Top News:
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates fire GM Littlefield; interim replacement is Graham — The Pirates this morning fired general manager Dave Littlefield near the end of his seventh losing season. — He will be replaced on an interim basis by Brian Graham, the team's director of player development.
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MLB.com:
Pirates relieve GM Dave Littlefield of duties — Official press conference to be held at 2 p.m. — The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced that General Manager Dave Littlefield has been relieved of his duties effective immediately. Pirates Senior Director of Player Development Brian Graham …
MLB.com:
Chariman Nutting's letter to fans — Dear Pirates Fans: — Today I announced that I have made the decision to relieve Dave Littlefield of his general managerial duties effective immediately. Brian Graham, our Senior Director of Player Development, will serve as interim General Manager …
Discussion:
Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
NY Daily News:
Rick Ankiel received 12-month supply of HGH, News learns — PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel, baseball's feel-good story of the season, received a 12-month supply of human growth hormone in 2004 from a Florida pharmacy that was part of a national illegal …
Discussion:
Deadspin, Sabernomics, FanHouse, Viva El Birdos, Dan Shanoff, 'I didn't know there …, Mets Today, Associated Press, Baseball Musings, SOX & Dawgs, Can't Stop The Bleeding, The Big Lead, Catbird in the Nosebleed Seats, Babes Love Baseball, Bugs & Cranks, The Joy of Sox, Sports Scope, Beegcellent Baseball, With Leather, The GYS Network and Sports Illustrated
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ESPN.com:
Report: Cards' Ankiel linked to HGH case — St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel, who punctuated a storybook comeback from pitching travails by homering twice with 7 RBIs Thursday, joined the list of athletes linked to a Florida-based steroids investigation.
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Report: Ankiel linked to HGH — PHOENIX — Rick Ankiel, the St. Louis pitcher turned hitter who has been pounding the ball since he was brought up by the Cardinals late this season, received a 12-month supply of human growth hormone in 2004 from a Florida pharmacy that was part …
Discussion:
It's Mets For Me
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Sox wear down Orioles — Uniform change can't alter familiar outcome — BALTIMORE - He may not have to shave yet, but the legend has legs. — There can be little doubt of that after 23-year-old Clay Buchholz, in the encore to his no-hitter in his second big league start, made his first relief appearance one to remember, too.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:Buchholz didn't buckle — Rookie structures a victory in relief
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
David Ginsburg / Associated Press:Buchholz solid in relief, BoSox edge O's
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster
Baseball America:
All-Around Game Leads Reds' Bruce To Player Of Year Award — DURHAM, N.C.—The scoreboard at Durham Bulls Athletic Park displayed the temperature on an August afternoon: 98. But with the oppressive humidity of a North Carolina summer, it felt like well over 100.
Discussion:
Church of Baseball
Aaron Fitt / Baseball America College Blog:
Fullerton To Hire Serrano — After stating last week that he was not going to Cal State Fullerton, Dave Serrano has changed his mind and will leave UC Irvine to take the Titans head coaching job, according to multiple sources. An announcement could come as early as today.
Discussion:
6-4-2
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Win Some or Lose Some, Mets Are Doing Enough — The Mets have had more disappointments than celebrations in their 46-season history, but they are only about three weeks away from evening things out a little. Enjoying a relatively comfortable five-game lead in the National League East with 23 games to play …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Breaking down who's on the hot seat — LIKE THIS STORY? — Manager A is in last place with a record of 59-81. His team, perhaps the most disappointing in the majors, could finish with the worst record in the American League. — Manager B is three games out in the wild-card race with a record of 73-66.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
David Wright closing in on homers-steals plateau — David Wright is not a speedster like Jose Reyes, but the Mets' third baseman always presumed it would be easier for him to swipe 30 bases than belt 30 homers in a big-league season. — As the Mets open a home stand tonight against the Astros …
