Top News:
Deadspin:
So ... We've Got Some Affidavit Names — Everyone's guessing about who the blacked-out names in the Jason Grimsley report are, and it has been a fun parlor game so far. But we all knew eventually the names would get out. And we've been digging around ... and some sources have given us some names.
Discussion:
Double Play Depth, Faith and Fear in Flushing, Bad Altitude, Straight Flushing, CUBDUMB, Camden Chat, Red Hot Mama, The Cub Reporter, d.a. humber, The Catbird …, Can't Stop The Bleeding, The Baseball Zealot, Viva El Birdos, Ben Maller, Cardinals Diaspora, Where have you gone … and 12eight
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Drug revelations a grim situation for baseball — NEW YORK — So much for the idea that baseball's drug problem would go away when Barry Bonds does, or that the tougher steroid-testing program adopted by Major League Baseball under intense pressure from Congress would clean up the game.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Arizona Sees a Hernández It Didn't Know Before Trade — PHOENIX, June 8 - The Arizona Diamondbacks spent seven weeks of spring training getting acquainted with Orlando Hernandez, their new teammate, and another seven weeks learning his quirks and habits. — That familiarity yielded a whole lot of nothing Thursday night.
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Duque rebound complete — Handcuffs D-Backs for 3-hitter — PHOENIX - Orlando Hernandez saved his best performance of the season for his former employer. And suddenly the back end of the Mets' rotation doesn't seem so shaky. — El Duque, obtained by the Mets from Arizona on May 24 …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Sheffield likely out until September — Yankees right fielder to undergo surgery on left wrist — NEW YORK — With Hideki Matsui out until September with a fractured wrist, the Yankees were hopeful that therapy would be enough to get Gary Sheffield and his ailing wrist back on the field before too long.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards trade talks have intensified — WHAT THEY WANT — A strong hitter - and the players want an impact player. — The day after his replacement first baseman detected a "flat" aftertaste to the Cardinals' three-game sweep by the Cincinnati Reds, general manager Walt Jocketty confirmed Thursday …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
Injuries dim A's victory Harden back on DL, Crosby hurt — Cleveland — Oakland's optimism as players began to trickle back from the disabled list is over. Thursday, before the team's 4-1 victory over the Indians, the A's placed one of their most important players back onto the DL …
Discussion:
At Home Plate
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Wright Crumbles in Sixth and Yanks Follow — They will part for the next 10 weeks, stalking each other from afar. The Yankees and the Boston Red Sox do not play again until Aug. 18, in a doubleheader at Fenway Park. They are separated by a half-game, and they expect it to be roughly the same the next time around.
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Robert Falkoff / MLB.com:
Moore looks to model KC around Atlanta — GM aims to turn Royals into contender like Braves of early '90s — KANSAS CITY — John Schuerholz once got it done in Kansas City. Now it's up to Dayton Moore, a Schuerholz protégé, to show he can do it, too.
Chris Haft / Contra Costa Times:
Giants accept gift-wrapped win, thank you — San Francisco prevails in the bottom of the ninth inning on a two-out, bases-loaded wild pitch — SAN FRANCISCO - Anybody suspecting that the Giants might be leading a charmed life should refer to their charmless 5-4 victory Thursday night over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Clark Spencer / Miami Herald:
Agent has vested interest — Agent Matt Sosnick represents several key Marlins players, including four-fifths of the rotation. — cspencer@MiamiHerald.com — SAN FRANCISCO - It's nothing personal. — ''I love Brian Moehler,'' Matt Sosnick said. ``He's a great guy.''
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Soriano seeing stars in outfield — Left fielder excited about possibly making All-Star team — WASHINGTON — Nationals slugger Alfonso Soriano said that making the National League All-Star team as an outfielder in July would be even sweeter than winning the game's Ted Williams Award …
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals put on rally caps — KC overcomes seven-run deficit in its 16-12 victory over the Rangers. — Sure, Dayton Moore probably ought to wait a few more games before drawing any immediate conclusions. — But, admit it, the Royals welcomed their new general manager …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins' Uggla doubles as a power hitter — SAN DIEGO — Hitters with power generally don't hit home runs by accident. Dan Uggla is among the exceptions. — He put two in the AT&T Park left-field bleachers Wednesday without even trying. The same can be said for the other seven he has hit …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Soriano Keeps Nats Running — There is a generations-old image of what a leadoff man should look like, how he should hit, what pitches he should take and at which ones he should swing. At various points, the Washington Nationals wanted men named Endy Chavez and Brandon Watson …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers sign top pick Jeffress — Club's 16th overall selection agrees to Minor League contract — MILWAUKEE — The Brewers did not waste any time in funneling their top pick into the professional ranks. — A day after making him the 16th overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft …
