Top News:
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Lo Duca outburst has Latin accent — Calls out media, Hispanic mates — Admitting he was "in a bad mood all day," Paul Lo Duca announced in a near-empty clubhouse last night - and on the eve of the Mets' key NL East showdown with the Phillies - that some of his Spanish-speaking teammates need …
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Michael Morrissey / New York Post:
LO DUCA TIRED OF DOING THE TALKING — Paul Lo Duca left the clubhouse grumpy and agitated after last night's cancellation, irritated about his role as a "go-to guy" with the media. — Moreover, Lo Duca may have revealed a rift in the clubhouse with his parting comment.
Fox Sports:
Hall of Fame argument for Biggio, Thomas — LIKE THIS STORY? — Thursday was a good day for milestones. — On Thursday, Frank Thomas of the Blue Jays bashed career home-run number 500, and Craig Biggio of the Astros notched career hit number 3,000. Both benchmarks are as hallowed …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
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Rocky Mountain News:
RINGOLSBY: Rockies hesitated and lost on Biggio — HOUSTON - Talk about irony. — Houston second baseman Craig Biggio on Thursday became the 27th player in major league history to reach 3,000 hits, achieving the milestone against the Rockies. — If things had worked out as Biggio …
Jose De Jesus Ortiz / Houston Chronicle:
3000! Biggio reaches career hit milestone — BIG-GI-O! BIG-GI-O! BIG-GI-O! — Once he settled back into the batter's box, he ripped an RBI single to center field to collect his third hit of the night and the 3,000th of his 20-year career, sending the sellout crowd of 42,537 …
Brian Costello / New York Post:
RIVAL SURVIVAL — METS BATTLE PHILS IN NL EAST SHOWDOWN — The Mets offense has been dormant lately, but the schedule makers may provide the slumbering bats with a wakeup call beginning today. — The Mets open a four-game series in Philadelphia at cozy Citizens Bank Park.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
preGame: Mets at Phillies (Game 1) — The Game: — The first-place Mets (43-33) take on the second-place Phillies (41-37) in the first game of a double-header today in Philadelphia. — The Lineup: — Jose Reyes leads off, followed in order by Jose Valentin, Carlos Beltran, David Wright …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
David Picker / New York Times:Even Before Rain, Mets Would Rather Be in Philadelphia
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Rain stops Orioles, Yankees in the 8th … The 19-minute rain delay that occurred in the middle of the Orioles' four-run seventh inning last night gave the home team plenty of chances to ponder what they were on the verge of accomplishing. They already had erased a two-run deficit …
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks Take New Approach to Season — Jorge Posada's throw sailed into left field, a wild heave from an exhausted stalwart of the Yankees. Corey Patterson, who was trying to steal third base, trotted home with another run to put the Baltimore Orioles ahead by two in the seventh inning Thursday at Camden Yards.
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Bradley to Padres — The Padres and Oakland Athletics have agreed in principle to a trade that will send outfielder Milton Bradley to the Padres and a minor league pitcher to the A's. Some minor details still need to be ironed out. — Bradley, 29, is projected to play left field …
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Armas' days numbered? — MIAMI — The end could be nigh for Tony Armas. — He might be the least of the Pirates' problems, having been relegated to mopup duty a month ago, but he also has been the least effective of their pitchers with a 8.92 ERA and nine home runs allowed in just 37 innings.
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Dejan Kovacevic / Associated Press:Duke digs deep hole in Pirates' 9-7 loss
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
YES may join Yanks in the tank — The Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network is officially in uncharted waters. For the first time since the network debuted five years ago, the Bombers' ship is sinking. — If the losing continues, will viewers bail? And if they do, and Yankees ratings …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Dan Patrick on "The Price is Right"?!? — Dan Patrick of ESPN has been contacted by the producers of the game show The Price is Right in an effort to see if the ESPN television and radio personality would be interested in hosting the show. Auditions are being held to replace retired host Bob Barker …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
No news not bad for Sox, Buehrle — Sides may agree on 4 years, $56 million — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Silence may be golden when it comes to negotiations between the White Sox and left-handed ace Mark Buehrle. — Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn returned to Chicago Thurday …
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Peter Abraham / Journal News:
Yankees won't deal pitching prospects — BALTIMORE - General manager Brian Cashman said yesterday that while he would like to be active in the trade market, he will not part with any of the team's top pitching prospects. — "I can't be foolish," Cashman told The Journal News.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Thriving Beckett has that winning feeling — Right-hander's rise has him on cusp of first All-Star berth — SEATTLE — A crowning moment awaits Josh Beckett on Sunday, when the All-Star selections are announced. — Tied for the Major League lead with 11 wins, Beckett …
Discussion:
Bradford Files
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers' bid for sweep derailed — Millwood pitching better; Kinsler sprains left ankle in loss — DETROIT — Roll call in the Rangers' locker room after a 5-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon. — Ian Kinsler. Sprained left ankle. Crutches present at locker.
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