Top News:
Associated Press:
Red Sox, A's lined up for 2008 opener in Japan — NEW YORK — The Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics are lined up to meet in a Tokyo Dome opener next season. — Major League Baseball gave the players' union a draft 2008 schedule on Monday, and the Red Sox would open the United States portion …
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Paul Doyle / Hartford Courant:
D-RaysÂ' Kazmir Shuts Down Red Sox — BOSTON - Under the best of circumstances, Curt Schilling would have little margin of error against lefthander Scott Kazmir. Monday night, he had none. — Kazmir, the ace of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, entered his Fenway Park start with a 2.82 ERA in 15 starts against the Red Sox.
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:Roger Clemens likely to return against Red Sox
Discussion:
New York Post
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Notes: Bonderman won't need surgery — Pitcher's status for remainder of the season is still uncertain — DETROIT — Jeremy Bonderman's decision to pitch through the pain in his elbow on Sunday will still be second-guessed, but it apparently won't have long-term ramifications.
Discussion:
The Detroit Tiger Weblog
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Amy Shipley / Washington Post:
Peña, Hill Lift Nationals Further Out of the Cellar — Isolated howls or cheers occasionally sprang from the crowd before fading into all of those empty, plastic seats. Individual clapping could be heard. The organist, for the most part, didn't even bother to try to entertain.
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Christian Red / NY Daily News:
David Wright, HoJo visit firehouse after Deutsche blaze — Richie Maynard could barely contain himself. — The baby-faced firefighter, a member of Engine 24/Ladder 5 in Greenwich Village and a diehard Mets fan, was moments from meeting third baseman David Wright and Mets hitting coach Howard Johnson.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
David Wright's homer sparks MVP talk, backs Oliver Perez — Any concern about the Mets holding on in the NL East has subsided. Now the Shea faithful wonder whether David Wright will be MVP. — Beginning a week in which the Braves and Phillies potentially make their last stands with visits to Shea …
Discussion:
New York Post
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
All for naught — Schilling shines but Sox can't solve Kazmir — It wasn't long before the "70," left cockeyed by a forceful meeting with Jacoby Ellsbury's back, was tucked back up into its place on the left-field wall. Representing the number of losses Toronto had accrued …
Rick Gano / Associated Press:
Cubs roll, tie for lead in Central — CHICAGO (AP) — The Cubs will gladly pardon the interruption of their 10-game trip. — Chicago got 17 hits during a one-game stopover at Wrigley Field, helping Ted Lilly win his 15th game and beating the St. Louis Cardinals 12-3.
RELATED:
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
GLAVINE:1 MORE YEAR — FUTURE HALL-OF-FAMER HAVING TOO MUCH'FUN' TO RETIRE NOW — THE Mets' pitching picture is a lot brighter with Pedro Martinez's return from shoulder surgery, but there is more positive news. Tom Glavine wants to come back for a 22nd major-league season.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
Jays' Wells to have postseason shoulder surgery … Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells will have surgery on his left shoulder after the season ends to have a cyst removed, according to sources. — The cyst has been present for some time. The Blue Jays were aware of it as Wells signed …
Larry Mahnken / Replacement Level Yankees Weblog:
Can The Yankees Win The East? — The Yankees are 5 games out, 4 in the loss column. Two weeks ago, that wouldn't be bad, but with the Yanks and Sox having only 36 remaining games combined, that's a massive deficit. Even the Yankees' three games against Boston this weekend don't make things …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Tougher road for Brewers? — Beat reporter Adam McCalvy answers Brewers fans' questions — How does the Brewers' schedule for these last few weeks look, and will it be tougher or easier for them to climb out of their funk with this schedule? How does this schedule compare to the Cubs and Cards?
Larry Brooks / New York Post:
PLAYOFFPROBLEM — NEW MLB RULE COULD HURT YANKS' HOPES — Of all the years for the Yankees not to finish with the best record in the AL, this is not the one. — Because while the team has taken control of its own regular-season destiny by opening a 31/2-game wild-card lead over the Tigers …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Conor Nicholl / MLB.com:
Notes: Rookie Casilla observes, learns — Second baseman's past week spent watching teammates — KANSAS CITY — Alexi Casilla understands that, as a rookie, sometimes one can learn more by watching, listening and asking questions rather than playing. That's exactly what Casilla has done for the past week.
Discussion:
SBG Nation …
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Notes: Utley, Holliday vying for crown — Competing for NL batting title, All-Stars go head-to-head — PHILADELPHIA — While the four-game visit from Colorado might tilt the National League Wild Card race, there's individual accomplishment playing out as well.
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Thome to Hall? At least as a visitor — White Sox slugger details plans for 500th home run ball — CHICAGO — A visit to Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., has already been crossed off Jim Thome's things-to-do list. The White Sox slugger admits, though …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Pedro a shoo-in for Hall? — Beat reporter Marty Noble answers fans' questions — If Pedro Martinez were to retire today, what would his chances be of being elected to the Hall of Fame? — Quite good. My sense of it is that he would be automatic. Martinez has credentials in every way.
