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Alex Speier / Boston Herald:
'Joke' but no laughs — By most accounts, rookie Shelley Duncan has positively changed the culture of the Yankees' clubhouse with his jovial demeanor. — Yet this weekend, that same demeanor brought Duncan some unwanted notoriety. — While he signed autographs before Friday's series opener …
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WasWatching.com
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Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
News' Madden finds Papelbon's cell phone in cab — In a bizarre set of circumstances, I got a "save" from Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon yesterday. — I hailed a taxi to take me to Fenway Park and happened to notice a cellphone lying on the seat next to me.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Alex Gyr / MLB.com:
Fan gives home run ball to Thome — Texan in town for conference, didn't know of slugger's chase — CHICAGO — Sell it, keep it or give it back? — That is the question that is left to every fan that comes away with a milestone home run ball. With the news that Barry Bonds' record …
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ESPN:
Thome likely needs 600 homers to reach HOF — A few hours after Jim Thome hit his 499th home run, I happened to find myself sitting at a table with seven serious (or semi-serious) baseball fans. So I asked each of them, "Is Thome a Hall of Famer?" — Five said yes, two said no. Five …
Chicago Tribune:
Tribune staff: Is Thome a Hall of Famer? — Phil Rogers: Jim Thome's got my vote for the Hall of Fame, and not just because he has 500 home runs. He has approached the game the right way, doing almost everything a player can do. He's taken the gifts he was given and maximized them with hard work and an impeccable approach.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
A good old time, but Yankees beat Sox — If Dave Mellor, keeper of the greensward at Fenway Park, could have found a way that would not have torn up his precious turf, it would have been fitting for the 36,533 fans present last night to emulate the pregame ritual observed by the bullpens of the Red Sox and Yankees.
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Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Mariano Rivera beats David Ortiz to end game — BOSTON - After Joba Chamberlain gave up a long home run to Mike Lowell - the first earned run Chamberlain has allowed in his major league career - Joe Torre sent Ron Guidry to the mound to both check the youngster's psyche and give Mariano Rivera extra time to warm up.
Discussion:
New York Post
Bryan Hoch / mlb.mlb.com:Advantage: Beckett — Chien-Ming Wang hung with Josh Beckett …
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ESPN, Associated Press, New York Post, Bronx Banter, Baseball Musings, Boston Globe and Empyreal Environs
Paul Oberjuerge / SGV Tribune:
Dodgers fail in chemistry — LOS ANGELES - For the good of the game, some teams shouldn't win anything. — Those who spend profligately. — Those who misbehave shamelessly. — Those who play joylessly. — (Give us a scowl, Los Angeles Dodgers.) — Yes, the Dodgers, circa 2007.
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Dodger Thoughts
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Kranitz's position appears to be safe — DENVER - If the Marlins plan to shake up manager Fredi Gonzalez's coaching staff, it doesn't appear pitching coach Rick Kranitz will be one of the casualties. — Kranitz's contract, like those of his fellow coaches, is up at season's end.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Phillies show Mets they mean business — Dobbs' grand slam helps cut NL East deficit to 3 1/2 games — NEW YORK — Here they go again. — Leave it to the Phillies to storm back into National League East contention with three pronounced stomps on the neck of the team directly ahead of them.
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles stick with it, win in 12th — Moore's hit brings first series victory since mid-August; Markakis at 20 HRs, 100 RBIs — TORONTO - It lasted 4 hours, 25 minutes, and featured two teams that used a total of 15 pitchers and 28 position players and combined to go 5-for-37 with runners …
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
It's about timely plate power — The Padres sacrificed footspeed and bat control when they assembled their offense. They emphasized home run power, even if meant suffering a high total of strikeouts. CEO Sandy Alderson wanted sluggers, particularly right-handers who could pop home runs at Petco Park.
Sam Anderson / New York Magazine:
Exorcising the Dodgers — 50 years ago, the Dodgers left Ebbets Field for Los Angeles. Isn't it time their ghosts left, too? — Pitcher Billy Loes winds up while pitching for the Dodgers, circa 1950. — T — he story of the Brooklyn Dodgers is very likely the most mythologized nostalgia bath …
