Top News:
Redsock / The Joy of Sox:
G127: Red Sox 2, Angels 1 — Sox win 2-1, Yanks lose 4-2 (Slappy K vs Putz to end it). — Papi gave the Sox a 1-0 lead with his 46th HR leading off the fourth. Boston got a second run with a bases-loaded grounder from Doug Mirabelli in the seventh. Orlando Cabrera thought …
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
For six innings, clearly a cut above — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Now what? — For six innings last night, Josh Beckett was every bit the pitcher the Red Sox hoped they were getting when they dealt for him last winter. He outdueled Angels rookie gunslinger Jered Weaver, allowing no runs …
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Beckett, Sox thwart Angels — Ortiz acknowledges brief hospital stay — ANAHEIM, Calif. — He is not only the heartbeat of the Red Sox, but the backbone, soul, and inspiration of a team desperately trying to stay alive in the American League playoff race.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
First Loss Is a Tough One for Weaver — Rookie gives up only a solo homer to Ortiz in six innings, but Beckett and the Red Sox bullpen hold Angels down in a 2-1 victory. — The Jered Weaver joy ride taxied off the runway, pulled up to the gate and came to a complete stop Thursday night.
Mark Hale / New York Post:
BANNISTER GETS BALL AS DUQUE GETS REST — Willie Randolph announced yesterday that Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, who was slated to pitch tonight against the Phillies, won't take the hill this weekend due to his recent heavy workload. — Brian Bannister will come off the disabled list tonight …
Discussion:
the metropolitans
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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.
Darren Everson / NY Daily News:Milledge doesn't Last, sent down — He'll be back soon.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Cruz has Buck on his side — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Buck Showalter believes that Nelson Cruz can be a regular in the major leagues, and perhaps as early as next year. Right now, however, Showalter plans to start the right-handed hitting Cruz only against left-handed pitchers.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Baseball players covet opponents' memorabilia — MIAMI GARDENS — It's not quite the same as exchanging sweat-soaked jerseys with an opponent after a 90-minute soccer game. In many cases the premise behind it is the same. — Respect. — Some baseball players are among the game's biggest fans …
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Cabrera 'was born to hit' — MIAMI GARDENS — In his days with Cincinnati's Big Red Machine, slugger Tony Perez knew his presence in the lineup helped fellow stars like Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench get pitches to hit. — So when Florida slashed its payroll during the winter …
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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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Schroder's Getting an Opportunity — His ERA is a hefty 5.73, and he is baby-faced for someone who just turned 28. But don't let rookie reliever Chris Schroder of the Washington Nationals fool you. — "I like him," pitching coach Randy St. Claire said.
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Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Notes: Phillies using trio to close — Gordon's injury opens door for Rhodes, Madson and Geary — CHICAGO — Arthur Rhodes plus Ryan Madson and Geoff Geary equals three saves in three games for the Phillies. — Such has been life for the Phillies bullpen while closer Tom Gordon recovers from right shoulder inflammation.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
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.
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
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
NY Daily News:
Winning ways win over newest Met — Bobby pins would have slid off Carlos Delgado's bald head, so he used sticky tape to make sure the yarmulke stayed in its proper place. Shawn Green was getting married, and it wouldn't be kosher if the guys in the wedding party looked unkempt.
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
40-40 definitely in Soriano's sights … MIAMI — As he approaches an unprecedented mark brought on by his speed and power, Alfonso Soriano is trying to stay on an even keel in the last year of his contract. — With 5½ weeks remaining in the season Soriano, who has 41 home runs and 30 steals …
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
O's goal: lock up Bedard, Roberts … The plan started earlier this year with the signing of outfielder Jay Gibbons and Melvin Mora to multi-year extensions and Orioles vice president Jim Duquette hopes it continues this offseason when the club is looking to lock up two more significant parts of its nucleus.
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
Tracing his roots as a fan — It's not about who's to blame — I appeared to strike a chord in the readership earlier this week by writing the following: ``The truth is we need to sit down and figure what sports are all about. We've lost our way. It was in reference to the Yankees' infamous five …
Discussion:
Wallball Single
