Top News:
Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:
Clement Turns Page, Goes 6 Innings — DETROIT — Matt Clement probably did more throwing between starts in the past week than in his previous two starts combined. — Searching for the solution to his recent struggles, Clement worked extensively on his mechanics, trying to improve his feel for the ball as it left his hand.
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Win was a special delivery — Clement tinkers with mechanics — DETROIT — Jason Varitek had spotted something. Three pitches into the seventh inning the catcher popped up and jogged to the mound, waving in manager Terry Francona and trainer Paul Lessard and putting an end to Matt Clement's afternoon.
Discussion:
projo.com
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Lester may have big plans for weekend — DETROIT — There was no official announcement from the Red Sox, but all signs point to 22-year-old Jon Lester making his major league debut Saturday in Fenway Park, when the Red Sox play a day-night doubleheader against the Texas Rangers.
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.
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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 …
Joe Posnanski / Kansas City Star:The Royals' No. 1 dilemma — The only consensus on first pick is that KC better be right
Discussion:
Purple Row
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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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Young hurlers are intriguing — Beat writer Ian Browne answers Red Sox fans' questions — With Lenny DiNardo on the disabled list and David Wells suffering a painful blow to his surgically repaired knee, what are the chances that we'll see Jon Lester or Craig Hansen before the All-Star break?
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
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.
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
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.
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
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.
