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6:05 PM ET, June 17, 2008

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Associated Press:
Mets fire Randolph; Manuel to lead team in interim  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Willie Randolph is out as manager of the New York Mets, fired in the middle of the night 2½ months into a disappointing season that has followed the team's colossal collapse last September.
RELATED:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Opinion: I Feel Dirty  —  As a Mets fan, I'm embarrassed this morning, and I feel a little dirty.  —  I understand why Willie Randolph was fired.  In fact, due to the time I spend talking to people connected to the team, I am probably aware of why he was fired better than most people.
ESPN:
Randolph victim of Mets' circus  —  The personnel meetings the Mets hold are said by participants to run on for hours, the discussion often turning circular and pointless.  And maybe that's when it starts to happen in their organization when they get to the point where the staff members …
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Mets' handling of Willie cowardly  —  Cowards.  —  That's what the Mets upper management has become.  Huge cowards who care more about appearance, public relations and their own personal reputations than the performance of their team.  —  Fire your manager via a mass e-mail to the media at 3:11 a.m.?
Discussion: Big Apple Sports
Jack Etkin / Rocky Mountain News:
Hurdle likely will find All-Star sub for Randolph  —  National League manager Clint Hurdle of the Rockies likely will add another coach to his All-Star staff after the New York Mets' firing of Willie Randolph early Tuesday.  —  Hurdle had asked Randolph and San Diego manager Bud Black …
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets fire Willie Randolph  —  ANAHEIM - The Mets have fired manager Willie Randolph, pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto, the team announced shortly after 3 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday.  —  Bench coach Jerry Manuel has been named the team's interim manager …
Ted Berg / SNY.tv:
Manuel focus  —  New skipper deemed ‘fearless’ in Chicago stint  —  Willie Randolph has been sacked.  —  Long live Willie Randolph!  —  It seems like Omar Minaya arrived late to the party, something that has been happening all too frequently.  And Omar doesn't just roll in fashionably late …
Discussion: MetsBlog.com
Mike Vaccaro / New York Post:
MIDNIGHT MASSACRE AN AMAZIN' ACT OF COWARDICE  —  The e-mail was time-stamped 3:14 a.m., Eastern time.  In a simpler time, in a different world, maybe the Mets would have succeeded completely in this cowardly purge of their baseball team.  Maybe then they would have been able to hold off …
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets sign, seal, deliver win for Pelfrey
William C. Rhoden / New York Times:
After Months of Wavering, Resolution
Discussion: New Jersey Online and The Big Lead
The Sports Hernia Blog:
Other ways the Mets could have fired Willie
Discussion: MetsBlog.com and 6-4-2
NY Daily News:
Fans quick to condemn Mets' handling of Willie Randolph firing
Discussion: Perfect Pitch
MLB.com:
Jerry Manuel named interim manager
Discussion: Eephus Pitch and Loge 13
Geoff Baker / Mariners Blog:
Bill Bavasi on players, Bedard
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 71: Padres at Yankees  —  YANKEES (37-33)  —  Andy Pettitte (6-5, 4.64) vs. the San Diego hitters.  —  Randy Wolf (5-4, 3.83) vs. the New York hitters.  —  Notes: With CMW on the DL, Billy Traber has been recalled from Scranton.  He comes equipped with a new slider. ...
RELATED:
Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Remember Phil Hughes?  The Yankees Do  —  Maybe, once again, this is all about Phil Hughes.  Remember him?  More than Joba Chamberlain, more than Mark Melancon, Hughes was the original “It” player for the future of the Yankees.  And he still is.  —  I asked Brian Cashman on Monday …
Willie Bans / MLB.com:
Cashman looks in-house to help staff
Discussion: Bombers Beat
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
HANK: NL'S LACK OF DH SENSELESS
Discussion: wrigleyville23 and The WGOM
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Ricky Nolasco joins Pirate as NL Player of Week  —  SEATTLE - Ricky Nolasco didn't record that elusive complete game, but his 8 2/3-inning win at Tampa on Sunday was enough to garner co- National League Player of the Week honors.  —  Nolasco, who is sharing the award with Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit …
Discussion: FishStripes
RELATED:
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:   Doumit, Nolasco share NL honors
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
A-Rod & Pete Rose are text pals!  —  Alex Rodriguez, needy superstar, wanted another baseball mentor.  Pete Rose, hit king and pariah, needed a baseball outlet and a path to baseball legitimacy.  Through the magic of text-messaging, the game's best active player and its all-time hit leader/controversy magnet have become e-confidantes.
RELATED:
Joshua Robinson / New York Times:
A Knuckleballer Is Waiting to Rise  —  PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Six years after throwing his first knuckleball as a professional — the first of several to hit a batter in the head — Charlie Zink has come to terms with his rare and maddening skill.  He accepts that all he can do is aim at his catcher's face mask …
Discussion: NJ.com and ShysterBall
RELATED:
Tom Robinson / Boston Herald:
Daisuke Matsuzaka sharp in rehab start
Geoff Young / Ducksnorts:
Chatting with Sandy Alderson (Part 2)  —  This is the second of a three-part interview (Part 1 is here) with San Diego Padres CEO Sandy Alderson.  Big thanks to Mr. Alderson for taking time out of his busy schedule to make himself available, and also to his assistant, Dayle Tedrow …
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers interested in free agent Freddy Garcia  —  The Tigers have contacted the representatives for free agent right-hander Freddy Garcia, an indication that they are seeking to add veteran talent in the middle of a still-hopeful season.  —  Garcia's agent, Peter Greenberg …
Diamond Leung / PE Angels Baseball:
Dodgers' Penny to miss a start  —  Download story podcast  —  The Press-Enterprise  —  CINCINNATI - Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny is expected to be placed on the disabled list after an MRI exam conducted on his right shoulder Monday revealed inflammation in the bursa and mild tendinitis.
 
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 More News: 
Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Peterson talks about dismissal
Jerry Brewer / The Seattle Times:
Bill Bavasi's exit is a relief for fans, team and especially Bavasi
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Under The Knife  —  Stacked  —  Chien-Ming Wang (90 DXL)
Discussion: River Ave. Blues
Larry Stone / The Seattle Times:
Mariners are in no rush to hire a new general manager
Tulsa World:
Drillers earn first Arvest Ballpark win
Discussion: Bottom9 Baseball
Joe Posnanski:
The Meaning of Tiger  —  Sure, I'm fascinated by Tiger Woods.
 Earlier Picks: 
Jack Etkin / Rocky Mountain News:
Ex-big league skipper guides semipros in Kansas
Discussion: Walkoff Walk
The Times-Tribune:
Good news on J.B. Cox
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Blast from past  —  Back in town with Astros, former O's shortstop …
DMZ / U.S.S. Mariner:
Our pitch to Antonetti … I'd like to encourage you to interview …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Murton to be called up; Patterson likely out
 

 
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Whistleblower Josh Dean of Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems has died

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