Top News:
David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:
Mirabelli: One Game At A Time — ANAHEIM, Calif. — The last time the Red Sox were surrounded by this much negativity was in the 2004 ALCS after the Yankees pounded them 19-8 to take a 3-0 lead. — As one of the holdovers from the team that rallied to win the series …
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Manny's still easy target - But he's not to blame — ANAHEIM, Calif. - He is human, despite our perception of him, and so you cannot help but wonder: How many times is Manny Ramirez left shaking his head? How many runs must he knock in and how many home runs must he hit before we start …
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:Sox' prayers answered — Losing streak ends with win over Halos
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
Associated Press:
Notes: Thome expected to miss Twins series; ex-Phils groundskeeper sues team — DETROIT —Jim Thome is expected to miss the Chicago White Sox's key weekend series with the Minnesota Twins because of a strained hamstring. — Thome was hurt during Wednesday night's win in Detroit …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
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Associated Press:
Ex-groundskeeper sues Phillies — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A former longtime groundskeeper for the Philadelphia Phillies filed an age discrimination lawsuit against the team, claiming he was repeatedly degraded by a younger supervisor. — Mark "Frog" Carfagno filed the complaint in federal court on Wednesday, his 53rd birthday.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
It's Vintage Trachsel: Poor Outing, Ugly Victory — If Steve Trachsel were in a gift-giving mood, he may consider presenting a nice vintage from his extensive wine cellar to a few of his colleagues. — A complex zinfandel to Chris Woodward for driving in three first-inning runs to give Trachsel a cushion.
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
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Chris Needham / Capitol Punishment:
Stack 'Em Up — It's been a few months since I've done one of these, so let's see how our batters compare position by position to their friends around the league. — All stats are by players at that respective position and don't necessarily reflect their total stats. 40 AB minimum
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Red Sox hope Beckett can right ship — Boston (70-56) at Los Angeles (67-60), 10:05 p.m. ET — Finally, the Red Sox can show up and just try to win a game, without the burden of ending a losing streak. — The Red Sox snapped their six-game skid Wednesday night and hand the ball …
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Some advice: Don't look now — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Going into last night's game, the Red Sox had lost six straight, the most since Joe "The Nutty Professor" Kerrigan manned Boston's Southbound Train in 2001. — The 2006 Sox had lost 10 1/2 games in the standings since July 4.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Notes: Cedeno reacquainted with short — Izturis' hamstring pain moves versatile infielder off second base — CHICAGO — Ronny Cedeno has had to dig his old shortstop glove out from the back of his locker. He's re-learning the position. — "I can tell how much difference there is," …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:Marmol's pitch count too high, Baker says
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
Baseball America:
Stock Skips His Way To USC — Across America this month, millions of teenagers were preparing for their final year of high school, brushing up on their calculus and narrowing their list of colleges to attend a year from now. — Robert Stock is a year ahead of them.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Ejections mar Dodgers' loss to Padres — Little tossed for first time in LA; Penny, Lugo also thrown out — SAN DIEGO — For the Dodgers, baseball has become as complicated as 1-2-3. — One is the number of games left of their National League West lead after they were swept by the Padres …
Discussion:
6-4-2
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Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Under The Knife — Sushi — I wish I could go the rest of my career without talking about steroids, amphetamines, groupies, divorces, cheaters, and jerks. I can't, but I notice one thing, over and over: it's all fair game until it's your guy. People ask how Giants fans can defend Barry Bonds …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Deadball era not dead — NEW YORK (AP) — Talk about turning back the clock. — Former major league pitcher Jim Bouton announced Thursday the launch of an organization that will play by 19th century rules: The Vintage Base Ball Federation. Yup, back then baseball was two words.
Discussion:
The Catbird …
Larry Stone / Seattle Times:
Snelling shows a healthy attitude — Chris Snelling is a Yoda man. — Always has been, from his early days in the minor leagues, when he affixed a picture of the Jedi master to his glove and would write "Yoda" on all his bats, to this very day, when he carries a Yoda stuffed doll with him as a good-luck talisman.
David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners Notebook: A lesson in patience — Young Mariners hitters learning to see more pitches — If it seems like the Yankees are up to bat every time you look at the television this week, it's not your imagination. They spend a lot of time at the plate.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Sports Illustrated:
Rebuilding the Reds (cont.) — 2. Mike Arbuckle, Phillies assistant GM — The longtime executive is red-hot with recent drafts, having selected Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels. — 3. Mike Radcliff, Twins scouting director — The feeling was he couldn't go wrong with Joe Mauer …
Discussion:
Baby Bombers
MLB.com:
Indians, Mariners complete trade — The Indians today acquired LHP Shawn Nottingham from the Seattle Mariners to complete the July 26th trade that sent 1B Ben Broussard to Seattle in exchange for OF Shin-Soo Choo and a player to be named. — Nottingham, 21, has spent the entire 2006 minor league season …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox limping forward — 'Must' win over Tigers spoiled by hamstring injury to Thome — DETROIT — Overcoming 10 stranded runners and the loss of Jim Thome gave the White Sox some temporary satisfaction Wednesday night. — Thanks to the power resurgence of Joe Crede and timely pitching …
