Top News:
David Lefort / Boston Globe:
Ortiz: I never used steroids — At a news conference at Yankee Stadium this afternoon, David Ortiz stated definitively that he never used steroids or bought them, but acknowledged that he was “careless” when he was “buying supplements and vitamins over the counter.”
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch, sox1fan.com, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine, The Joy of Sox and Deadspin
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Almost a clean getaway — NEW YORK - You will believe what you want to believe. And most Red Sox fans are going to believe David Ortiz has always been clean. — Beloved Big Papi, the greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history, was contrite and convincing yesterday when he took the national stage in an effort to clear his name.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
MLB:
David Ortiz of Boston Red Sox apologizes, says he never used or bought steroids … NEW YORK — David Ortiz, less than four hours before the Red Sox were to play in the third game of a four-game series against the Yankees, apologized for being “a distraction” after he was reported …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MLB Daily Dish, NESN.com, Circling The Bases, SPORTSbyBROOKS and Yahoo! Sports
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:Prior to Ortiz Press Conference, MLBPA Releases Statement Regarding 2003 Drug Test
Joe Resnick / Associated Press:
Hamilton admits to relapse with alcohol — Buzz up! — ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton — once again addressed his troubled history with alcohol abuse, after a Web site published photos of him cavorting with several scantily clad women in a bar last January.
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ESPN.com:
Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton acknowledges lapse in sobriety, photographs — Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton acknowledged a January bar incident Saturday in which he became drunk and was photographed with several women, not including his wife, in lurid poses in Tempe, Ariz. — Hamilton
David Ely / MLB.com:
Dodgers' rotation remains in flux — Billingsley's status uncertain; Elbert optioned to Triple-A — LOS ANGELES — The state of the Dodgers' pitching staff has deteriorated to the point that all manager Joe Tore can do is chuckle when asked about his current crop of starters.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:Jason Schmidt's career might be over
Discussion:
PE Angels Baseball, Memories Of Kevin Malone, NESN.com, LA Times Sports Blog and Dodger Thoughts
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
CC smokes Sox as Yanks win again — It's hard to believe the Yankees ever lost eight in a row to the Red Sox. — Roughly 14 hours after Alex Rodriguez belted his 15th-inning game-winner, the Yankees sent CC Sabathia to the mound looking to carry the momentum against Boston.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:Coming out on the short end of a long night
Discussion:
Circling The Bases, New York Times, The Big Lead, Dan Shaughnessy Watch and Boston Herald
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
AMAZIN'S REVIEWING MED STAFF — SAN DIEGO — It's no surprise that the torrent of — injuries this season have prompted the Mets to conduct a top-to-bottom review of their medical procedures. — The results of that review aren't in yet, though it's believed that trainer Ray Ramirez …
Discussion:
Mets Blog
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:Francoeur can no longer bear beard
Discussion:
Mets Today, New York Mets Fan Blog, Subway Squawkers, MetsBlog.com and Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog
Associated Press:
Pavano shines as Twins whitewash Tigers — DETROIT (AP) — Carl Pavano (FSY) allowed only five hits over seven innings in his Minnesota debut, Denard Span went 5-for-5 and Joe Mauer (FSY) homered and drove in three runs to lift the Twins to a 11-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Cubs clip Rockies 6-5 — Marquis issues five walks in six innings vs. former team — This is not meant to diminish their victory. The Cubs won 6-5 on a night that had a decided Chicago vibe. Winds swirled like Wrigley, and every Cub achievement was greeted with throaty screams …
Dallas Morning News:
Padilla gone, and Texas Rangers won't miss him — Cutting Vicente Padilla loose at last was one of Jon Daniels' options, I suppose. — Frankly, if the Rangers had really wanted to punish Padilla for throwing at hitters and endangering his own, it'd have been more fun if Ron Washington …
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Associated Press:
Nationals' winning streak hits seven with win over Diamondbacks — WASHINGTON (AP) — Garrett Mock (FSY) pitched six innings for his first win of the season, Josh Willingham (FSY) hit a two-run homer and the Washington Nationals won their seventh straight, 5-2 over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Joe Capozzi / Florida Marlins news, analysis …:
Rookie Chris Coghlan ties Marlins record with seventh straight multi-hit game — In case you haven't noticed - certainly you have — rookie left-fielder Chris Coghlan has been on fire since the All Star break. Tonight, his bookend RBI sealed Florida's 6-4 win over the Phillies.
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Susan Slusser / SFGate:
Springer claimed by Tampa Bay - updated — **UPDATED**As you might have seen, Aaron Cunningham is en route and Dallas Braden is now on the DL, but he's hopeful he can start as soon as he come off the DL. — There's a chance that Brett Anderson and Gio Gonzalez will swap starts …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
