Top News:
Jere Longman / New York Times:
Martínez Is Hurt and Then Routed — After missing nearly a month with a hip injury, Pedro Martínez had again become a master of reinvention for the Mets, using his cunning and guile to replace the speed lost on his fastball. — But he will be 35 in October and, like an old house …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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David Lennon / Newsday:
More Pedro woe — Ace departs after horrendous six-run first with calf strain — PHILADELPHIA — Uh-oh. — Of all the things that could go wrong for the Mets during the final six weeks of the regular season, an injury to Pedro Martinez is at the top of the list of worst-case scenarios.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Dan Gelston / Associated Press:
Pedro Martinez leaves with injury after first inning as Phillies pound Mets 13-0
Pedro Martinez leaves with injury after first inning as Phillies pound Mets 13-0
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Reverse gear — Tigers halt skid by ending Sox' winning streak — No one should presume that the Detroit Tigers are a mere warmup act this week to the Yankees, not when the Tigers arrive in Fenway Park with the best record in baseball, even if burdened with a five-game losing streak.
Discussion:
Fox Sports
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Kelsie Smith / Boston Globe:
Trouble for Beckett right off the bat
Trouble for Beckett right off the bat
Discussion:
Boston Sports Media Watch
Mike Shalin / Boston Herald:
A rally killer - Sox third base coach draws Hale of criticism
A rally killer - Sox third base coach draws Hale of criticism
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
Fox Sports:
S. Florida may need to bid farewell to Loria — Jeffrey Loria is at it again. — The Florida Marlins owner has proved adept at embarrassing himself and the game of baseball, but his latest misstep is an uncharacteristic one. As you may have heard, Loria was reportedly a hairsbreadth …
Discussion:
Honest Wagner
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Steven Goff / Washington Post:
Ortiz and Nationals Battered by Braves — Washington Nationals Manager Frank Robinson would've liked to have sat back in the dugout last night at RFK Stadium, set aside the mounting concerns about his last-place team and admired another outstanding effort by Ramon Ortiz, his most reliable starting pitcher of late.
Discussion:
Washington Times, Nats320, Capitol Punishment, Nationals Baseball Fan, MLB.com and The Nationals Enquirer
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Even Near-Miss Hits the Spot for the Yankees — The record will show that Alex Rodriguez came through when the Yankees needed him last night, driving in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. Yet the moment left Rodriguez and the crowd craving more.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Rodriguez Says Injuries Led to Change in His Mechanics — The important thing, Alex Rodriguez says, is that he is healthy now and has been for a while. — "Let's put it this way: For the last three or four weeks, I feel 100 percent," Rodriguez said yesterday. "I feel good to play that way.
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Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Castilla back with Rockies — Original Rockie signs minor league deal, will end career here — For all practical purposes, Vinny Castilla said, his big league career began with the Rockies. — It is going to end with the Rockies, too. — Castilla, whom the Rockies took from the Atlanta Braves …
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Esprit de clubhouse — Current Mets laud title team for camaraderie; choirboys need not apply — The 1986 World Series was referred to in Boston and Queens as George Steinbrenner's worst nightmare. At least one of the Yankees, however, couldn't help but appreciate what was going on across town during that magical season.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Give up on Prior? Give me a break! — Cubs fans are out of their minds if they want to cast him aside — HOUSTON — After Mark Prior was placed on the disabled list for the latest time—and pretty soon only Antonio Alfonseca will be able to count 'em up on his fingers …
Discussion:
GROTA
New York Post:
BORN TO HIT — MANNY WIELDS ONE MEAN BAT — MAYBE Manny being Manny simply means this: He is the best hitter of the generation. — Manny Ramirez had his 27-game hitting streak end on Sunday, in part because he did not run hard on a grounder that bizarrely spun from routine to beyond pitcher Todd Williams' initial stab.
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
Los Angeles Times:
For Drew, It's a Living With Very Little Life — The other day, J.D. Drew singled in the first inning, and while that should've been enough to stop the game and award him the ball, he drove in a run. — And I swore, as Drew rounded first base and came to a stop, I saw him clap both hands together almost as if he were excited.
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Willie: Cliff timetable 'up to him' — PHILADELPHIA - Willie Randolph insisted again that Cliff Floyd's Achilles injury is not "serious at all," but the left fielder has received a cortisone shot since going on the disabled list last week. — Floyd, who was placed on the disabled list …
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Stats Geek: Double-threat Sanchez steady in the field, too — By Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Is there anything sweeter than a Freddy Sanchez double, in all its bounty and variety? — Of course there is, but this is a baseball column. So let us now praise Freddy's bloops …
Kevin Baxter / Miami Herald:
Treanor's special bat — Marlins catcher Matt Treanor planned to get up early this morning and make the short drive from his home in Long Beach, Calif., to his brother Michael's place in suburban Orange County to help commemorate his birthday. — ''I haven't seen him in a while …