Top News:
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Return of Ramirez is power boost to lineup … Bat struck ball with a thunderous, unmistakable crack, and it was as if the words themselves were echoing off the angular walls at time-dipped Fenway Park [map]. — Manny's back. — "It feels great, man," Manny Ramirez [stats] …
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Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Angels lead Red Sox 3-2 after 3 innings — BOSTON (AP) — Just as Red Sox fans were celebrating the Yankees loss in Cleveland, the Angels gave them something to worry about. — Chone Figgins and Orlando Cabrera hit RBI doubles on the first two pitches after the crowd cheered the Indians victory …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Jimmy Golen / Associated Press:
Ramirez's walk-off homer lifts Red Sox — BOSTON (AP) — One fan got a baseball. The rest left with another sweet memory. — Manny Ramirez homered off Francisco Rodriguez with two outs in the ninth inning and the Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 Friday night to take a 2-0 lead in their AL playoff series.
Michael Vega / Boston Globe:
Angels pregame chat — In an attempt to punch up his hitting order, which was held scoreless after getting just four hits (all scattered singles) off Game 1 winner Josh Beckett, Angels manager Mike Scioscia yesterday went with switch-hitting Kendry Morales as his designated hitter …
Discussion:
6-4-2
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Analysis: Tracy's future with Pirates was not in cards — Chaotic clubhouse, emotional attachment to Dodgers key to failure — June 24, Anaheim, Calif.: The Pirates are less than 24 hours removed from a 10-1 loss, and strength coach Frank Velasquez is working out feverishly in the exercise room …
Discussion:
Honest Wagner
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates fire manager Tracy, 3 in front office — The Pirates today fired manager Jim Tracy after two losing seasons, as well as director of baseball operations Jon Mercurio, director of player development Brian Graham and scouting director Ed Creech. — Tracy, 51, went 135-189 …
ESPN.com:
Pirates fire manager Tracy after two seasons — PITTSBURGH — Jim Tracy was fired as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday after two seasons filled with long losing streaks and little discernible progress. — Tracy's patience and back-patting weren't enough to turn around the Pirates.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
ALDS Game 2: Yankees at Indians — Here are the lineups: — YANKEES — Damon LF — Jeter SS — Abreu RF — Rodriguez 3B — Matsui DH — Posada C — Cano 2B — Cabrera CF — Mientkiewicz 1B — Pettitte LHP — INDIANS — Sizemore CF — Cabrera 2B — Hafner DH
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Crasnick: Bugs get the best of Joba, Yankees … CLEVELAND — The word "bizarre'' doesn't do justice to some events on a baseball field. Randy Johnson once struck and killed a seagull with a fastball. A black cat walked in front of the Chicago Cubs' dugout in the summer of 1969, portending the team's late collapse against the Mets.
Discussion:
New York Post
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
A few things.... CLEVELAND - LeBron James wearing a Yankee cap at Thursday night's game has been big news here. Reminds me of Tom Brady's early years with the Patriots when he wore a Yankee cap in the Patriots locker room before someone told him he needed to be wearing a Boston cap ...
Discussion:
New York Post
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Duquette resigns from O's — Unhappy with role, O's VP will pursue front office position elsewhere — Unsatisfied with his role in the Orioles' front office, vice president Jim Duquette resigned today after two seasons with the club. Duquette had one year left on his contract …
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Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Cards exercise option on Isringhausen — St. Louis' all-time saves leader will be back for one more year — John Mozeliak made his first official transaction as interim general manager of the Cardinals on Friday, as the club elected to exercise its 2008 contract option on reliever Jason Isringhausen.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Glavine will not exercise contract option — Lefty yet to decide whether to extend career to 22nd season — NEW YORK — To the surprise of no one and, probably, to the delight of Mets followers with short memories, Tom Glavine told the club on Friday that he would not exercise the option in his contract …
Leitch / Deadspin:
Ryan Dempster LIkes You Topless: Ryan Dempster Will Make You Root For The Cubs — A reader named "Al" sends in the above picture, and the following story, after the jump. — I just had my first Wrigley bleacher experience after being a lifelong Cubs fan who grew up in Hawaii.
Discussion:
Home Run Derby
Mike Nichols / MetsBlog.com:
Read: Fixing the Mets — At his blog for ESPN.com, Peter Gammons provides a listing of what the Mets should do this off-season. — Gammons believes the Mets should learn from their failure to maintain their seven-game lead down the stretch by looking at the their division foe to the south, the Phillies, writing...
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