Top News:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Johnson's Poor Fielding Has Taken Shine Off His Year — By nearly all measures, Washington Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson is having a career year — leading the National League in on-base percentage, flirting with hitting .300, already with career highs in homers, hits, doubles and games played.
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Helton shows off old magic — A grand slam in the seventh inning lifts the Rockies - and the first baseman's spirits … It's the type of situation a cleanup hitter craves - except Todd Helton doesn't hit third or fourth anymore, spots entrusted today and beyond to Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:Soriano, Nationals Get No Breaks
Discussion:
The Nationals Enquirer
Lacy J. Banks / Chicago Sun Times:
Team mired in difficulty, but Pierre on a roll — ATLANTA — In a mostly negative season, center fielder Juan Pierre remains the Cubs' most consistent positive. — ''Pierre's been playing great baseball, big time,'' manager Dusty Baker said. ''He's done everything we've asked of him.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Ben Volin / Palm Beach Post:
Florida finally slows Howard — MIAMI GARDENS — It took three games, 12 at-bats and about 40 hours, but the Marlins finally got Ryan Howard out. — Howard singled in his first two at-bats in the Marlins' 3-0 win Sunday, extending his streak to 11 consecutive plate appearances reaching base …
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Dave George / Palm Beach Post:
Commentary: Pesky Marlins keep acting up — MIAMI GARDENS — The bratty little brothers of the National League, Florida's firesale-proof Marlins, refuse to behave themselves. — It's mid-September, for crying out loud, well past time for teams with tiny $15 million payrolls …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Willis whitewashes Phillies — Lefty keeps club in thick of wild card — MIAMI GARDENS — Josh Johnson has more wins. Ricky Nolasco has fewer losses. Scott Olsen has one more strikeout. Anibal Sanchez has one more no-hitter. — For all the things the Marlins' rookie starters …
Discussion:
FishStripes
MLB.com:
Mets attendance eclipses 3,000,000 — Tickets sold to date for 2006 season approaching 3,500,000 — The New York Mets today announced that they have eclipsed the 3 million mark in attendance for the 2006 season at Shea Stadium. Including today's crowd of 48,760, the Mets …
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Allen Salkin / New York Times:
Giving It Up for Mr. Met — LOOKING for Mr. Right? How about Mr. Wright? — A lot of women — and men — are finding him, along with his teammates, irresistible. — David Wright, 23, the power-hitting third baseman of the Mets, is one reason an expanding group of local baseball fans are counting down to the postseason.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Notes: Chacin grateful for Escobar — Angels pitcher took Jays pitcher under wing in Toronto — ANAHEIM — Gustavo Chacin always enjoys seeing Kelvim Escobar. The Blue Jays pitcher is quick to smile when he looks back on how Escobar, who is now with the Angels, helped him adjust …
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NY Daily News:
Mo may skip week — BALTIMORE - Anyone hoping to see Mariano Rivera back on the mound for the Yankees this week probably will be disappointed. — Rivera, who is suffering from a muscle strain in his right forearm, doesn't appear likely to pitch during the Yankees' upcoming home stand since …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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Joe Roderick / Contra Costa Times:
Thomas cashes in on power ball — Notebook — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With Frank Thomas homering in his fifth consecutive game, the A's might expect this to become a daily ritual. — "He's just been unbelievable," Barry Zito, Sunday's starting pitcher, said of Thomas.
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Valentine: It changed the priorities in my life — Bobby Valentine was the Mets' manager from 1996 to 2002. He now manages the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, and shared his thoughts on 9/11 in a telephone interview Saturday. — My emotion at the beginning was fear, fear for my team.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Ortiz raps HR, MVP voting — So, on an afternoon that David Ortiz hit his career-best 48th home run to draw within two of the club record held by Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx, what did he think of his chances of winning the American League's Most Valuable Player award?
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
NY Daily News:
Cliff: Time to put up, shut up — Cliff Floyd emerged from a closed-door meeting with Willie Randolph sounding like a guy whose spot on the postseason roster is in real doubt. The left fielder said he'd been scratched from yesterday's starting lineup because of his chronically sore left Achillies …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Wagner keeps club laughing — Closer outfits team with new T-shirts as Mets enjoy season — NEW YORK — Few people were more touched by the departure of Mike Piazza and by Piazza's return to Shea Stadium last month than Charlie Samuels, the Mets' long-time clubhouse/equipment manager.
Associated Press:
Fan violence mars Ohio State's big win over Texas — COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio State University student accused of driving his car into three people, injuring them slightly, was among several people arrested during a raucous celebration of the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes' win over No. 2 Texas.
