Top News:
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell / Boston Globe:
McCarver set for showdown — There will be subplots aplenty when the Yankees visit Fenway Park to face the Red Sox beginning tonight, most notably the return of Boston slugger David Ortiz from a wrist injury. — Tim McCarver, who will broadcast tomorrow afternoon's game on Fox …
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Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Yankees on roll & ready to rock — It is, by definition, an occasion when the Yankees play at Fenway, rife with meaning, feeling and its own brand of drama. And the series that begins Friday night, in particular, holds, “Implications for what could happen, who makes the playoffs or what not,” says Johnny Damon.
Danny Knobler / CBS SportsLine.com:
In need of a trade partner? Pirates might be your team — Tell Danny your opinion! — The Pirates have five of the most interesting players available on the July trading market, so it's no surprise that people around the game were talking about Pittsburgh this week.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:The Mill — Early Churning … - While Tigers fans …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:Stark's Latest: Teixeira, Padilla, Sheffield, Beltre
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Associated Press:
Fan injured, 17 ejected in minor league brawl — DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Umpires ejected 15 players and the two managers following a bench-clearing brawl during a tense game between the Midwest League's Dayton Dragons and Peoria Chiefs. — Peoria pitcher Julio Castillo threw a ball toward …
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John Torenli / Minor League Baseball:
Peoria's Castillo arrested in brawl game — Benches, bullpens empty in ugly first-inning incident at Fifth Third Field — Peoria pitcher Julio Castillo might have turned an ugly benches-clearing brawl into a criminal offense. — The 20-year-old Dominican right-hander was arrested …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Milledge returns as Estrada departs — Outfielder activated off DL; glut of catchers trimmed by one — SAN FRANCISCO — Following Thursday's game against the Giants, the Nationals activated outfielder Lastings Milledge from the 15-day disabled list and designated catcher Johnny Estrada for assignment.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Anthony Andro / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Playoffs grasp may exceed Texas Rangers' reach this season — No one inside the organization is willing to concede that 2008 won't be a playoff year for the Texas Rangers. — Maybe they should. — Despite a 52-50 record, the Rangers would seem to be playoff long shots at best.
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington
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Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Texas' Rangers' 1-2 punch appears to be a hit again — Kinsler, Young end mini-slumps — rdurrett@dallasnews.com — One positive to come out of Wednesday's 10-8 loss to the White Sox: Ian Kinsler and Michael Young appeared to have ended mini-slumps. — Young had a solo home run …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Ortiz will bring punch to the party — The most telling aspect of David Ortiz's absence from the Red Sox lineup is that by any meaningful measure, the team's offense did not lose any of its potency. — To a man, of course, the Sox are thrilled at the timing of the return of Ortiz …
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Samardzija gets the call, may get start this weekend — CUBS IN BRIEF — A Cubs team fiercely trying to focus on the present could get its first glimpse of a big part of its future today with the arrival of top pitching prospect Jeff Samardzija. — The hard-throwing right-hander from Valparaiso …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Rich Hofmann / Philly.com:
Rollins has to set better example if he wants to be leader for Phillies — NEW YORK - They cannot take away the Most Valuable Player — trophy that Jimmy Rollins won last year. It was earned and deserved. He and the Phillies' 2007 division championship were both special and specially intertwined …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Delgado's big hit lifts Mets into first place — The Mets' David Wright pumps his fist after he and Robinson Cancel, left, scored on Carlos Delgado's tiebreaking two-run double in the bottom of the eighth. (Newsday / Kathy Kmonicek / July 24, 2008) — The chants were heard on the ramps …
Associated Press:
Bonds, trades among topics at Yankees' meetings — TAMPA, Fla. — Barry Bonds in pinstripes? If nothing else, the New York Yankees talked about it. — High-ranking Yankees officials gathered for meetings at their spring training complex Thursday, a day off for the team before it begins …
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