Top News:
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.
John Tomase / Boston Herald:You can't pitch to Papi — Perhaps it's not our place to offer …
Discussion:
Boston Sports Media Watch
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 …
Jason Brummond / MLB.com:
Dodgers trade for Hendrickson, Hall — LA bolsters battery, deal Seo, Navarro to Tampa Bay — MINNEAPOLIS — The Dodgers acquired left-hander starter Mark Hendrickson and catcher Toby Hall from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Jae Seo and Triple-A catcher Dioner Navarro.
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.
Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
Gammons stricken, undergoes surgery — ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons, 61, is undergoing surgery this afternoon for an aneurysm in his brain. — Gammons was stricken earlier today and was taken to a Boston-area hospital. He is expected to be in intensive care for the next 10 to 12 days.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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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.
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.
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
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 …
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 …
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog.com:
Interview: Cerrone Talks with Cliff Floyd — Cliff Floyd joined the Mets in 2003, and suffered along with his team's fans as they went 49 games below .500 over his first two seasons... At the end of August, 2004, Floyd told reporters of the organization, "things aren't looking bright.
Jorge Arangure Jr / Washington Post:
O's Appear Willing to Trade Tejada — BALTIMORE, June 26 — On Dec. 18, 2003, Miguel Tejada donned a Baltimore Orioles hat and jersey, stood at a podium and promised that his new team would no longer be a losing franchise. — Three years later, the Orioles are seven games below .500 …
