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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Lo Duca goes off duty early — Mets catcher not happy about double-switch move in opener — WASHINGTON — Paul Lo Duca was miffed when he was removed from the game in the sixth inning on Monday night. Teammates said as much following the Mets' unbecoming 12-4 loss to the Nationals.
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David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
First, let's catch the ball. Next, about those throws ... There were a bunch of questions after last night's humiliating loss to the Nationals about meetings, who should speak, when will manager Willie Randolph address the team. Here's my take on that — enough with the soapbox stuff.
Discussion:
The LoHud Mets Blog
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.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Sox are left hurting — Thomas's 3 homers sink depleted team — TORONTO - Daisuke Matsuzaka may not know this, because he only dresses as one, but the Teletubbies are known for saying "bye-bye" three times. — Last night, so did Frank Thomas of the Blue Jays.
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Notes: Jays shutting Overbay down — Second hand surgery to end frustrating season for slugger — TORONTO — Lyle Overbay is about to close the book on his forgettable 2007 season. When the Blue Jays head to Baltimore next week, Overbay is scheduled to have a second operation on his right hand …
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Buchholz gets start tomorrow — Rookie will take Matsuzaka's turn — TORONTO - Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he held off on making the announcement in case he needed to use Clay Buchholz out of the bullpen during last night's 6-1 loss to the Blue Jays, but after the game he announced …
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
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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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
Discussion:
New York Times
John Helyar / ESPN:
Dr. James Andrews still works on the cutting edge … BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Dr. James Andrews placed the arthroscope in anesthetized Drew Brees, then looked up to view his shredded shoulder on the monitor. — "Oh, my goodness," Andrews said in his Louisiana twang to his assisting surgeons.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:
Cassel gets first win as Padres register 20th shutout — SAN DIEGO - Rookie Jack Cassel pitched six solid innings for his first big league win, Khalil Greene hit a two-run homer and the San Diego Padres beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 Monday night to keep a 1½-game lead in the wild-card race.
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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.
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:All over in Toronto — Though Jacoby Ellsbury led off the inning …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Bruce Jenkins / San Francisco Chronicle:
Irritable Bradley, cranky Dodgers and other baseball stories to watch — The games are remembered individually now, often in great detail, sometimes forever. As the "grind" of baseball's 162-game season gives way to riveting daily theater, September means David Ortiz risking a chronically sore knee …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
A dull victory, and Escobar isn't sharp — Right-hander gives up six runs, continuing his late-season struggles, in win over Devil Rays that drags on nearly four hours. — There was nothing crisp about the pace, or the play, at Angel Stadium on Monday night.
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Under The Knife — Context and Need — I've received a lot of emails over the last couple days asking about this player or that player and HGH. Almost every player that's made a comeback is now being smeared by the doubt that PEDs bring into the game. Absent any evidence or even the possibility …
Discussion:
6-4-2
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.
