Top News:
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Sox creep closer to Tigers with win — This one came as a bonus, like finding a nice big bone during baseball's Dog Days of August. — Beating the Tigers is really nothing new to the White Sox this season, considering their 8-3 head-to-head mismatch. Beating the Tigers with four unearned runs …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Buehrle gradually regaining past form — Trust in four-seam fastball allowing lefty to build confidence — CHICAGO — Taking a quick glance back at the White Sox bullpen while he was working on Saturday afternoon against the Tigers, Mark Buehrle viewed an image that would have rarely come …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Contreras notches 1st career shutout — White Sox take opener from Tigers — It not only had a playoff feel, it had playoff blueprint. And a playoff result. — Jose Contreras—who started each of the three White Sox postseason series openers last year—pitched his first career shutout Friday night …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Leslie Parker / MLB.com:
Notes: Sox present Fisk with ring — Guillen honors former teammate with World Series memento — CHICAGO — A baseball legend who never got a World Series ring in his 13 seasons with the White Sox finally got one before Saturday's White Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field.
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Notes: Fields headed to winter ball — Prospect to play outfield ahead of Spring Training — CHICAGO — When rosters expand on Sept. 1 and Josh Fields gets the call to the Majors with a handful of his Minor League cohorts who also have earned the brief promotion, don't look for the youngster to get much playing time.
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Astros designate Wilson for assignment — Move made to make room for rookie right-hander Hirsh — HOUSTON — The Houston Astros were faced with a difficult decison on Saturday when they had to decide who to remove from the 25-man roster in order to open a spot for rookie right-hander Jason Hirsh.
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Sports Illustrated:
Astros designate Wilson for assignment to make room for Hirsh — HOUSTON (AP) -Astros outfielder Preston Wilson was designated for assignment on Saturday, a roster move Houston made so it could promote pitcher Jason Hirsh from Triple-A Round Rock. — "I guess it's just the nature of the business,'' Wilson said. "
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Boomer busts five-game skid — Wells records career victory No. 228 and first of season — BOSTON — The uniquely passionate and large fandom that follows the Red Sox couldn't help but be in full-throttle, fret mode on the heels of the club's 1-5 road trip through last-place posts Tampa Bay and Kansas City.
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Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers' Volquez steps into a comfort zone — Pitcher has worked on fastball command and feels more prepared — ARLINGTON - Rangers pitching coach Mark Connor had a straightforward message for 23-year-old Edinson Volquez when they worked in the bullpen Thursday.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Notes: Aybar headed to DL — Chipper expected back at third for series finale on Sunday — ATLANTA — When Chipper Jones comes off the disabled list on Sunday, Willy Aybar will be going on it. — Aybar, who has served as the Braves starting third baseman while Jones …
ESPN:
Report: Loria was talked out of firing Girardi — Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria had to be talked out of firing manager Joe Girardi after a loss last Sunday, the Palm Beach Post reported Saturday, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the situation.
Jason Diamos / New York Times:
Yanks Lose Ground as Lidle Departs Early — All that Manager Joe Torre was hoping for from Cory Lidle last night was a performance similar to Lidle's debut with the Yankees eight days earlier. — Lidle, whom the Yankees obtained from Philadelphia on July 30 in the trade that brought Bobby Abreu …
Discussion:
NY Daily News
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TSN.ca:
HOMEMLBNEWS STORYReds place Mercker on 15-day DL — Sports Ticker — PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - A troublesome elbow has again turned Kent Mercker into a spectator. — The Cincinnati Reds placed the veteran lefhander on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday and recalled lefthander Chris Michalak …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Glavine solid, but Mets fall to Nationals — Veteran lefty fans seven, allows two runs in six innings — WASHINGTON — Their large, comfortable lead in the National League East allows the Mets to view developments with a perspective different from those of other teams in the division.
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Without Varitek, young staff caught off guard — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One thing is obvious: The Red Sox pitching staff really misses Jason Varitek. — Nobody is pointing fingers at Javy Lopez and Doug Mirabelli, but the small nuances of Varitek's game are lost inside the white lines.
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Lindsey Frazier / MLB.com:
Livan's debut spoiled by Marlins rookie — Righty lasts eight innings, but is outdueled by Johnson — PHOENIX — Having not yet played the Marlins this year, the Diamondbacks did not know quite what to expect from the young, energetic ballclub on Friday night. — But Arizona soon realized just how dangerous Florida can be.
