Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Cashman Tinkers, and Resists Temptation — CLEVELAND, July 5 — The Yankees are needy right now, beset by injuries to their hitters and by poor performances from their pitchers. But as they seek to improve the team, they are operating from a position of weakness. — Other teams know what the Yankees want.
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Dom Amore / Hartford Courant:
Boss: I'm Paying Cash — CLEVELAND — The Boss wasn't going to remain silent forever. The Yankees' 19-1 loss to the Indians Tuesday night in George Steinbrenner's hometown was enough to bring a statement. — "Brian Cashman is working hard to improve the team," Steinbrenner said Wednesday through spokesman Howard Rubenstein.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Pelfrey to start Saturday; Pedro on DL — An ailing right hip has landed pitcher Pedro Martinez on the 15-day disabled list and rookie Mike Pelfrey will make his major-league debut this weekend, the Mets announced Thursday — The much-talked-about rookie Pelfrey will start one of the two games …
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Associated Press:
Mets place Pedro Martinez on DL — NEW YORK (AP) — All-Star ace Pedro Martinez was placed on the disabled list by the New York Mets on Thursday due to pain in his right hip. — Martinez missed his scheduled start on Monday and can now rest through the All-Star break.
Dan Sewell / Associated Press:
Reds acquire LHP Guardado from Mariners — CINCINNATI (AP) — Trying to bolster their struggling bullpen, the Cincinnati Reds will turn to former All-Star closer Eddie Guardado. — The Reds obtained Guardado and cash from the Seattle Mariners for minor league pitcher Travis Chick on Thursday.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
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Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds acquire Guardado from Mariners — Veteran reliever expected to take over closer role — ATLANTA — Reinforcements are coming to help the Reds' beleaguered bullpen. — Cincinnati acquired veteran left-handed reliever Eddie Guardado from the Mariners on Thursday in exchange for pitching prospect Travis Chick and cash.
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Nomar, A.J. named Final Vote winners — Dodgers first baseman, White Sox catcher join All-Star squads — Nomar Garciaparra and A.J. Pierzynski were American League All-Star teammates in 2002, the year that the Final Vote was introduced by MLB.com. They did not have to rely on it to be selected …
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Associated Press:
Padres-Phillies Preview — The San Diego Padres changed their luck against the Philadelphia Phillies with one swing. — One night after ending an 11-game losing streak to the Phillies with a ninth-inning homer, the Padres look to win a series against them for the first time in nearly four years …
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Sports Illustrated:
Break up the Phillies — Wagner says former team needs to make big changes — People who have spoken to Phillies general manager Pat Gillick believe he will not stand pat this trading season. They say he desperately wants to improve the Phillies' current clubhouse atmosphere.
Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
Ten Things I Didn't Know Last Week — Interleague play finished this past Sunday and the American League gave the National an old-fashioned whuppin': 154-98. I'm not the biggest fan of interleague play, but I don't hate it either, and it certainly does give me good material for this column.
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Baseball America:
Yankees' International Haul Sits At Eight — Yankees international scouting director Lin Garrett said the Yankees weren't trying to send a message to anybody. — Instead, the Yankees just tried to improve their farm system, which has produced some quality of late (Chien-Ming Wang …
Discussion:
Baby Bombers
David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:
Ramirez Passes On All-Star Game — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — News flash: Manny Ramirez will not be playing in the All-Star Game next week in Pittsburgh. — OK, it's hardly a surprise because manager Terry Francona had been saying that he preferred Ramirez use the three-day break to rest his right knee.
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Eight-run inning ties Marlins mark; Marlins 18, Nationals 9 — WASHINGTON — The Marlins completed a double play to end the fifth inning and retreated to their dugout, but they could just as well have converged on the RFK Stadium diamond and started shaking hands.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Zimmerman on his own — Robinson using a different philosophy for third baseman — WASHINGTON — During his rookie season with the Reds, in 1956, Frank Robinson received a lot of advice from manager Birdie Tebbetts about the game of baseball. Now a manager himself …
Dan / Get Up, Baby!:
Jeff Weaver — A number three starter will look good in Cardinals red. — The flowing Thor locks? Maybe not. But this trade, on the surface, appears to be vintage Jocketty. He bought low-as I posted yesterday, the Angels wanted Lastings Milledge a week and a half ago-and sold high …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
METS 5, PIRATES 0 — Slow-Pitch Baseball as Hernández Quells the Pirates Softly — Cliff Floyd scored one of the Mets' five runs in the first inning in a 5-0 win over Kip Wells and the Pirates. Orlando Hernández earned the victory. — Orlando Hernández threw …
Dawn Klemish / MLB.com:
Sox looking to avert history — Boston (50-32) at Tampa Bay (38-47), 7:15 p.m. ET — If anyone can save Boston from being swept by the Rays for the first time in history, it's Tim Wakefield. Boston's right-hander is 14-2 in 31 appearances against Tampa Bay and sports a 6-0 record with a 2.08 ERA in 16 games at Tropicana Field.
Associated Press:
Reds pitcher Brian Shackelford arrested on suspicion of sexual assault — MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brian Shackelford was arrested early Thursday on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault. — The 29-year-old player was arrested shortly after midnight at Miller Park …
