Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Between Johnson and Giambi, Braves Can't Win — After his last start, a well-pitched loss in Philadelphia, Randy Johnson proclaimed that he would no longer analyze his performance. He was past all that, he insisted, pitching like himself again and not looking back.
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NY Daily News:
Atlanta heading south while Bronx gets hot — Maybe it was the humidity, or because the team in Queens has become the gang that could shoot straight, but the Stadium matchup last night, Atlanta-Yankees, was something less than those two teams usually deliver.
Francis Specker / MSNBC:
Red Sox fans need to heartily boo Pedro — They did the same to Damon - it would be an insult to do otherwise — Red Sox fans should boo Pedro Martinez when he returns to Fenway Park and pitches for the Mets on Wednesday, writes MSNBC.com columnist Mike Celizic. — Mike Celizic — Mike Celizic
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Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
Love Him, or Love Him a Lot — BOSTON, June 26 — Four compact discs lay on the front desk at a small music store in Jamaica Plain, waiting for Pedro Martínez to come in and claim them. "I'm sure he's going to stop by," said Franklin Cabral, owner of Franklin's CDs.
Discussion:
Ben Maller
David Lennon / Newsday:
Randolph: No hard feelings — BOSTON — Old loyalties die hard, especially when it comes to the Red Sox and Yankees, which is why Pedro Martinez wanted to make sure that playing for Willie Randolph would not be a problem if he ultimately decided to sign with the Mets back in the winter of 2004.
David Lennon / Newsday:The monster mash? — Fenway faithful's reaction to Pedro's return is up in the air
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Saluting the spirit of '86 — There was not much buzz about them when they first gathered in Winter Haven, Fla., late in February 1986. Greater Boston was still reeling from the Patriots' maiden voyage to the Super Bowl (which ended in a severe beating by the Chicago Bears) …
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets of '86 to be honored — Club's finest moment of last 20 years lacks clear identity — Nearly 20 years have passed since Jesse Orosco tossed his glove skyward and into history, nearly 20 years since the Mets ruled the baseball universe and embraced the World Series trophy.
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Sanchez will remain in majors — MIAMI GARDENS — Anibal Sanchez won't be sent back to the minor leagues for now. He might even wind up as a fixture in the Marlins' rotation soon. — After Sanchez shut down the Yankees for 5 2/3 innings Sunday to win his major-league debut at Yankee Stadium …
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Eduardo A. Encina / TBO.com:
Rays May Trade Hall, Hendrickson — MIAMI - The Devil Rays were close to completing a trade with the Dodgers Monday night that would send catcher Toby Hall and left-handed pitcher Mark Hendrickson to Los Angeles. — A deal could be finalized as soon as today.
Discussion:
DRays Bay
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays eye deal for younger catcher — MIAMI - The Devil Rays are working on a multiplayer deal to trade veteran Toby Hall and replace him with a top young catcher. — Details were not clear Monday night, but if the deal goes through the Rays would shed Hall, the 30-year-old …
Discussion:
Ben Maller
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Future Shock — Los Angeles Angels — The team is loaded with big names that get plenty of attention, and with good reason, but it's time to talk about some other players on the team who are still pretty decent prospects. Let's start with outfielder Reggie Willits.
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Howard Kussoy / MLB.com:
Ortiz lifts Sox to another thrilling win — Papi's RBI single in 12th extends Boston's streak to nine — BOSTON — Charlie Manuel wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. After Mark Loretta doubled, representing the winning run in the 11th inning against the Phillies on Monday afternoon …
Discussion:
The Baseball Desert
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:Extraordinary — It's another Ortiz walkoff, in 12th
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Field maneuvers — Defensive efficiency keeping Padres in contention — General Manager Kevin Towers stood in the Padres dugout before Friday's game and surveyed his players as they fielded fungo shots. — "With our type of club right now, if we don't play good defense, we would be in trouble," he said.
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
MLB: The only farce is Rocker's recent comments … John Rocker claims that sensitivity training is a "farce," and adds that he never paid a dime of the $500 fine levied against him for racist and homophobic remarks six years ago. — According to Major League Baseball, Rocker either has a bad memory or an overly active imagination.
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers showing patience with Tejeda — DENVER — The Rangers have done a wonderful job of trying to make the David Dellucci-Robinson Tejeda trade look like a good one. Three times this year, they've called Tejeda to the big leagues from Oklahoma, and, well, it's been less than an artistic success.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Jay Jaffe / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Hit List — Week of June 25 — Rk — Team — Overall W-L — Week W-L — Hit List Factor — Trend — The first team to win 50, and for those looking for omens, the last two times the Tigers did that—1968 and 1984—culminated in champagne corks popping.
