Top News:
Tony Jackson / L.A. Daily News:
L.A. closing in — on a starter? Dodgers on verge of acquiring Hendrickson — MINNEAPOLIS - The Dodgers' struggling rotation might be on the verge of getting some help. — Following Monday night's game, an 8-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins in front of 22,528 at the Metrodome …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Dodgers, Devil Rays swap catchers, pitchers — The Dodgers have acquired left-hander Mark Hendrickson and catcher Toby Hall from the Devil Rays for right-hander Jae Seo, catcher Dioner Navarro and a player to be named, FOXSports.com has learned. — Hendrickson, 4-8 with a 3.81 ERA …
Inside the Dodgers:
Dodgers Acquire Hendrickson and Hall — The rumors are true. We've acquired Mark Hendrickson, one of the top lefties in the AL this year and catcher Toby Hall, plus cash, for Dioner Navarro, Jae Seo and a player to be named later. I've pasted the press release below.
Dodger Thoughts:
You Can't Stop the Chatter, You Can Only Hope to Contain It — Many folks this morning are talking about a rumored trade for Tampa Bay pitcher Mark Hendrickson. I'll break my rule about talking about rumors to just say this much. — As a pitcher, Hendrickson is soaring ... like a man in a barrel at the top of Niagra Falls.
Howard Kussoy / MLB.com:
Sox, Mets meet 20 years after Series — Boston (45-28) vs, New York (47-28), 7:05 p.m. ET — Twenty years ago, millions of baseball fans were mesmerized by the unimaginable drama of the 1986 World Series between the Red Sox and the Mets, but rookie sensation Jon Lester was just a 2-year-old infant …
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Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
It never gets old — Ortiz rescues Sox once again — Many members of the 1986 Red Sox undoubtedly remain haunted by the sudden turn of events in the World Series nearly 20 years ago, when a near-certain victory slipped away in extra innings at Shea Stadium.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
'86 Mets: Collage without clarity — Series champs finally taking center stage to take deep bow — 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:
Metsblog.com
John Tomase / Boston Herald:You can't pitch to Papi — Perhaps it's not our place to offer …
Discussion:
Boston Sports Media Watch
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Today — Driving the Story — Last night, the White Sox came back from a 9-1 deficit in the seventh inning to tie their game with the Astros 9-9 in the ninth. They went on to lose in 13 innings, but it was an amazing display, nonetheless. The Sox got homers in the seventh …
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Tim Kurkjian / ESPN:
Having that selfless approach … Baseball is a game of intangibles. It is a game that requires doing "the little things,'' which can mean something as big as barreling over a catcher or as subtle as a whisper in the ear of a teammate after a good or bad at-bat.
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
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.
Discussion:
Futility Infielder …
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.
Discussion:
The Eddie Kranepool Society
Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
Mets' Reyes Is Becoming A Superstar — Baseball players get hot all the time, and it's usually best not to make too much of it. Over a week or a month the best hitter in the league can hit .100, and the worst can hit .400. It's part of the nature of the game; more than in any of the other team sports …
Baseball Crank:
Scouting Valentin — One of the decisions the Mets have coming up is what to do about second base: stick with Jose Valentin or go get an upgrade. Statistical analysis of the situation is important, but let's not forget that the numbers can only take you up to a point; sometimes …
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.
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Rehab first step for Pena — Wily Mo Pena will head out on a minor-league rehabilitation as an outfielder, but it is hoped that he will return to the Red Sox as a capable, reserve first baseman. — Pena, who had a fractured hamate bone removed from his left hand at the end of May …
Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
Wright Manages To Improve Where Even Stars Stagnate — In 1996, when he was 20 years old, Alex Rodriguez hit .358 with 36 home runs and 59 walks, played Gold Glove defense, and scored 141 runs in 146 games. It's a performance he's never improved upon. — That's no criticism of Rodriguez …
