's game against the Tigers. A graphic happened to include the Yankees. — "That's your manager of the year right there," Schilling said. "Joe Torre has done an unbelievable job.
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Joe Lapointe / New York Times:
Red Sox Are Coming, but Jeter May Miss Out
Red Sox Are Coming, but Jeter May Miss Out
Discussion:
Off the Facade
Maury Brown / Baseball Prospectus:
The Ledger Domain — Walter O'Malley and Marvin Miller For the Hall of Fame — Every year there are heated discussions about the players who are eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame. Many articles will talk of the merits of a player, or players, and where they fit in relationship …
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Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Under The Knife — The Tipping Points — With apologies to Malcolm Gladwell, there are tipping points in each major league season. The Astros were dead and buried last season. We kept waiting for the White Sox to turn into pumpkins and they never did. Did the turn of the page to June cause some tipping point to be crossed?
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
ESPN:
Former umpire Eric Gregg suffers massive stroke — Former major league umpire Eric Gregg, known for his wide strike zone and well-documented weight problems, suffered a massive stroke Sunday and was unconscious, his son Kevin told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. Gregg was hospitalized at Lankenau Hospital in Philadelphia.
Discussion:
The Catbird …
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Eli Saslow / Washington Post:
The Power Trip Continues — Soriano Hits Solo Homer, Grand Slam as Nats Complete Sweep: Nationals 8, Brewers 4 — MILWAUKEE, June 4 — He stated much less with his two home runs than with the indifference that followed. Alfonso Soriano never sauntered or pumped a fist. Heck, he hardly even smiled.
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George King / New York Post:
BOWA BLASTS PATTERSON — June 5, 2006 — BALTIMORE - When Corey Patterson stole second and third in the seventh inning with the Orioles leading by six runs Larry Bowa believed Patterson was rubbing it in the Yankees' nose. — From the top step of the third base dugout, Bowa let Patterson have it.
USA Today:
Willis not at wits' end with the Marlins — MIAMI — Dontrelle Willis, wearing an oversized Brian Urlacher Chicago Bears jersey, strolls into the Florida Marlins clubhouse. — He greets everyone as if he were at his high school reunion. He hugs. Slaps palms. Waves. And can't stop smiling.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Clement, Red Sox tame Tigers — Pitcher rebounds as offense shines — DETROIT — With Matt Clement temporarily quieting the debate over whether he is still qualified to pitch in the big leagues, represent the city of Boston, and retain membership in the human race …
Discussion:
Boston Sports Media Watch
Jay Mariotti / Chicago Sun Times:
Fairy-tale ending for Maddux? Get out of town! — He didn't come here to pitch like Cy Old, punch water jugs and allow six runs a start. Greg Maddux returned to Cubdom because he believed in the romantic notion that he could bring his story full circle, that he was being summoned …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Pujols beset with nagging pain — On the day he went on the disabled list for the first time in a career full of more favorable firsts, Albert Pujols reported difficulty sleeping, occasional pain when breathing and increased soreness in his right side, Cardinals officials said Sunday.
Discussion:
bellyitcher