Top News:
D.J. Short / MetsBlog.com:
preGame: Mets at Reds (Game One) — The Game: — The first-place Mets (76-60) welcome Pedro Martinez back into the fold as they kick off a three-game series against the Reds (62-75) this afternoon at Great American Ballpark, starting at 1:05 pm EDT. — The Lineup:
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets sweep Braves behind Tom Glavine's strong effort — ATLANTA - John Smoltz has owned David Wright, just as the Braves have owned the Mets over the years. — But that dominance did not continue this weekend. Not for Smoltz against Wright. And not for the Braves against the Mets …
Discussion:
Mets Geek
David Lennon / Newsday:
Lo Duca's tip helps Wagner break slump — ATLANTA - Billy Wagner was on the verge of another ninth-inning crash and burn yesterday when catcher Paul Lo Duca decided he didn't like the view from the passenger seat. After Brian McCann's leadoff double and Kelly Johnson's single trimmed the Mets' lead to 3-2 …
Jay Cohen / Associated Press:
Mariners beat Yankees to end 9-game skid — NEW YORK (AP) — The video system wasn't working very well, so Ichiro Suzuki didn't get to study any of Roger Clemens' outings. — He still managed to do pretty well against a banged-up Rocket. — Suzuki had three hits off Clemens to equal another record …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
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ESPN.com:
Rocket sputters: Clemens to have MRI on elbow — NEW YORK — Roger Clemens got banged up by the Seattle Mariners, and then quickly left the clubhouse after the Yankees' 7-1 loss on Monday to get an MRI exam on his balky right elbow. — The 45-year-old Clemens, who allowed five runs …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Anthony Rieber / On the Yankees beat:
Clemens hurt? — The answer to that question is yes. But whether he's hurt enough to miss his next start Monday vs. Seattle is up in the air. — Clemens has been dealing with blisters on one of his feet. He may also be dealing with some elbow inflammation.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Joe Torre might want to return for 13th season as Yankee manager — Less than two months after telling the Daily News that this has been his toughest year as Yankees manager, Joe Torre sounded like a man in no hurry to leave town. — Asked yesterday if he hopes to return for a 13th season in pinstripes …
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Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
WHY CAN'T TORRE'S TEAM BEAT DREGS OF THE AL? — IF the Yankees can't beat the Devil Rays and Orioles, how in the world are they going to beat anybody in the playoffs? — That is, if they make it to October. — Last week's sweep of the Red Sox was an August accomplishment, but these 2007 Yankees are inconsistent.
Peter Schmuck / Baltimore Sun:
How low can they go? — Orioles don't simply lose, but invent ways to look bad — When the Orioles were no-hit by Clay Buchholz on Saturday night, it was the first time since 1991 that a pitcher had thrown a no-hitter in one of his first two major league starts.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Managing it all — Amid barbs, Sox's Francona holds steady — He opens all his mail at Fenway Park, even the envelopes addressed in crayon. He's had unpleasant encounters with fans on the street and in hotel elevators. He hears abuse from the stands and often on the airwaves.
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Flat-out good — Youngsters again are crucial to a Red Sox victory — You can't really call them the Cardiac Kids. If anything, the young players the Red Sox have brought up have kept the heartbeats of management fairly steady. When you dip into the farm for reinforcements to fill …
Discussion:
Peter's Red Sox Forever
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Zimmerman Plays Nats' Hero — Again — When Ryan Zimmerman steps to the plate at RFK Stadium with the chance to win a ballgame, he slows everything down, because the moment is different and there's no point denying it. He goes through his routine in the batter's box. He steps out.
Discussion:
The Nationals Enquirer
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Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
AL Rookie of the Year: First impressions — Terry Francona, employing the diplomacy of a seasoned politician, sidestepped the question. — Who, it was posed to the Boston Red Sox manager, should be the American League Rookie of the Year? — "At some point, it'll be fun to talk about," Francona said.
Discussion:
Royals Review
ESPN:
Lower Bonds rating? Barry in lineup less often — SAN FRANCISCO — With four weeks left in the season and the Giants hopelessly out of contention, Barry Bonds is seeing his name on the lineup card less and less frequently. — That has led to the inevitable speculation: Is the Bonds era winding down?
Larry Brown / FanHouse:
David Ortiz Raps! — In addition to being a premier MLB slugger, David Ortiz has now added reggaeton star to his resume. Check out this video of Big Papi rocking the mic like he's Gza's next rhyming hero, compliments of You Been Blinded. — Much like the video of Auburn fans screaming …
