Top News:
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' Manny Ramirez suspended 50 games after failing drug test — The suspension, for using what a source says is a female fertility drug, will cost him $7.7 million. Ramirez takes responsibility, while the Dodgers support the testing program and back their star slu
Discussion:
Fox Sports, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The washington times Blogs, True Blue LA, dodgerfan.net, Red Sox Monster, William World News, Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, Babes Love Baseball, sox1fan.com, McCovey Chronicles, Beyond the Box Score, Newsvine, Blogging Baseball, Sons of Steve Garvey, Washington Times, Dodger Thoughts, You Been Blinded, LAist, MLB FanHouse, The Schmuck Stops Here, Unfiltered, NESN.com, The House That Dewey Built, American Legends, Los Angeles Dodgers, Home Run Derby, Full Count, Mets Today, FanGraphs Baseball, Sox and Pinstripes, MetsBlog.com, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Bats, Projo Sox Blog, The Big Lead, Yahoo! Sports, THE BOOK, Over the Monster and New York Mets Fan Blog
RELATED:
Yahoo! Sports:
Source: Ramirez's substance a sexual enhancer — Buzz up! — LOS ANGELES - A source close to Manny Ramirez — said Thursday that the illegal substance for which the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger tested positive was not “an agent customarily used for performance enhancing.”
ESPN.com:
Manny Ramirez of Los Angeles Dodgers will serve 50-game suspension for drug violation — Major League Baseball announced Thursday that Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games for violating its drug policy. — Ramirez — The commissioner's office …
Discussion:
MLB.com, Yahoo! Sports, Baseball Prospectus, The Futility Infielder, ESPN, NBCSports.com, Newsvine, The Yankees Dollar, It is about the money, stupid, LAist, Baseball's Steroid Era, True Blue LA, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Dodger Thoughts, MLB, Big Apple Sports, NESN.com, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine, The Big Lead, ESPN, Sons of Steve Garvey, Baseball Insider, Deadspin, DC Pro Sports Report, Bronx Baseball Daily, Sliding Into Home, Baseball Reflections, 3:10 to Joba, Bottom9 Baseball and Jorge Says No!
Michael Hiltzik / Los Angeles Times:
Baseball's anti-doping program faces renewed scrutiny in light of Ramirez case — Some officials say the Dodger slugger's suspension shows that Major League Baseball is serious about stamping out doping. For others, it is a reminder that the program has a long way to go.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:Manny is latest star to fall under drug cloud; banned 50 games
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts, Associated Press, MLB.com, Los Angeles Times, Yahoo! Sports and Halos Heaven
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:Manny reportedly used HCG, gets 50-game ban
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Baseball Prospectus, Robots Took My Medicine, dodgerfan.net and The Good Phight
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs to replace Melvin with Hinch — Club dismisses skipper, coach after 12-17 start — SAN DIEGO — The D-backs will name farm director A.J. Hinch as the team's manager Friday, a baseball source said. — Hinch, who has no prior managerial experience, will replace Bob Melvin, who was dismissed Thursday night.
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Hinch expected to replace Melvin — SAN DIEGO - Off to an uneven start to a season that was brimming with expectations, the Diamondbacks fired manager Bob Melvin on Thursday night. — Melvin was given the news Thursday night after the team returned from its road trip in San Diego …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Hinch to succeed Melvin as D-backs manager — Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin has been fired and will be replaced by A.J. Hinch, who was Arizona's VP of Player Development, SI.com has learned. — Hinch, 34, played with the A's, Royals, Tigers and Phillies between 1998 and 2004.
Tyler Bassett / KTAR.com:
Bob Melvin to be replaced as Diamondbacks manager — The Arizona Diamondbacks had high expectations for this season and have under-performed, leading to the team making a change at the managerial position. — Sports 620 KTAR's John Gambadoro reports Bob Melvin will be out as manager …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Sports Illustrated:
AP Source: Melvin out as Diamondbacks manager — PHOENIX (AP) -A person familiar with the decision says Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin will be fired by the end of the day. — The person told The Associated Press of the decision on the condition of anonymity because it had yet to be announced.
MLB:
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez plays in what could be final rehab game — TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez played what could be his final rehab game Thursday, going 0-for-2 with two walks and putting in three innings of defense.
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:Game 28: Rays at Yankees (updates with A-Rod news: He'll be back tomorrow)
Discussion:
MLB.com, The Voice of Yankees Universe, New York Post, Sliding Into Home, NY Daily News and Pinstripe Alley
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Rare Collapse by Rivera Sends Yankees to Fifth Straight Loss — When the greatest savior in franchise history crumbled at the end a dismal homestand on Thursday, it was the nadir of the Yankees' rocky season. At least, that is how it would seem. Things can only improve — can't they? …
RELATED:
John Amato / Pinstripe Alley:
Now Girardi tells us Mariano's shoulder has been bothering him — In the post game show tonight on YES, Joe Girardi admitted that Mariano Rivera's surgically repaired shoulder has been bothering him for a while now. He said it wasn't a major issue, but that it just seems to be a little tired which is affecting his velocity.
Associated Press:
Mets jump Moyer, Phillies early to get two-game sweep — NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Beltran and David Wright each hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5 on Thursday night for their fourth consecutive victory.
Keona Gardner / TCPalm.com:
Mets player Angel Pagan arrested for traffic violations in Martin County — MARTIN COUNTY — New York Mets baseball player Angel Pagan has been arrested for traffic violations, according to Florida Highway Patrol arrest report. — On Thursday troopers stopped Pagan, 27 …
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
Frank Fitzpatrick / Philly.com:
Former Phillies manager Danny Ozark dies — Danny Ozark, the Phillies manager whose hound-dog face and penchant for malaprops sometimes obscured the success his teams enjoyed during the 1970s, died today at 85 in Vero Beach, Fla. — Mr. Ozark, who during his 6-plus years at the helm managed …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
RELATED:
