Top News:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
No dirt from Dusty...for now — If his tenure here ends when the season does, don't expect the Cubs manager to lash out at anyone. That may come at a later time. — As he enters the final two weeks of the four-year deal that brought him to Chicago, Dusty Baker understands why many view …
Discussion:
The View From The Bleachers
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Ryan Crawford / MLB.com:
Hill tosses two-hit masterpiece — Rookie lefty throws first career shutout; Ramirez drives in two — CHICAGO — Rich Hill tossed a two-hitter for his first Major League shutout in the Cubs' 4-0 win over Cincinnati in front of 40,526 at Wrigley Field on Saturday.
Discussion:
6-4-2
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Notes: Zambrano to start Sunday — Right-hander left his last start with back spasms on Sept. 4 — CHICAGO — Carlos Zambrano got the go-ahead. Big Z will be starting on Sunday for the Cubs. — Zambrano came out of his Sept. 4 start after 1 1/3 innings with back spasms and has passed all the tests …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs blanked, Zambrano to return — Back pain benches rookie Mateo after 3rd; vet Zambrano returning to rotation — One Cubs pitcher had to back out of a no-hitter Friday and another one most likely will be back Sunday. — As if you couldn't guess, the key word here is "back," …
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Damon's a feast for hungry Yankees — NEW YORK - There is a defiance in Johnny Damon's voice, one seldom stirred and then by only one device: the Boston Red Sox. Damon is generally a passive observer or a clown who trolls through the New York Yankees clubhouse quoting "Talladega Nights" …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Sean McAdam / Providence Journal:Closing down: Sox considering Papelbon as a starter
Discussion:
MLB.com
Associated Press:
Padres-Dodgers Preview — One night after the Los Angeles Dodgers used a four-time Cy Young Award winner to stay atop the NL West, they will turn to a rookie to try and increase that lead. — The Dodgers will send Chad Billingsley to the mound when they continue a four-game series against San Diego Padres on Saturday.
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
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Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Williams hopes to help Padres rebound — San Diego (76-70) at Los Angeles (78-69), 7:10 p.m. PT — There's something about pitching against the Dodgers that has brought out the best in Woody Williams. The Padres are hoping that trend continues when the veteran right-hander faces young Chad Billingsley …
Micah Cohen / New York Times:
Back-to-Back Titles for Class A Yankees — Kyle Larsen knew what it took to win a New York-Penn League title. Larsen, one of the few returning players from the Staten Island Yankees' 2005 championship team, drove in both runs last night in a 2- victory against the visiting Tri-City ValleyCats …
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Ozzie likes Mackowiak in center — OAKLAND, Calif. —Rob Mackowiak started in center field for the third time in the last four games on Friday night, as Guillen obviously has shown which player he is most confident with in crunch time. And it isn't Brian Anderson.
Discussion:
The Bard's Room
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Scioscia, Watson Reach 'Understanding' — ARLINGTON, Texas — Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said he and Bob Watson, baseball's vice president for on-field operations, reached an "understanding" Friday, but the two still don't seem to be in agreement on discipline for bean balls and brush-back pitches.
Discussion:
6-4-2
Rich Draper / MLB.com:
Notes: Alou shrugs off critics — Giants manager not concerned with status next year — ST. LOUIS — There have been e-mails and letters and outcries from talk show hosts and baseball critics from the first day manager Felipe Alou was hired by the Giants, telling the world he wasn't and isn't up to the job.
Associated Press:
Ichiro sets two records in one day — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki stole his AL single-season record 33rd consecutive base in the third inning of Seattle's game against Kansas City on Saturday night.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
WANG'S THE ONE — RIGHTY SHOULD OPEN PLAYOFFS — IT was raining hard enough in the pregame yesterday for Joe Torre to abandon his familiar perch in the home dugout and instead chat with the media in the corridor outside the Yankees' clubhouse. — For nearly 13 minutes …
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Johnson Hits His Stride — For five frustrating seasons, everywhere Nick Johnson went, from New York to Montreal to Washington, those who admired his game wondered what kind of season he could produce if he didn't get hurt and could play a full year. Now, everybody knows.
John Eisenberg / Baltimore Sun:
Gastall's secret, fatal flight … His last words came over the control tower radio at Dundalk's Harbor Field on Sept. 20, 1956: "75-Hotel. I'm going into the water." — The voice belonged to Tom Gastall, a 24-year-old reserve catcher for the Orioles. Married with a young son …
