Top News:
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Ortiz returning for tests — He cites heart problem again; Red Sox get routed by Oakland — OAKLAND, Calif. — A season slipping away took another crushing turn last night, even before a ragtag team of Red Sox was beaten, 9-0, by the Oakland Athletics. — About 20 minutes before the first pitch …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, Keep Your Sox On In Brooklyn, The Sports Frog, Bronx Banter and The Soxaholix
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Boston slugger Ortiz sent home for more heart tests — OAKLAND, Calif. - Slightly more than a week after being admitted to Mass. General Hospital with an irregular heartbeat, Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz suffered a recurrence of the problem last night and will return to Boston today for additional testing.
Associated Press:
Ortiz leaves BoSox, returns to Boston with irregular heartbeat — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — OAKLAND, Calif. — Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was scheduled to leave the team Tuesday and return to Boston to be examined again for an irregular heartbeat.
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Pavano suffers possible rib fracture in car accident … Carl Pavano, the Yankees' oft-injured free agent pitcher, was hurt in a car accident on Aug. 15 but informed the club of the injury only in recent days, and he was examined in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday for a possible rib fracture.
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yankees Fume After Pavano Fails To Disclose Most Recent Injury — Carl Pavano continues to find new ways to let down the Yankees. The difference now is that the team is more than disappointed. It's angry. — Just as he was closing in on returning to the Yankees after a 14-month absence …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals' Escobar out for season — Outfielder expected to be ready for start of Spring Training — WASHINGTON — Nationals center fielder Alex Escobar had an MRI on his right shoulder on Monday and it revealed that he has a tear in his right labrum and will have surgery within the next seven to 10 days.
Discussion:
Nationals Baseball Fan
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Zimmerman for Gold Glove — Beat writer Bill Ladson answers Nationals fans' questions … Comparing Ryan Zimmerman to Brooks Robinson needs to stop immediately. How on earth can you compare 16 Gold Gloves to a rookie year in the bigs? You can't, I can't and even as much as I respect manager Frank Robinson, he can't.
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Since Blowup, Schneider Has Rallied at — and Behind — the Plate — No one would argue that Washington Nationals catcher Brian Schneider has had an outstanding season. Yet General Manager Jim Bowden asked over the weekend, "What did he do the last two weeks?" — Indeed, Schneider is on the brink of salvaging the year.
NY Daily News:
Jax sees A-Rod upside — There figures to be plenty of boos waiting for Alex Rodriguez at the Stadium tonight. That is what happens to players who struggle the way A-Rod has, going 2-for-20 with 14 strikeouts during the Yankees' six games against Seattle and Anaheim last week.
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
A Whiff of Futility, and Rodriguez Can't Breathe Easy — Alex Rodriguez went 10 years without striking out four times in a game. Then he did it last month in Toronto, and again Friday night in Anaheim. Naturally, Rodriguez's inner competitor did not take this well.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers: from so close to so long — Season of opportunity dashed by intangibles and inconsistency — ANALYSIS: Sunday afternoon showers sent the Rangers scrambling for cover. They went deep, deep, deep under cover. — Less than 24 hours after falling nine games behind Oakland in the AL West …
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Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Aching Webb stumps Padres — PHOENIX - The Padres needed a big game from their offense last night. They didn't get it and suffered another defeat in a rival's ballpark where they seldom win. — Padres newcomer Russell Branyan hit two solo home runs, including one that went an estimated 456 feet …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
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Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Finger pain lingering for Greene — PHOENIX - A sprained finger ligament continues to pain and hinder shortstop Khalil Greene, who yesterday canceled a batting practice that was to be his first since going on the disabled list. — Today, Greene is to visit the same Phoenix-based hand specialist …
Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Greenspun Has Sympathy but No Solutions, Yet, for Lines — Fans exasperated by the long concessions lines at Dodger Stadium can get in line behind Marty Greenspun, the senior vice president in charge of business operations. — Greenspun recognizes the problem and has been visiting other stadiums for solutions.
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Teacher Crowley a hit with O's pupils … When Orioles rookie Nick Markakis popped out of the dugout for a curtain call after his third home run of the night last Tuesday, Terry Crowley remained in the background, exactly where he wanted to be. — Leaning against a partition a couple of yards away …
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Hall of Fame calls on Sutter — Pioneer reliever gets just enough votes; Rice, Goose fall short — NEW YORK — Bruce Sutter made history on Tuesday. Not only did he become the latest member of baseball's most exclusive club by the slimmest of margins, the right-handed split-fingered …
Discussion:
CardNilly
