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2:45 PM ET, August 15, 2006

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
New life in this old rivalry  —  It's been a long time since the Tigers and Red Sox were contenders in the same summer.  That's why this mid-August clash of American League charter members easily holds our attention as we await the arrival of You Know Who Friday.
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Reverse gear  —  Tigers halt skid by ending Sox' winning streak
Kelsie Smith / Boston Globe:   Trouble for Beckett right off the bat
David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:   Foulke Will Travel, If Back Permits
Derek Jacques / Baseball Prospectus:
San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 8/13/06  —  Welcome back for our latest edition of Game of the Week, revisiting one of the oldest rivalries in the history of the Senior Circuit, one which survived the transcontinental transplants of two franchises who originated in New York City …
Discussion: Dodger Thoughts
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Ben Bolch / Los Angeles Times:
Betemit's Full-Time Work Is Exemplary  —  So this is what Wilson Betemit can do as an everyday player.  —  Stuck behind Chipper Jones and Rafael Furcal for years in the Atlanta Braves system, Betemit has blossomed given regular playing time with the Dodgers.
Discussion: MLB.com and True Blue LA
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.
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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Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
First pitch, August 15  —  REHABBING  —  Right-hander Mike DeJean …
Discussion: Metsblog.com
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:   Castilla returning; Wilson may follow
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
Discussion: Metsblog.com
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.
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Yahoo! Sports:
Braves OF Diaz ties NL record for consecutive hits
Discussion: The Griddle
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Mirabelli was talked out of his slump  —  Catcher credits team's counselor  —  Doug Mirabelli, who has homered in three straight starts for the first time in his career, credits a conversation he had with Don Kalkstein before the All-Star break for helping him find himself at the plate.
Jackie MacMullan / Boston Globe:
Telling signs can tip scales on mound  —  Pitcher's quirks weigh into batter's advantage  —  After a dominating season, Oakland closer Dennis Eckersley struggled in the 1992 ALCS because he was tipping his pitches to Toronto.  ''They knew what I was throwing,'' he said.  (AP/ File)
Terry Pluto / Akron Beacon Journal:
Owners face key winter in building Tribe  —  Paul Dolan says team payroll will top $60 million, likely exceed revenue.  Fans need reason to believe  —  Indians owner Paul Dolan has a far more serious problem than the Indians falling out of contention by June.  —  He needs to give his customers a reason to believe.
Discussion: Honest Wagner
Marcus Hayes / Philadelphia Daily News:
Howard: Letter writer threatened to put him in a wheelchair - 8/15/2006 03:01 AM EDT  —  Talk about focus.  —  In the last 3 ½ weeks, Ryan Howard, a National League All-Star who won the Home Run Derby, has hit .360 with 10 homers and 28 RBI.  In his first full season with the Phillies …
Steven Goff / Washington Post:
Nationals Try To Toss Aside Controversy  —  The day after a pair of chair-slamming incidents, the Washington Nationals clubhouse was quiet again yesterday at RFK Stadium.  —  Catcher Brian Schneider, who got upset with reporters before storming off after Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Mets …
Discussion: Washington Times and MLB.com
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.
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
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
Deadspin:
You Know What?  The Cardinals Might Just Suck, Eh?  —  Two seasons ago, we headed to Chicago in late September for a friends' wedding.  This friend is a Cubs fans (yes, we have friends who are Cubs fans).  The wedding happened to be the final weekend of the season; if you'll remember …
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
 
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 More News: 
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Upton expected to be long-term fix at leadoff
Jim Baker / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Matchups
Jay Jaffe / Baseball Prospectus:
Hit List Factor Trend Comment
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Who or what is really to blame for Ameriquest Field being a hitter's paradise?
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Hairston keeps positive outlook despite lack of playing time
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
With faith in friends' approach, DeRosa emerges as a hitter
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Stats Geek: Double-threat Sanchez steady in the field, too
 Earlier Picks: 
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
D-Back Green in sight
New York Post:
BORN TO HIT  —  MANNY WIELDS ONE MEAN BAT  —  MAYBE Manny …
Kevin Baxter / Miami Herald:
Treanor's special bat
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Notes: Keeping a stiff upper lip
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Salmon Has Bronx Tales to Tell
Discussion: NY Daily News and 6-4-2
Rich Draper / MLB.com:
Notes: Frandsen recalled
Discussion: Giants Win and El Lefty Malo
 

 
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