Top News:
Stephen A. Smith / Centre Daily Times:
Philadelphia Phillies — NEW YORK - The Phillies score runs these days. This is something we know. They'll probably be in the thick of the wild-card race down to late September. This will surprise no one. — And while it's true the combination of both should keep things interesting …
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Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
A-Rod's stuck in tough spot — Moved up to No. 2, but Bombers still go down — ANAHEIM - Forty-five minutes after another Yankees loss to the Angels, Alex Rodriguez came through the back door of the clubhouse, bat in hand. Everyone else already was gone, headed off into the early evening …
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
NY Daily News:
Personal hell for Alex is getting worse by the day — In the last days before September, here are the biggest and most important position players in New York: Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez.
Associated Press:
Padres-Rockies Preview — The San Diego Padres are surging at the right time and so is right-hander Jake Peavy . — Peavy tries to lead the Padres (66-63) to their sixth win in seven games when they face the Colorado Rockies (60-69) on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series.
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Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Peavy tries to cook up a series win — San Diego (66-63) at Colorado (60-69), 12:05 p.m. PT — For their final game of the season at Coors Field, the Padres hand the ball to Jake Peavy, who will be opposed by Aaron Cook. — Peavy, the Padres ace, is back on top of his All-Star game …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Tough love, then a tough loss — Sox storm back from 6-3 deficit only to fall to torrid Twins in 11 — TWINS 8, WHITE SOX 7 (11) — The Twins took another big bite out of the White Sox's playoff chances Saturday night while chomping away at the Tigers' once-seemingly invincible lead in the AL Central.
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Owens eligible for postseason — This is a name you may want to remember if the White Sox play in October: Jerry Owens. — The Sox made a very strategic move Saturday when they called up the Triple-A outfielder and immediately placed him on the disabled list, thus making him eligible for the postseason roster.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Iannetta finishes ride to bigs — Chris Iannetta's dream came true Friday night in Salt Lake City. That's where he received word he was being called up from the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox to the Rockies. — The magnitude of the big- league dream kept him awake until the sun rose over the Wasatch Mountains.
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Irv Moss / Denver Post:
Reliever Speier returning to mound — With a new crop of prospects moving front and center in the Rockies organization, it might be difficult to remember pitcher Ryan Speier. — But three seasons ago, Speier was at the top of the futures list as he compiled a season of 37 saves for the Tulsa Drillers in the Double-A Texas League.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Timlin lets it get away — Wells's effort wasted as Mariners rally late — SEATTLE — Where have you gone, Mike Timlin? — Over the last 22 games, the 40-year-old righthanded setup man has set up disasters. He has allowed 18 earned runs in his last 21 1/3 innings …
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NY Daily News:
Get ready ... aim ... fire — Which skippers' jobs are in the crosshairs — With Labor Day and the September stretch comes the second manager firing season - the first being right before the All-Star break - and so far all 30 Opening Day skippers are still on the job.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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George King / New York Post:
PAVANO SUFFERS SETBACK — ANAHEIM - Carl Pavano is running out of body parts to break down. — Following his rehab start for Columbus (Triple-A) Friday night, Pavano talked of a problem with an oblique muscle, and there is the possibility he will be shut down.
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Sean Holland / Fire Brand of the American League:
THEO — When I first sat down to write this article, I tried a systematic, reasoned evaluation of our GM. I opened up transaction reports, Cot's Baseball Contracts, espn.com's stats page, baseball prospectus PECOTA cards... every resource I could think of to make my point.
Bob Baum / Associated Press:
Dodgers' Kent hits game-winning homer — PHOENIX —Jeff Kent homered to lead off the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 Saturday night. — Kent's towering shot to left on a 3-2 pitch from Luis Vizcaino (3-4) …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
David Briggs / MLB.com:
Georgia riding high as US champs — Strong outing by Phillips works Columbus to title game — SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — A jubilant heap players formed a recklessly joyful pile along the third-base line. Their fans just feet away rowdily hugged. The chorus of "Celebrate Good Times" blared from the Lamade Stadium speakers.
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