Top News:
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Rattled Ortiz reacts — He insists media misrepresented him — BALTIMORE — MVP? — On this night, that would stand for a mightily, vociferously peeved David Ortiz, distressed at the way his remarks about the American League MVP race were used to portray him as selfishly campaigning …
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Mailbag: What's next year's plan? — Beat reporter Ian Browne answers fans' questions — I think the Red Sox have lost a crucial part of the ball club: fun. Manny Ramirez doesn't seem to be Manny as of late, and everyone looks like they are more depressed with the game than having fun.
Associated Press:
Crisp, Youkilis help BoSox snap six-game road skid — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — BALTIMORE — Even when they're struggling, the Boston Red Sox can count on beating the Baltimore Orioles. — Coco Crisp drove in three runs, Kevin Youkilis had two RBI in the pivotal sixth inning …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Miami Herald:
Girardi's status is still tenuous — With the Marlins continuing to amaze, why does manager Joe Girardi remain in jeopardy of losing his job at season's end? The more we hear, the more it becomes clearer why owner Jeffrey Loria issued another ''no comment'' this week regarding Girardi's future.
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Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Beinfest: No regrets about standing pat — · If Larry Beinfest knew then what he knows now, he still wouldn't have done anything differently. — Tuesday, the Marlins' general manager said he has no regrets about standing pat at the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Greg Wagner / MLB.com:
Angels top White Sox on Figgins' single — Halos move within 4 1/2 games of Oakland in AL West — ANAHEIM — Chone Figgins singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Angels a 4-3 victory over the White Sox on Tuesday. — Figgins' second walk-off hit …
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Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Notes: McPherson faces surgery options — Angels third baseman has been limited by several injuries — ANAHEIM — Dallas McPherson was supposed to help fill the power void, but the problem has been getting him on the field. — A bone spur in his left hip that required surgery a year ago took a sizable chunk out of last season.
Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Notes: Kendrick's kryptonite is curve — But Angels still want infielder to maintain his aggressiveness — ANAHEIM — Howie Kendrick already had his welcome-to-the-big-leagues moment and now he's getting the refresher. — If his skills take him as far as many predict …
David Lennon / Newsday:
Thunder in the eighth — Delgado's 3-run HR, Floyd's RBI double rally from 4-1 deficit — MIAMI — The Mets officially ended the Braves' unprecedented run of 14 consecutive division titles with last night's rain-delayed 6-4 victory over the Marlins. But if they want to uncork …
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Mark Hale / New York Post:
BRAVES' DIVISION STREAK ENDS — With the Mets' 6-4 win over the Marlins last night, the Braves were officially eliminated from winning the NL East. Atlanta had won 14 straight division crowns, playing in both the NL West and NL East. — "Very impressive," GM Omar Minaya said before the game.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Cost of business in Latin America soars — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Early this month, the San Francisco Giants paid a $2.1 million signing bonus for a 16-year-old Dominican third baseman, Angel Villalona. — And that came not long …
Discussion:
The Parrot
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Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Notes: Radke plays catch without pain — Twins reflect on Mauer beaning; club loses coin flips — MINNEAPOLIS — Pain had become such a part of throwing for Brad Radke that he almost didn't remember what it felt like to throw without it. — But on Tuesday, Radke played catch …
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StatsGuru / Baseball Musings:
Sharing the Wealth — The Dodgers took a 7-0 lead on the Cubs after three innings. Seven different Los Angeles players scored. A nice socialist game. — Update: The Cubs are convinced to the validity of the socialist system as they score five in the bottom of the fifth.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Nats ponder Johnson's spot — Manager unsure if cleanup is best suited for slugger — PHOENIX — Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano isn't the only one on the Nationals that is putting up nice offensive numbers. First baseman Nick Johnson is having the best season of his career.
Discussion:
District of Baseball
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Associated Press:
A look at the Braves' streak of 14 straight division titles — Braves' streak ends — Using 18 rookies, including 12 making their big-league debut, the Braves pull out their 14th straight division title by two games over Philadelphia. Andruw Jones finishes second in MVP balloting with 51 HRs and 128 RBI.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Phil Rogers / ESPN:
MVP voters prefer run producers — Deductive reasoning will get you only so far with baseball writers. I know. I am one. — I have voted for baseball's top awards since 1984. I can't say I've always seen the winners coming. — Juan Gonzalez over Alex Rodriguez for the American League MVP in 1996?
