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Brian Costello / New York Post:
YANKEES' WIN O SO GOOD — SOAR PAST BIRDS, GAIN ON SAWX — The Yankees' mantra for weeks has been that they're still chasing a division title not a wild-card berth. That goal is starting to look more serious than silly. — After dispatching the Orioles 8-5 last night at the Stadium …
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Boston Globe
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees top Orioles, gain ground on Red Sox — The Yankees' bullpen phone might have been broken but the scoreboard was working just fine. — As the Yankees muddled through a 3-hour and 54-minute, 8-5 victory over the Orioles at the Stadium last night, their fans, players and manager already …
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New York Post
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Mariano Rivera struck by stray ball in Boston — Mariano Rivera has had insults hurled at him in visiting bullpens throughout his career, particularly at Fenway Park. — But the Yankees' star closer admitted he was caught off guard Sunday night in Boston when he was stretching in the pen …
Discussion:
New York Times
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Sox hammered by Hurt in opener — Thomas cranks three homers as Boston falls in Toronto — TORONTO — Frank Thomas, the 39-year-old designated hitter with a lot of wallop still left in his bat, will retire one of these years. Don't expect the Red Sox to complain whenever that happens.
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Red Sox Monster
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Blue Jays 2, Sox 0 — For those of you who missed it — or are relying on the blog for your news — Tim Wakefield gave up a first-inning, two-run homer to Frank Thomas to bring the score to 2-0. (Vernon Wells was on base after being walked.) — The roof is open at Rogers Centre and, for that, you can definitely blame Wakefield.
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
5 Questions with... Rob Neyer — When it came time to select an interview subject for our One-Year Anniversary Celebration, it was really no contest. There may be more powerful figures in sports (Bud Selig, I'm still awaiting your call). There may be more controversial subjects …
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ESPN
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets make four errors, blow lead to Nationals — WASHINGTON - Uh-oh. — With all the talk about which starter to bump from the rotation come the postseason, perhaps it's worth noting that the Mets may not be playing in October - leaving SNY with "Street Games" repeats for its programming.
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New York Post
La Velle / Twins Insider:
Twins-Rangers: Punto to move to 2B next year — I mentioned recently that Nick Punto had a chance to start at second base next season. Manager Ron Gardenhire today practically named Punto the starting 2B in 2008. — " We already know what we've got with Nick,'' Gardy said. " We know we've got a player.
Sean Brennan / NY Daily News:
Derek Jeter moves into 4th place on Yanks' all-time hit list — The names not only are links to the Yankees' fabled past, but they are baseball royalty. Known as much by their nicknames as for what they accomplished on the field. — The Iron Horse. The Babe. The Mick.
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New York Post
Mike Votta / Yahoo! Sports:
Pittsburgh (66-83) at San Diego (81-67) — The San Diego Padres opened their 10-game homestand with a bang over the weekend. — They'll be looking to build on a three-game sweep and move closer to the top of the NL West when they open a four-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Lopez busts out in M's win over A's — OAKLAND, Calif. — Jose Lopez hasn't had much reason to celebrate lately. — He's been criticized for his offensive drop-off and his defensive stumbles at second base. — So when Lopez finally celebrated a little in Monday's 4-0 win over the Oakland A's …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
E-Ian: Rangers drop tough one, 5-4 — egrant@dallasnews.com — MINNEAPOLIS - Here's the thing about an errorless streak: The minute it ends, you have made an embarrassing mistake. — Which was exactly the situation Ian Kinsler found himself in Monday night.
Andrew Bagnato / Associated Press:
Arizona's West lead cut to 1 with loss — PHOENIX (AP) — An eighth-inning meltdown cost the Arizona Diamondbacks half of their NL West lead. — Randy Winn and Pedro Feliz homered off Tony Pena in the eighth and the San Francisco Giants rallied for an 8-5 victory over Arizona on Monday night.
Jonah Keri / ESPN:
100 players you love to hate — The underachiever who always looks disinterested. The loudmouth who complains from Day 1. The choker who lets his team down when it matters most. These are the players who drive their fans nuts. — In honor of these boo magnets, I set out to find …
