Top News:
Phil Mushnick / New York Post:
KAAT'S CAREER ONE OF THE BEST — JIM Kaat's 23-year broadcasting career ends tonight with Red Sox-Yanks on Ch. 9. With his departure, New York loses much more than a calm, clear and wise voice. — We lose a noise and nonsense filter, a fellow who never tried to dazzle us, talk down to us …
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Ramírez could be done for the season — Francona says slugger wants to play, but can't — BALTIMORE — Red Sox manager Terry Francona said after a closed-door meeting with Manny Ramírez yesterday that ``there's a chance" Ramírez, who has been diagnosed with patellar tendinitis …
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Free Agent Compensation Could Be in Jeopardy — Once Washington Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano becomes the fourth player to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season — he needs just one more stolen base — the attention will likely turn to Soriano's future.
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Mark Zuckerman / Washington Times:
Logan may be answer in center — PHOENIX — Nook Logan was brought in by the Washington Nationals two weeks ago in a last-resort move by a club that has been searching for a reliable center fielder seemingly since the day it relocated to the District. — It's still way too early to tell …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers claim Stairs off waivers — Outfielder/first baseman provides another left-handed bat — DETROIT — The Tigers announced on Friday that they've claimed first baseman/outfielder Matt Stairs off waivers from the Texas Rangers, adding another piece for the stretch run to what has been a struggling offense.
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
Two Years, 180 Degrees — Photographs By The New York Times: Barton Silverman; John Dunn; Suzy Allman; Kathy Willens/Associated Press; Doug Benc/Getty Images — On this day two years ago, the Mets' lineup card included Jason Phillips, Eric Valent, Wilson Delgado and Jeff Keppinger.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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Randy Galloway / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Reality check: Buck looks a lot like Bill — The Rangers' final homestand of the season opened in Arlington on Thursday night. Only the hardcore will care. The vast majority will keep going east or west on I-30. — Although minimal local baseball intrigue will be involved over the next two weeks …
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Adam Caldarelli / Chicago Tribune:
From the Cubicle — Live play-by-play commentary of today's Cubs-Reds game from lonelyguy28932. — I'm coming up short on reasons why the Cubs are even still playing. They've established themselves as the worst team in the National League. End of story.
Discussion:
Archie Bunker's Army
Ron Kroichick / San Francisco Chronicle:
Schmidt injury leaves pitching plans uncertain — As the Giants headed to the airport Thursday, bound for St. Louis, they did not know if Jason Schmidt, nursing soreness in his upper back, would make his scheduled start tonight. — Manager Felipe Alou said the team would wait until today to determine Schmidt's availability.
NY Daily News:
Plunking puts Posada in pain — One of the main goals for any first-place team simply cruising to the finish line is to get through each day without suffering new injuries. — Jorge Posada left last night's 7-4 win over Tampa in the seventh inning with a bruised left elbow after he was clipped …
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Baseball America:
Let The Madness Begin — Before the affiliation shuffle has officially gotten under way, a major alteration could be taking place in the Appalachian League. — The Blue Jays have notified the league that they won't be back in Pulaski next year, and they apparently intend to drop …
Dan Shanoff:
Bill Simmons vs. Stephen Colbert — Last night, my former ESPN.com colleague - and the Web's most popular sportswriter — Bill Simmons was on "The Colbert Report" to support the paperback release of his book "Now I Can Die In Peace." — In the most appropriate homage to Bill …
ESPN:
MEET THE SPOILERS — Ramirez's HR rallies Cubs past Dodgers. — NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES — GOOD — Matt Cain continued his dominance in the Giants' 5-0 win over the Rockies. Cain allowed two hits in eight superb innings to win his fourth straight start.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Skipper staying subdued — Hurdle spares his young club fire and brimstone … The Rox need a new manager who isn't afraid to chew some tail and light a fire when they aren't performing. Clint Hurdle is well past his due date! — Steve, Nashville, Tenn.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Benjamin Hoffman / New York Times:
A Bittersweet Taste of Reality for a Fantasy Baseball Expert — The St. Louis Cardinals are stumbling toward the postseason with a patchwork pitching staff. Their closer, Jason Isringhausen, is out indefinitely with a hip injury, and Mark Mulder, who started the season as their No. 2 starter …
Ed Sherman / Chicago Tribune:
Harrelson did job perfectly — Mentioning Garcia's great effort essential — WGN-Ch. 9 and Ken Harrelson weren't about to accept the blame for Freddy Garcia losing his perfect-game bid on Wednesday. — There were complaints from some traditionalists that it was the broadcaster's fault …
Dan Wetzel / Yahoo! Sports:
USC should forfeit the 2004 national crown after reports that Reggie Bush and his family appear to have accepted financial benefits from prospective agents. — LOS ANGELES - The would-be agents who provided the house, the money for the tricked-out car, the luxury hotel rooms and the tens …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Dye says Raiders games pillage Oakland outfield — OAKLAND — Right fielder Jermaine Dye is accustomed to playing pennant-drive baseball in Oakland. — Unfortunately for Dye, he has had to cope with the rough conditions at McAfee Coliseum when the baseball season has overlapped with football.
