Top News:
Mike Petraglia / MLB.com:
Johnson to face Beckett — Boston (69-52) vs. New York (72-48), Saturday, 1:20 p.m. ET — After winning the longest nine-inning game in Major League history, the Yankees hope to be a little more economical on Saturday. But as long as the bottom line results in a win, no one in pinstripes will complain.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Double dipping — Damon-led Yankees rip sorry Red Sox — Manny Ramírez pulled one of his occasional disappearing acts into the left-field scoreboard during a pitching change last night. Given the exhibition of sorry pitching he was required to endure throughout the day …
MLB.com:
Red Sox recall right-hander Jermaine Van Buren from Triple-A Pawtucket — Right-hander Rudy Seanez designated for assignment — BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox today recalled righthander Jermaine Van Buren from Triple-A Pawtucket of the International League.
Discussion:
The Griddle
Howard Kussoy / MLB.com:
Beckett to take on Johnson — New York (72-48) at Boston (69-52), 1:20 p.m. ET — Josh Beckett and Randy Johnson are at two very different points in their careers. Johnson, 42, is a five-time Cy Young award winner, having superseded the expectations set for any mortal.
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:Yanks swing mighty bats in day-night power binge: Sox pitch disaster in NY sweep
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Associated Press:
Diamondbacks-Padres Preview — The Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres are locked up in races for the NL West and the wild card, but neither team seems to playing as if they want to go to the postseason. — The rivals continue a three-game series at Petco Park on Saturday.
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Amanda Branam / MLB.com:
Padres send Hensley to battle Snakes — Arizona (61-61) at San Diego (61-61), 1:05 p.m. PT — The Padres knew they had no choice but to open this current series with the Diamondbacks in a big way. — They were swept in a four-game series by the Giants, and Friday's series opener with Arizona was the time to respond.
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Opportunity awaits Tejeda — DETROIT - Robinson Tejeda is aware the Rangers did not trade David Dellucci for 19 1/3 innings, a 1-3 record and a 9.78 ERA. — But he also believes the adversity he has encountered this year and the time he has spent at Triple A Oklahoma will help him rediscover …
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Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Feldman appeals to common sense — Reliever: If guy charges, 'I'm not going to stand with arms crossed' — DETROIT - Reliever Scott Feldman has decided to appeal his six-game suspension. — Feldman said his understanding is the league gave him four games for hitting Angels second baseman Adam Kennedy and two games for fighting.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Zimmerman drives in five to spark Nats — Soriano smashes ninth leadoff home run of season — PHILADELPHIA — Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman continued to show why he is a strong candidate for the National League Rookie of the Year award. He drove in a career-high five runs and helped …
Discussion:
Washington Post
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Jeter's Secret? It's Simple: Play to Win — Derek Jeter was the host of "Saturday Night Live" in 2001, and he was nervous about it all week. He had no acting or comic background, and certainly had never performed on live television at Rockefeller Center.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
NY Daily News:
Williams takes Pedro start — Dave Williams will make his Mets' debut tonight, taking Pedro Martinez's spot in the rotation. The lefthander was acquired May 25 from the Reds, along with $500,000 to cover half of his remaining salary, for minor-league pitcher Robert Manuel.
Greg Stoda / Palm Beach Post:
Commentary: Girardi unable to speak above Loria's silence — MIAMI GARDENS — Joe Girardi is twisting in the South Florida breeze. — It's no fun to watch, and almost certainly going to get worse. — That it has come to this ridiculousness in Girardi's first season as a baseball manager at any level …
Discussion:
Sweaty Men Endeavors
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Eckstein will be out indefinitely — Shortstop David Eckstein will be lost for at least the rest of this weekend's series after suffering a strained muscle in his left side in a third-inning collision at the plate with Cubs catcher Michael Barrett. — The injury occurred …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Greg Wagner / MLB.com:
9 and oh: Weaver's a perfect match — Rookie ties Ford's AL record for wins to start a career — ANAHEIM — Is there anything this kid can't do? — Jered Weaver won his ninth straight decision, becoming only the second American League rookie in history accomplish such a feat.
Discussion:
6-4-2
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Pierzynski, Alomar KO rift over story — MINNEAPOLIS — White Sox catchers A.J. Pierzynski and Sandy Alomar quickly settled their differences Friday over a recent story they firmly blamed on ESPN the Magazine. — "I wasn't happy with the article," Pierzynski said Friday night …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Sanders might be tradable — If he indeed cleared waivers, outfielder might draw interest from contenders. — The word around baseball is that outfielder Reggie Sanders cleared waivers earlier this month but pitcher Mark Redman did not. Teams are prohibited from openly discussing the matter.
Craig Barnes / Sun-Sentinel:
Jacobs doesn't let injured ankle stop him — · First baseman Mike Jacobs has played the majority of the season with a borderline stress fracture in his right ankle, and it won't completely heal until the season is over. — "They told me it was a stress reaction," Jacobs said, "and it was very close to being a fracture.
