Top News:
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Hey Yankees, I got some free advice for you guys — The Yankees have won six straight games since the All-Star break, and at 56-45, they're at their high-water mark for the season. — They flicked aside the Twins yesterday, 5-1, at Yankee Stadium, allowing them to fully enjoy their day off today …
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Associated Press:
Bonds among topics at Yankees' meetings — TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Barry Bonds in pinstripes? If nothing else, the New York Yankees plan to talk about it. — Yankees officials gathered for high-level meetings at their spring training complex Thursday, a day off for the team before it begins an important three-game series at Boston.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats GM says Cordero will hit market — Bowden reveals intention to non-tender injured closer — SAN FRANCISCO — The offseason is a little more than two months away, but the Nationals have already decided that reliever Chad Cordero will be non-tendered. The news comes two weeks after Cordero had shoulder surgery.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Federal Baseball, Baseball Digest Daily Blog, MissChatter and Business of Baseball
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Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
Wilpon: I screwed up firing — Fred Wilpon said he learned something from firing Willie Randolph. And it is this: The next time he fires a manager he'll do it in the light of day, when reporters are not sleeping. — Wilpon talked about his “lesson” in the studio of his SportsNet New York …
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Danielle Sessa / Bloomberg:Mets Owner Wilpon Says He ‘Screwed Up’ How Randolph Was Fired
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Soriano's return sparks Cubs' bats — Lee homers, Johnson hits slam in Lilly's 10th victory of year — PHOENIX — Alfonso Soriano is back, and although he had one of the Cubs' 10 hits in a 10-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night, his return was a big boost.
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Kevin Cullen / Boston Globe:
Enough already — The Yankees are in town for a weekend series, and this would be a nice time to retire the stupidest chant in the world: Yankees suck. — Now, before you go all Hank Steinbrenner on me, hear me out. — I don't like the Yankees. I never did, though as a kid I liked …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Going, Going, Gone ... Berserk: Pine-Tar Bat Incident Revisited — Twenty-five years later, it remains one of baseball's most riveting images: George Brett, eyes bulging with rage, bolting out of the visiting dugout at Yankee Stadium, intent on enacting a most primal impulse. He wanted to kill the ump.
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George A. King III / New York Post:
POSADA DECIDES TO DELAY SURGERY — Jorge Posada and the Yankees confirmed what was reported in Wednesday's Post: The All-Star catcher needs right shoulder surgery that will require six months to recover from. But Posada wants to see if two weeks of rest will allow him to help as a designated hitter/first baseman.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Depressed Fan, YFSF, iYankees, Sliding Into Home, WasWatching.com and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:
N.Y. Yankees in the market for a catcher — TRADEWINDS — YANKEES BUZZ — Word as of Wednesday afternoon was that the Yankees were looking everywhere for a catcher. Worried that Jose Molina might not be built to hold up the rest of the way as an everyday starter …
Associated Press:
Pedro will miss Fri. start following father's death … SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — New York Mets right-hander Pedro Martinez was headed back to the Dominican Republic following the death of his ailing father. — Martinez's father, Pablo Jaime, died early Thursday at age 79 …
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Inside Pitch: Braves may be sellers — Atlanta in an intriguing situation as Trade Deadline looms — One of the triggers in the final week of this year's midsummer trade session is in the hands of a perennial buyer: the Atlanta Braves. — Year-in, year-out, the Braves have been buyers …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
King Kaufman / Salon:
Not just a box score — Last week's item about blogging minor leaguers included some excerpts from San Diego Padres farmhand Dirk Hayhurst's “Non-Prospect Diaries” at Baseball America. I had tried to reach Hayhurst without success before writing it, but he got in touch after the item appeared …
Keith Hernandez / SNY.tv:
Ask the Booth: What's a long swing? — Keith Hernandez dips into the e-mailbox — When someone says that a player has a short or long swing what does he mean? — Ned in Huntington, N.Y. — What makes someone like Ryan Howard strike out so much while he still seems to hit home runs at an alarming rate?
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
ESPN.com:
Bartman turns down $25,000 offer for autograph — ROSEMONT, Ill. — Steve Bartman has refused yet another offer to cash in on the moment he became the most famous — or infamous — Chicago Cubs fan in history. — Bartman friend Frank Murtha says that Bartman won't accept an offer of $25,000.
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Fuentes seals another win for Rox — Despite trade rumors, Colorado's closer continues to shine as he ties the franchise record for saves. — The Denver Post — Rockies closer Brian Fuentes earned his 102nd career save Wednesday afternoon and set a franchise record by retiring …
Discussion:
Purple Row
