Top News:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
It's time to get caught up in the chase — For a while, it was tempting to think the Yankees might go away. Fade into the sunset. Disappear from sight altogether. The Red Sox had ripped off 12 straight wins and Yankee millionaires were falling like Italian soccer players in the path of Zinedine Zidane.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Beanball incident may have carryover — Milton Bradley might have a thing or two to teach his Oakland teammates about anger management before the final pitch of today's series finale is thrown. — Because the A's are steamed. — The 96 mph fastball thrown by Curt Schilling that hit Nick Swisher …
Associated Press:
Schilling shuts down A's as Red Sox win — BOSTON —All the Boston Red Sox needed was a strong effort from Curt Schilling so their weary bullpen could rest. Schilling allowed two hits and struck out nine in seven innings and David Ortiz snapped out of an RBI slump with his major league-leading 32nd homer …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Politte sent packing — Sox part ways with '05 bullpen stalwart; Buehrle still off-target — NEW YORK — It was a game struggling White Sox ace Mark Buehrle and embattled reliever Cliff Politte would like to forget. — That's unlikely. — Buehrle lasted only three-plus innings Saturday in losing his third consecutive start.
Discussion:
The Bard's Room
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Christian Red / NY Daily News:
For Ozzie, blowout is sobering — The final score alone was lopsided enough to warrant the blizzard of Ozzie. — But despite yesterday's 14-3 pounding at the hands of the Yankees, a third consecutive shaky outing by southpaw Mark Buehrle and Chicago's fourth loss in the last five games …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:Phils' Abreu Has Become the Center of Attention
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates entertaining offers for Jack Wilson — But team apparently is not eager to trade shortstop — The Pirates are entertaining trade offers for shortstop Jack Wilson, multiple sources said yesterday, although it is unlikely he will be dealt by Major League Baseball's July 31 deadline.
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Associated Press:
Braves-Padres Preview — The Atlanta Braves are showing Petco Park is not just a pitcher's park. They're also showing they may not be out of the NL East race just yet. — The surging Braves look for a third consecutive offensive outburst as they look to close out a three-game sweep against the San Diego Padres on Sunday.
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
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Sandy Burgin / MLB.com:
Padres have ace up their sleeve — Atlanta (42-49) at San Diego (48-42), 1:05 p.m. PT — The Padres turn to their ace Jake Peavy on Sunday in hopes of salvaging the third and final game of this three-game series with the suddenly resurgent Atlanta Braves.
Andrew Bagnato / Houston Chronicle:
Stephen Drew make ML debut for Arizona — PHOENIX — The Drew family has a tradition. When one of the Drew brothers is promoted to the major leagues, everyone gets a phone call. It happened first with J.D. in 1998, then with Tim in 2000. — On Friday night it was Stephen Drew's turn.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Early Pitchers' Duel Turns Into Cubs Rout — CHICAGO, July 15 — The game was scoreless through five innings, a crisp pitchers' duel that nonetheless seemed ominous for Cubs fans as soon as their pitcher's focus on scoring runs disrupted his ability to prevent them.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Lab is helping baseball to clean up its act — LOS ANGELES — You can't work here if you're an athlete. And forget about getting a lab coat if you are a fan or rotisserie league geek. The man who runs the world's best sports drug-testing laboratory has no interest in hiring chemists …
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Ira Podell / Associated Press:
No saves recorded during full day of baseball — NEW YORK (AP) — There was no saving baseball during a wild Saturday full of blowouts and walkoff wins. — It marked the first time in nearly three decades a full day of major league games were played without a save recorded.
Discussion:
The Griddle
Mike Berardino / Sun-Sentinel:
Somebody stop Selig — Game's managers vehemently against Selig's Never on Sunday plan. — Somebody stop Bud Selig before he tinkers again. — Assigning home-field advantage for the World Series to the league that wins the All-Star Game was bad enough, but last week …
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
No simple solution for Selig — Cincinnati - It permeates the game like a bad odor, seeping through clubhouses and settling in the commissioner's office. — Barry Bonds' legal problems soon will intersect with Bud Selig's best interests. — The embattled San Francisco Giants slugger …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Terry Pluto / ohio.com:
View from Pluto — Good signs in Vegas — How about some good news? — • It's just summer league, but the Cavaliers have reasons to like first-round draft pick Shannon Brown. The 6-foot-3 guard from Michigan State played 30 minutes a game, averaged 14 points and shot 50 percent …
