Top News:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
There's No Easy Way For Nats — Mistakes on Routine Plays Prove Crucial: Mets 3, Nationals 1 — Marlon Anderson's version was accurate, concise. "I just missed it," he said, and the ball bounced away, allowing the tying run to score and Tony Armas Jr.'s promising afternoon to collapse at Anderson's feet.
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Associated Press:
Tucker comes through with go-ahead homer against former team — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — WASHINGTON — The New York Mets got a tiebreaking homer from little-used Michael Tucker, 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and a sliding grab on the gravel by Carlos Delgado for the final out.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Robinson questions one pitch in loss — Manager criticizes Rauch, Schneider for Mets' go-ahead homer — WASHINGTON — The tension was heavy in the home clubhouse after the Nationals lost to the Mets, 3-1, in front of 37,732 at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
Howard Kussoy / MLB.com:
Notes: Nixon swings in cage — Ortiz rests with series vs. Tigers and Yankees on horizon — BOSTON — Wily Mo Pena is becoming a fan favorite in Red Sox Nation, keeping the seat holders at Fenway on their toes by rocketing balls into the stands with cartoonish-like power and helping the Red Sox in their playoff push.
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Wakefield stuck in limbo on return — Based on the calendar, the Red Sox certainly could use Tim Wakefield during the week of Aug. 21. The question is whether Wakefield will get the green light. — "Someone said this and it's true: I feel like I'm in a traffic jam," …
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Movin' on up — South Siders make up 4½ games in 6 days — Now it really gets interesting. — It's the Tigers' turn to check their psyches, feel the breath of the charging champions on their neck and sweat the small stuff after their hope of a runaway season was shattered by a White Sox sweep.
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Guillen warns: K.C. can be a royal pain — Sox have to 'keep pushing the pedal' vs. majors' worst team — Two division leaders, the Yankees and the Tigers, have fled town after combining to lose five of six games. But don't tell White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen that things get easier with the lowly Royals coming in for four games.
Bronx Banter:
Heaven and Hell — In the dugout before Sunday's game, Kim Jones, the beat reporter for the YES network, asked Yankee manager Joe Torre if Jared Weaver made him of think of Weaver's older brother and former-Yankee, Jeff Weaver. "It's hard not to," said Torre. "He's got the same look, the same willowy body.
Big Al / The Wayne Fontes Experience:
EVERYBODY PANIC!!! - Message board edition — Over at Mack Avenue Tigers, Kurt had a very levelheaded post about the Tigers current slump. The slump that all teams have, but the Motor City Kitties managed to avoid...till this week. … Unfortunately, that isn't what most fans are currently thinking.
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Leyland cites tipping point — Earlier this season, the Cardinals accused the White Sox of stealing pitch-selection signs from center field. Now the Tigers are claiming the Sox knew what was coming from rookie Justin Verlander in Friday night's game by picking up tip-offs on his pitches.
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
CBS SportsLine.com:
Full Play-by-Play Chicago vs. Detroit — GameCenter · Full Play-by-Play · Box Score · Recap · Game Chart · Photos — TIGERS 1ST — Jose A. Contreras pitching: — Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Granderson popped out to shortstop.
Justice B. Hill / MLB.com:
Hafner ties Mattingly for slams in season — Indians slugger hits sixth as part of an 11-run first inning — CLEVELAND — Travis Hafner took a curtain call Sunday. — Actually, Hafner had little choice, because the 25,251 fans in Jacobs Field insisted that the man called "Pronk" …
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves announce front-office moves — Snyder takes over as director of baseball operations — ATLANTA — One year after inducting him into their Hall of Fame, the Braves have decided to bring back Paul Snyder to serve as their director of baseball operations.
Jesse Spector / NY Daily News:
The Papel-bunch — BOISE, Idaho - At Memorial Stadium, a sign notes that the Boise Hawks' front offices are "Now located on the corner of Glenwood and Chinden behind Arby's." — Inside, the closest thing the 3,450-seat stadium has to a luxury box is a pair of leather lounge chairs …
Associated Press:
Padres-Astros Preview — Houston Astros starter Brandon Backe has lost some velocity on his fastball, but he's finding other ways to get batters out. — The right-hander looks to build off a pair of impressive outings when the Astros (57-59) wrap up their three-game series with the San Diego Padres …
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Zachary Levine / MLB.com:
Notes: Ramirez optioned to Triple-A — Righty struggling of late; lefty Shackleford takes his spot — PHILADELPHIA — Elizardo Ramirez had one of the best games of his young career on July 27 in Houston, striking out eight and allowing just one run in 6 2/3 innings.
Discussion:
We Heart the Reds
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Red Sox ring up Orioles — Papelbon, Ramírez provide punch in 10th — So, was Jonathan Papelbon doing his best Muhammad Ali or Smokin' Joe Frazier impression yesterday afternoon as he pummeled Manny Ramírez near the first-base bag after another walkoff win by the Red Sox?
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Trip to DL all but ends Prior's season — Shoulder tendinitis lands Cubs pitcher back on disabled list — DENVER — Mark Prior was placed on the disabled list Saturday with tendinitis in the right rotator cuff, a move that likely will force the Cubs right-hander to miss the rest of the season.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
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Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Angels can't get big hit when needed — Halos take early lead but can't hold it against Yankees — NEW YORK — In the afternoon sun at Yankee Stadium, the powerful Angels lineup that had been evident under the lights was quietly absent. — Just a night earlier, the Angels …
Discussion:
6-4-2
