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2:15 PM ET, June 18, 2008

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
REYES HURT AS MANUEL LOSES DEBUT  —  ANAHEIM — Jerry Manuel's debut started ominously last night and got worse from there.  —  Manuel and the Mets lost Jose Reyes to a tight left hamstring just four pitches into the game, then watched ace Johan Santana look mortal in a 6-1 interleague loss to the Angels.
RELATED:
David Lennon / Newsday:
Players mostly relieved it's over
Discussion: New York Post and MetsBlog.com
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Minaya explains Randolph's dismissal
Discussion: ESPN
Kirby Arnold / Herald:
M's meet to discuss Sexson's future  —  A source within the organization says team is planning to release the first baseman soon.  —  SEATTLE — Struggling first baseman Richie Sexson's time with the Seattle Mariners could end soon.  —  One day after general manager Bill Bavasi was fired …
RELATED:
Cork Gaines / MLB Rumors:
Mariners To Release Sexson  —  Kirby Arnold of the Everett Herald is reporting that the Mariners will release Richie Sexson, and it could happen in the next week. … Sexson is still due about half of his '08 salary of $14MM.  This was the last year of a 4-year/$50MM deal.
Discussion: MagicMets.com
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs call Murton back up, but only as trade bait?  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Cubs recalled Matt Murton from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and sent Eric Patterson back down, though they may just be showcasing Murton for a possible deal.  —  “We hated to send Patterson out, we really did,” manager Lou Piniella said.
RELATED:
Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
Sox matinee today  —  Today is a day to soak in the Celtics win, but the Red Sox have some unfinished business in Philadelphia this afternoon as they try to take the rubber game of a three-game set with the Phillies.  —  The Sox will send rookie Justin Masterson (3-1, 2.90 ERA) to the mound in 1:05 p.m. start.
Discussion: Phillies Nation
RELATED:
David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
Games of the Day  —  The Red Sox and Phillies play the rubber game of their series this afternoon as Justin Masterson faces Kyle Kendrick.  The Phillies have done a good job of holding Boston's offense in check, allowing just five runs in two games.  Kendrick, with few strikeouts and walks, allows a lot of balls in play.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Soriano hopes to return for All-Star Game  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Alfonso Soriano said Tuesday he's hoping to make it back from his broken hand in time to play in the All-Star Game on July 15 game at Yankee Stadium, where he began his major-league career.
RELATED:
Geoff Young / Ducksnorts:
Chatting with Sandy Alderson (Part 3)  —  This is the third of a three-part interview (Part 1 is here; Part 2 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 …
ESPN:
Woods set to have season-ending knee surgery  —  Tiger Woods has decided to have surgery on his left knee, which will end his 2008 season.  —  Woods said on his Web site that he will have surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament.  He also wrote that he needs time to rehabilitate …
Discussion: Dodger Thoughts
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Johnson to make Class A rehab start  —  Right-hander advancing in recovery from Tommy John surgery  —  SEATTLE — Encouraged by a couple of Gulf Coast League starts, the Marlins are advancing Josh Johnson to pitching in games for Class A Jupiter in the Florida State League.
Discussion: Bottom9 Baseball
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Is MLB's Diversity Keeping Advertisers Away?  —  When The Biz of Baseball ran its roundtable compilation entitled, State of Major League Baseball - 2008, we got 30 responses from a broad range of people that cover the sport.  None of the panelists consulted one another, yet topics intersected.
Discussion: ShysterBall
Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Texas Rangers' Blalock waits his turn  —  rdurrett@dallasnews.com  —  ARLINGTON - Hank Blalock will have to stay patient a little longer.  The newest Rangers first baseman won't play this weekend in Washington as previously planned.  The target date for his return is now Tuesday in Houston.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter gets upbeat news  —  Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter returned from his trip to Alabama for a second opinion on his right elbow with reassuring news that he shouldn't hesitate to restart his rehab.  —  “All of my tests were fine; my ligament and my reconstruction looks good,” …
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Reuniting Zito with old coach makes sense  —  (06-17) 20:09 PDT — Rick Peterson was Barry Zito's pitching coach through the pitcher's best years in Oakland.  Now that Peterson is unemployed, would it not make sense for the Giants to hire him as a special instructor to work with Zito and help right him?
Discussion: MLB Rumors
 
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 More News: 
Dallas Morning News:
Deciding Bradley's fate is enough to give Texas Rangers a headache
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Win Games, Eat Ice Cream
Discussion: River Ave. Blues
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
‘The wrong thing to do’ … What is your reaction to the move?
Discussion: MetsBlog.com and NY Daily News
Daniel Jarratt / Baseball Playoffs Now:
Rays, Jays Fight Toughest Schedules In Baseball
Bill Whitehead / TBO.com:
Baldelli ‘Feels Good’ As Rehab Continues
Discussion: Rays Index and Outs Per Swing
Mark Lelinwalla / NY Daily News:
Joba: Don't call me the Yankee ace
Associated Press:
Renteria gets 2,000, Thames homers again
Andrew Bagnato / Associated Press:
A's rough up Arizona's Webb in 15-1 win
Discussion: AZ Snakepit
 Earlier Picks: 
John Manuel / Baseball America:
CWS Game Eight: Fresno State 5, North Carolina 3
Discussion: Unfiltered
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Who might replace Bavasi?
Discussion: U.S.S. Mariner
Dave Fultz / MLB.com:
Riske looks good in rehab assignment
Jon Krawczynski / Associated Press:
Minnesota's Hernandez shuts down Nationals
Discussion: Federal Baseball
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Twins' Gardenhire fined by MLB
Glenn Guilbeau / USA Today:
Ninth-inning rally propels LSU to 6-5 victory over Rice at CWS
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Colon to disabled list
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 71: Padres at Yankees
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Britney Spears in Huge Fight With Boyfriend, Hotel Guests Fear Mental Breakdown

The Seattle Times:
Whistleblower Josh Dean of Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems has died

Amy Kaufman / Los Angeles Times:
Tiffany Haddish just can't quit. Even when she knows she should

 
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