Top News:
ESPN.com:
Sources: Manny Ramirez's medical records sealed fate — The story of how Manny Ramirez was nabbed by baseball's drug-testing policy is rooted as much in the language of the collective bargaining agreement as it is in the fact that the Los Angeles Dodgers' slugger had synthetic testosterone …
RELATED:
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Manny Ramirez's prescription for suspension — Dodgers slugger had not obtained a therapeutic-use exemption for HGC, so he dropped his appeal of the 50-game ban. — Manny Ramirez abruptly dropped an appeal of his drug suspension within hours of a scheduled hearing last week …
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Thanks to Manny, a little shine is gone — In what would be the ultimate act of selfishness, maybe Manny Ramirez took some of the shine with him. Maybe he scuffed up those World Series trophies. Maybe he tarnished what is the Golden Age of Red Sox baseball by being, for a lack of a better word, dirty.
Associated Press:
Pavano tames White Sox as Indians offense comes to life — CLEVELAND (AP) — Carl Pavano threw strikes and his Cleveland Indians teammates struck quickly at the plate. — Pavano won his third straight start and the Indians scored in the first inning for the first time this month …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe!
RELATED:
Bob Raissman / NY Daily News:
Raissman: With A-Rod, YES avoids 'roid talk — There was this notion Friday night, running right through the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network telecast, that Alex Rodriguez's return to pinstripes was a feel-good story, a triumph of a man, and his spirit, coming all the way back from something.
RELATED:
Craig Calcaterra / Hardball Times:The Selena Roberts book is about what you'd expect
Discussion:
ESPN
Associated Press:
Reds break out the bats, rough up Diamondbacks — PHOENIX (AP) — Willy Taveras matched a career high with five hits, Adam Rosales had a homer and two doubles, and the Cincinnati Reds routed Arizona 13-5 on Monday night. — Taveras wrapped four singles around a fourth-inning double.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Jose's 7th blunder costs Johan, Mets — Johan Santana and Derek Lowe are neighbors who live three homes apart in Fort Myers, Fla., during the offseason. They could have been teammates, too, if the Mets had anted up. — Of course, Lowe would have been no good to Santana in the home dugout last night.
Howard Bryant / ESPN:
Big Papi's decline? Not this fall — BOSTON — The walls are closing in on David Ortiz. He can feel it, the cold breeze of doubt whistling through each swing and miss, vexing and constant, a pebble scratching hard on the bottom of his foot: a .224 batting average and, even more glaring …
Joseph Duarte / Houston Chronicle:
Astros Notes: Berkman likely to play vs. Rockies — Astros first baseman Lance Berkman, who sat out the three-game weekend series against Padres with a sore left wrist, is expected to be in the lineup tonight for the series opener against the Rockies. — Berkman took swings in the batting cage Sunday and said the wrist felt better.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Dave Sheinin / Nationals Journal:
Milledge Suffers Broken Finger in Syracuse — Outfielder Lastings Milledge of Class AAA Syracuse suffered a broken finger while attempting to bunt in the first inning of the Chiefs' game today, the latest setback in the career of the talented but inconsistent player who opened the season …
RELATED:
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Lee will not require stint on disabled list — Out with bulging disc, Cubs slugger could return this week — CHICAGO — Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee, bothered by a bulging disc in his neck, will not have to go on the disabled list and could be back in the lineup this week.
Discussion:
VFTB
Lisa Olson / FanHouse:
MLB Targets Agents in Steroid Probe — Major League Baseball is in the early stages of investigating player agents who may be connected to the sport's steroid scandal. — “It's a whole new territory we're looking into,” a person with direct knowledge of the investigation told FanHouse.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Huff shows Joba fist-pumping of his own — Oriole returns gesture after homering off Yanks' Chamberlain — Aubrey Huff had it all planned. He just needed to accomplish the more difficult task, and that was to hit a home run off the Yankees' Joba Chamberlain.
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Merloni tells of PED advice from doctor — Former player recalls meeting detailing benefits of using — Former Red Sox utility man Lou Merloni said Saturday on Comcast's “The Baseball Show” that he remembered a Spring Training meeting in which a doctor explained to players …
RELATED:
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox's Bobby Jenks admits he threw behind Ian Kinsler — Closer tired of seeing Sox hitters getting plunked by Rangers — A.J. Pierzynski and Bobby Jenks celebrate Saturday's win over Texas. (Tribune / Nuccio DiNuzzo / May 9, 2009) — White Sox closer Bobby Jenks surprised …
RELATED:
