Top News:
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Girardi's quick hook shook Vazquez — Javy showed, voiced disappointment after being pulled in fifth with the lead … NEW YORK — Well, Javy go again. — Joe Girardi no longer trusts Javier Vazquez to get even one more out in the fifth inning of a game the New York Yankees are winning by two runs.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Canadian Press:
Blue Jays break out big bats to spoil A-Rod's return — NEW YORK - Aaron Hill and Vernon Wells each hit two-run homers and the Toronto Blue Jays spoiled Alex Rodriguez's return to the New York lineup, beating the Yankees 7-3 on Sunday to halt their eight-game winning streak.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Boston Herald
Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Pregame notes: From sim game to real game — Alex Rodriguez is back, and indications are that Andy Pettitte is on his way. — After his simulated game yesterday, and after going through some drills this morning, Rodriguez is back in the lineup exactly 15 days after he went on the disabled list with a calf injury.
Discussion:
BronxBanterBlog.com and River Avenue Blues
Dave Skretta / Associated Press:
A-Rod back in Yankees' starting lineup
Discussion:
Associated Press and Canadian Press
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Plenty to review after this season — Time still remains for August's listless Cardinals team to emerge as September's phoenix, making an irritated fan base forget the 4-13 skid that ushered the club into this weekend's grudge match against the Cincinnati Reds.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and Fanhouse MLB Blog
RELATED:
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
If Rasmus wants off Cardinals, Pujols says leave — ST. LOUIS - The feud between St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Colby Rasmus — and manager Tony La Russa turned from passive-aggressive to possibly unsalvageable Sunday morning when the 24-year-old implied he'd like to leave St. Louis, prompting star first baseman Albert Pujols
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa confirms Rasmus trade request — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa this morning acknowledged center fielder Colby Rasmus' request to be traded this morning but offered little indication whether the club would attempt to satisfy him. — La Russa said he was aware of a similar request …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Associated Press:
Braves rally but fall in 10th — MIAMI (AP) — The ballpark fell silent as fans rose in alarm after a foul ball felled Florida Marlins rookie Logan Morrison in the on-deck circle. — Morrison was quickly back on his feet but out of the game. His spot in the lineup was filled …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Associated Press
RELATED:
Associated Press:
No tribute for Cox from Marlins — MIAMI—Retiring Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox has received an assortment of going-away gifts this year from other teams, including a Wrigley Field seat and an autographed Stan Musial photo. — The Florida Marlins gave Cox a snub.
Associated Press:
3B coach interferes for final out, Twins hold on — MINNEAPOLIS—In a bizarre ending, Texas third base coach Dave Anderson was called for interfering with runner Michael Young for the final out Sunday, giving the Minnesota Twins a 6-5 win over the Rangers. — Down 6-2 in a matchup …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Thome, Tolbert power Twins past Rangers — Fill-in third baseman drives in five; slugger swats two homers — MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins have certainly seen their share of injuries plague the club's lineup in recent days and weeks. — Yet just when it seems that those injuries might wind …
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
This is a sorry showing, indeed — There's a scene in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” in which the bank-robbing title characters sit on a saloon balcony, kicking around possible career changes after a life of crime. — “We'll join the Army,” says Butch, happy with his idea.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Dan Shaughnessy Watch
RELATED:
Dom Amore / Rivalry Central:
Red Sox: Time to look ahead — The Red Sox are done now, too far behind to catch up. If you're like our man Bud, you're probably still holding out a ray of hope, even after the double-dip defeat Saturday. — If you're like our man Tony T., who gave up on April 12, you turned out to be right.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Boston Globe
RELATED:
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Mike Lowell reveals he has been playing with a fractured rib for the Boston Red Sox
Discussion:
Red Sox Beacon, Empyreal Environs and Surviving Grady
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garza angry that Baltimore Orioles' Luke Scott used Bible to criticize him — BALTIMORE — RHP Matt Garza didn't really care what Orioles DH Luke Scott had to say about him. But he did not care much for how Scott did so, invoking biblical proverbs.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Garza to Proverbs-quoting Scott: Don't go there
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog, Orioles Insider, Britt's Bird Watch and MLB.com
Mike Radano / MLB.com:
Seventh-inning rally does trick for Phillies — Halladay overcomes four Brewers homers to notch victory — PHILADELPHIA — On a night that Roy Halladay set a dubious personal mark, the Phillies' offense picked up their ace not once, not twice, but three times.
RELATED:
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Missed chances lead to ninth straight loss — Padres watch Rockies erupt after trailing by one run late — SAN DIEGO — It was in a blissful stretch from April to June when these Padres, looking and playing like they could do no wrong, celebrated eight walk-off victories in their first 37 games at PETCO Park.
RELATED:
Jim Armstrong / Denver Post:
Rockies beat Padres at Petco again
Discussion:
Purple Row and Yahoo! Sports
Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:
Gaston tells Jays to play for pride — Manager Cito Gaston called his first meeting of the year before Saturday's game to let his team know they weren't going to mail in the results for the final month. Pride of the Jays. — His team had looked flat on Friday in support of Brandon Morrow …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
