Top News:
Marc Carig / Washington Post:
Nationals Complete Their 3-Game Sweep of Orioles — Before the season, baseball fans around the Beltway scanned Washington's roster and debated whether they might be witnesses to history. The open question was whether the Nationals would sink to the level of the historically awful.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Page back with the organization — Former hitting coach will become a roving hitting instructor — BALTIMORE — Mitchell Page will return to the Nationals organization as a roving hitting instructor in the Minor League system. His duties will begin after the All-Star break.
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Yanks sweep D-Backs — For some reason, he's not entirely sure why, Joe Torre recently decided to stand on the dugout steps instead of sitting on the bench when the Yankees were batting. — They scored a few runs. So he decided to keep on doing it. — They got a few wins.
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Rodriguez and Pettitte Turn Success Into Victory — When the Yankees played in Chicago last week, Manager Joe Torre considered giving Alex Rodriguez a day off. Torre guessed that Rodriguez might be worn down mentally by the swirl of stories about his private life, and worn down physically by playing every game this season.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:Posada power — Homer continues catcher's hit parade
Discussion:
Hartford Courant, Catbird in the Nosebleed Seats, MLB Trade Rumors, New York Times, MLB Rumors and Bronx Banter
Associated Press:
Dodgers fire Hall of Famer Murray as hitting coach — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers fired Hall of Famer Eddie Murray as hitting coach Thursday after completing a three-game sweep of the NL East-leading New York Mets in which they got 31 hits and scored 18 runs.
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Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Five and Fly: Murray less than a hit — A few weeks ago, asked about Eddie Murray's touch with Los Angeles Dodgers hitters who ranged from the greenest of rookies to the grayest of veterans, one of those veterans sighed and shook his head. — He liked Murray. He valued Murray's Hall-of-Fame credentials.
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Everett breaks leg in collision — Astros shortstop out 4-8 weeks with fractured right fibula — HOUSTON — The Houston Astros' bad season turned a little worse on Thursday, following the news that slick-fielding shortstop Adam Everett will miss four to eight weeks with a broken right leg.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers promote top prospect — Gallardo gets the call; lefty Capuano lands on the DL — DETROIT — The Yovani Gallardo era already was beginning a bit earlier than the Brewers would have liked. Now it could begin earlier yet. — The team on Thursday afternoon the promotion of Gallardo …
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
Price is still right — A $13 million offer will still get it done for another year of Curt Schilling in Boston. — Despite asserting that he'd hit the free-agent market this off-season after Theo Epstein and the Red Sox declined to extend him during spring training …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Howard Ulman / Associated Press:Rockies pound Schilling, rout BoSox 12-2
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Sore shoulder puts Owens back on shelf — · Henry Owens' shoulder trouble has gone from front to back. — The Marlins' right-hander is back on the disabled list retroactive to Saturday with shoulder inflammation. Owens was sidelined 20 days last month because of pain in the front of the shoulder.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Three Marlins ejected after plunking — Tankersley, Boone, skipper Gonzalez tossed following warning — MIAMI — The Interleague matchup between the Marlins and Indians on Wednesday night at Dolphin Stadium reached a boiling point in the sixth inning. — After warnings were issued …
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Networks, MLB to expand Bonds coverage? — NEW YORK (AP) — Whether they're rooting for him or against him, fans might get to see a lot of Barry Bonds on television. — Fox and ESPN are discussing the possibility of expanding coverage of Bonds as he approaches Hank Aaron's home run mark of 755 …
Chicago Tribune:
Just a nip and tuck, or major surgery for White Sox? — A run for redemption has turned into a series of survival for the White Sox. — Ex-White Sox settles in as a Ranger — On the bright side, Jenks well-rested — Matchup: White Sox at Pirates — Teddy Greenstein: North lights up Sox's Cooper
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Try Clubhouse Humor to Offset Their Frustration — Five Mets players sat around a small card table before Tuesday's game playing dominoes. They were shouting, laughing, enjoying themselves. A few hours later, after another disheartening loss, the only sounds coming from the clubhouse …
Enrico / The700Level.com:
The Mustache Ride Is Over — In a shocking end to the brilliant run of one of the greatest catchers of the past decade, Sal Fasano's career went black on Wednesday. Fans of the 'stache don't have any idea what will happen next. Will he be back in the bigs in a week?
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Barrett will catch more bench time — Piniella believes rest should 'help' catcher — Cubs catcher Michael Barrett's playing time will be reduced in the coming weeks, even though Henry Blanco is at least two weeks from returning from the disabled list. — "It has been a tough couple of weeks …
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:Cubs send Murton down, lefty called up
Discussion:
GoatRiders of the Apocalypse
