Top News:
Darren Everson / NY Daily News:
Milledge doesn't Last, sent down — He'll be back soon. He's still the future. He'll probably be one of the starting outfielders here next season. — But for now, Lastings Milledge isn't here at all. The Mets announced after last night's game that they optioned Milledge to Triple …
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Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Green day is a good day — New RF goes 1-for-3 with an RBI in debut, and gets plenty of love — Right now, the Mets are like a political candidate who is running unopposed. They still show up at a few events, shake a few hands, kiss a few babies. But they know how the race is going to end.
David Picker / New York Times:
Mets Raise Questions by Resting Hernández — Brian Bannister spent the past four months rehabilitating a hamstring he injured in late April. Now he returns to a Mets pitching staff that is limping toward October, with Orlando Hernández becoming the third prominent starter to be temporarily pulled from the rotation.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres acquire slugger Branyan from Devil Rays — Trying to strengthen their bench, the Padres on Thursday acquired left-handed slugger Russell Branyan from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. — Branyan, 30, is a corner infielder/outfielder and boom-or-bust hitter who has 12 home runs and 62 strikeouts …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
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Associated Press:
Padres get Branyan from Devil Rays — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The San Diego Padres obtained outfielder Russell Branyan from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for minor league pitcher Evan Meek and a player to be named or cash on Thursday night. — Branyan is hitting .201 with 12 homers and 27 RBIs in 64 games.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Notes: Branyan and more possible waiver deals — Several contenders continue to explore possible waiver deals in advance of Thursday's deadline for setting postseason rosters. — The Padres acquired third baseman Russell Branyan from the Devil Rays on Thursday for Class A right-hander Evan Meek.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Thome out vs. Twins, but no DL — Leg injury not serious; no timetable for return — DETROIT — Designated hitter Jim Thome is unlikely to return to the White Sox's starting lineup against American League Central rival Minnesota this weekend, but his strained left hamstring isn't serious enough …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Sox deliver point-blank pummeling — Fail to gain ground, but welcome momentum — DETROIT — With time running out and their biggest slugger shelved indefinitely, the White Sox hope a split of their four-game series with Detroit leads to better things this weekend.
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Heart issue landed Papi in hospital — ANAHEIM, Calif. - Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz was held overnight at Mass. General Hospital last weekend to monitor an irregular heartbeat, but the matter ultimately proved nothing more than a scare for the player and team.
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Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Weaver takes first loss as Halos fall — Angels rookie yields costly solo shot to Sox slugger Ortiz — ANAHEIM — Push came to shove on Thursday when Little Weav met Big Papi. — Jered Weaver, who carried the nickname when he shared the Angels clubhouse earlier this season with big brother …
Discussion:
6-4-2
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Bob Finnigan / Seattle Times:
M's Notes: Seattle not filling office vacancy — With Benny Looper changing jobs, the Mariners plan to go without one of their top baseball executive positions, vice president of player development and scouting. — Looper, who has been with the club 10 years, will move to his first love, hands-on scouting.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Underachieving? — NEW YORK — Cardinals executives said the club's current roster, regardless of cost, should be performing better than it is. But rather than pay for short-term fixes and complicate future finances, they have taken a long-term and in-house approach to improving.
Discussion:
The Birdwatch
Sports Illustrated:
Frank Thomas, once written off, enjoying renaissance in Oakland — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -Frank Thomas can run from first to third with relative ease and is crushing home runs into the upper deck again. That spat with his former general manager earlier this year is a thing of the past.
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.
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Pluto sent down to Minors — Former planet hurt by lack of size, disgruntled fan base — Pluto has been sent down. — It was only a matter of time. — Small body, never got hot, kind of distant. — Astronomers made the decision at their version of the winter meetings, the International Astronomical Union in Prague.
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," …
