Top News:
Owen Perkins / MLB.com:
Notes: The Gold Glove case for Carroll — Infielder has committed only three errors at second all season — DENVER — The Rockies relied on strong pitching and efficient hitting in Thursday's win over the Nationals, but their defensive play was as important as any element.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats Commit 6 Errors In Loss — Washington Again Gives Game Away : Rockies 11, Nationals 8 — Staying up to watch this on a Friday night would have brought, at the very least, indigestion. Intense fans of the Washington Nationals understand that their team is — how to put this politely? — defensively challenged.
Discussion:
The Curly W
Thom Loverro / Washington Times:
Robinson, Nats fans deserve better — I know Stan Kasten and the Washington Nationals believe they have every right to treat information about the team fans pay a lot of money to watch as if it were a state secret. (How are those talks going with Alfonso Soriano, anyway?)
Tony DeMarco / MLB.com:
Shaky fielding dooms Nats in opener — Defensive miscues lead to a five-run Rockies eighth inning — DENVER — This time, the Washington Nationals have nobody to blame but themselves. — Back in mid-June, when the Nationals were on a nice roll and within four games of .500 …
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Hafner's MVP-type season ends — Second X-ray reveals hairline fracture; surgery not ruled out — CHICAGO — Upon further review, Travis Hafner's hand injury is as bad as had been feared. — Hafner has a broken metacarpal bone below the ring finger on his right hand, an injury that will bring his impressive 2006 season to an end.
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Associated Press:
Bad break: Indians lose DH Hafner for rest of season — CHICAGO — Cleveland Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner will miss the rest of the season with a broken right hand. — Hafner suffered the injury on Sept. 1 when Rangers right-hander C.J. Wilson hit him on the hand with a pitch in the eighth inning.
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
He's relieved to be back in the majors — SEATTLE — Frank Francisco's nearly two-year hiatus from major league action ended Friday when the Rangers recalled him and he pitched against the Mariners. — Francisco, who will turn 27 Monday, was the Rangers Rookie of the Year in 2004, when he had a 3.33 ERA in 45 appearances.
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Notes: Francisco excited to be back — Return to big leagues was arduous for promising righty — SEATTLE — Right-handed reliever Frank Francisco's two-year odyssey came to an end on Friday night. He is once again on the Rangers active roster after missing almost two complete seasons …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers baffled by Baek — SEATTLE - Rangers starter Kevin Millwood lost a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners when Richie Sexson led off the fifth inning with a hard grounder past Hank Blalock. Two batters and two hits later, Millwood was staring at a 3-0 deficit.
John Powers / Boston Globe:
Lopez is on the outs — Javy Lopez, brought in early last month to plug the gap when catcher Jason Varitek went down with a knee injury, was released yesterday, as the Red Sox brought back Ken Huckaby from Triple A Pawtucket. — ``When 'Tek went down, we needed a guy who could shoulder …
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John Powers / Boston Globe:Timlin gives it back — Ortiz hands Sox lead, Royals answer in ninth
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Lobbying effort for Hoffman begins — SAN FRANCISCO - When Padres relief ace Trevor Hoffman lost out on the Cy Young Award in 1998, he was miffed that five sportswriters left him off their ballots, which ran three deep. — Seeking answers, and championing the cause of all closers …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
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Lindsey Frazier / MLB.com:
Gonzalez paces D-Backs in rout — Veteran's 48th double sets single-season franchise record — PHOENIX — After a shaky first half and some off-the-field issues, this season may not be going the way Luis Gonzalez had envisioned. — But none of those things seem important now …
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards absorb a drubbing in desert — PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks felt the weather pleasant enough Friday to open the roof for Friday night's game, which then featured some of the reeking flaws the Cardinals had done well to keep a lid on for several weeks.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Karstens Is Bright Spot for Banged-Up Yankees — There is a temporary bank of lockers in the middle of the visitors' clubhouse at Camden Yards, enough to fit the 34 Yankees on the active roster. On this team, the term active is used loosely. — Mariano Rivera is out for this weekend's series …
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Reds drive past Pirates, 9-1 — Snell's ire rises after he allows 3 more homers — CINCINNATI — Ian Snell would like to be left alone during his starts. — "I don't like people talking to me during games," the Pirates' right-hander said last night. "I'm really upset about it."
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Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Hudson takes on Beckett — Kansas City (53-89) at Boston (75-66), 6:05 p.m. CT — You could count the bad starts by Luke Hudson on one finger. It was that one-out, 11-run first inning against the Indians on Aug. 13. The good news about that was that only 10 of the 11 runs were earned.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:
Howard feasts on Marlins' pitching — MIAMI GARDENS — For Scott Olsen, the instructions were clear: Do not allow Ryan Howard to beat you. — So with a 2-0 count and a runner on first in the sixth inning Friday, Olsen tried to get back into the count by challenging Howard with a fastball, preferably low.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Murray Chass / New York Times:Raves for the Daffy Marlins (Gibes for the Red Sox)
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Larry Dierker:
Little ball — Last night, I was doing a show on KTRH with Tom Franklin and Alan Ashby and we got yet another call about bunting. It seems to me that many people who consider themselves to be knowledgeable fans, think their favorite teams should bunt more often.
