Top News:
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Mets Fans Treat Piazza Like One of Their Own — Mike Piazza knew the ovation was coming, but he did not think it would be so intense. There had been hints that Mets fans still missed him as he traipsed around Manhattan yesterday, and there were louder signals that they still adored him once …
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New York Post:
CALLS MET STAR A 2-TIMING 'SCUM' — A sexy Long Island teen revealed in an explosive interview yesterday that she and married Met catcher Paul Lo Duca have been carrying on a steamy affair since April, enjoying secret trysts at his pad and sharing intimate phone calls.
NY Daily News:
'Good Christian' Sonia steamy in Playboy, porn DVD — BY NANCY DILLON in San Antonio, Tex., and DAVE GOLDINER in New York — Sonia Lo Duca's friends and family depict her as a beautiful girl next door, who dreamed of a career in show business before settling down with All-Star catcher Paul Lo Duca.
Ray Sánchez / Newsday:Standing by 'Paulie' — Team pledges support in wake of infidelity and gambling reports
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
A Royal pain for Red Sox — Slump continues as KC proves to be no pushover — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — They need to beat up the Kansas Cities on the schedule before they run into the Detroits, New Yorks, Los Angeleses, Seattles, and Oaklands, which they will see on that schedule starting next week …
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Michael Silverman / Boston Herald: Sox' woes hit new low: Lester struggles in loss to hapless Royals
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Girardi on market? Cubs may sniff — MILWAUKEE — The aftershocks of Joe Girardi's reported dispute with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria could be felt as far away as Chicago, where the Cubs have yet to decide whether to bring back manager Dusty Baker in 2007.
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Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun Times:Girardi denies rumors he wants to flee from Florida
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
Clark Spencer / Miami Herald:Manager puts rumors of rift with Loria to rest
Discussion:
FishStripes
Richard Justice / Black Voices:
New York Finds New Rivalry on the Left — Who Is Best Shortstop, Third Baseman in Big Apple? — AOL — Sports Commentary — They're no longer arguing Mets-Yankees in New York. OK, some still are, but not the sophisticated fan. — Who Would You Rather Have?
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yankees Fall After Rivera Blows Save in 9th — Ten months later, the Yankees finally made it to Chicago. They had packed their bags for a trip here last October, and even sent a pitcher ahead of the team. The Yankees needed only to win the final game of their playoff series in Anaheim …
USA Today:
Fantasy leagues can use baseball stats — A federal magistrate judge ruled Tuesday that the names and statistics of Major League Baseball players are part of the public domain and can be used at no cost by fantasy sports game operators. — ON DEADLINE: What's your take on fantasy stats being of public domain?
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MLB.com:
Reds acquire Todd Hollandsworth from Indians — Send player to be named or cash to Cleveland — CINCINNATI — The Reds today acquired from the Cleveland Indians veteran OF Todd Hollandsworth in exchange for a player to be named later or cash. — To make room for Hollandsworth on the 40-man roster …
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Edmonds says he's 'in limbo' — CINCINNATI — Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds insists he will play next season but says he has resigned himself to the probability that it will be in a different uniform. — His playing time diminished against lefthanded pitching …
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
AWOL HoJo puts Norfolk job in jeopardy — Howard Johnson's days with the Mets look numbered. Sources say the Triple-A hitting coach was denied permission to attend his son Glen's competition in a Wilmington, N.C., tournament for rising high school seniors that's heavily scouted by major-league teams.
Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:
Reds Mulling Action On Majewski's Injury — One day after placing reliever Gary Majewski on the disabled list with a sore shoulder, Cincinnati Reds General Manager Wayne Krivsky continued to explore possible recourse for the fact Majewski apparently was injured at the time of the July 13 trade …
capecodonline.com:
Gammons back at the ballfield — ESPN baseball analyst and Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons saw his first live baseball game in quite a while yesterday, taking in a few innings of Game 1 of the Cape League's West Division playoffs at Lowell Park. — Gammons, a huge fan of the Cape League …
Discussion:
Deadspin
Associated Press:
Phillies sting Braves with eight-run eighth, take series — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — ATLANTA — With Chase Utley leading the way, the Philadelphia Phillies are moving up in the NL wild-card race. — Utley hit a go-ahead, three-run double and scored from second …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Straw, Mets spar over $ — NEW YORK — Darryl Strawberry and the Mets are no longer on speaking terms, because of a dispute over payment of his deferred salaries, according to a person familiar with the situation. A recent break-off in negotiations led to Strawberry's decision to boycott the 1986 reunion at Shea Stadium on Aug. 19.
Andrew Dolphin / Baseball Prospectus:
No Bang Off the Bench? — A Closer Look at Pinch Hitting — A strong bench would seem to be one of those indispensable elements of a successful team. After all, if you need to generate some offense late in a game, you need players on the bench you can count on.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Yahoo! Sports:
Astros RHP Hirsh to make much-anticipated debut Saturday — HOUSTON (Ticker) - The Houston Astros' season has not been pretty to this point, but the future should be getting brighter real soon. — The Astros are expected to recall top pitching prospect Jason Hirsh to make his major league debut Saturday against the San Diego Padres.
Discussion:
The Griddle
