Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Illness keeps Pudge from starting — WASHINGTON — Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against Mets because of illness, but he is available to pinch-hit. — Wilson Ramos replaced Rodriguez in the lineup. — Espinosa may slot in Nats' leadoff spot
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats' Morgan declines to play Winter Ball — WASHINGTON — Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan said that he will not play in the Dominican Winter League this offseason. Morgan did not give a reason as to why he is not going. — “I'm probably not going to go. I'll probably just get away from the game,” Morgan said.
Gene Wang / Nationals Journal:
Rookies continue to make impression
Discussion:
MLB.com, midatlantic.comcastsportsnet …, Federal Baseball and The Goessling Game
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
JJ to miss start with ailing back, shoulder
Discussion:
Fish Bytes, FishStripes, The Fish Pond and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Associated Press:
Swisher's HR in 9th Gives Yankees Comeback Win — NEW YORK (AP) — Nick Swisher hit a two-run homer off Koji Uehara in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday to give the New York Yankees a 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles that was tempered by news of a potentially serious injury to Jorge Posada.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
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Dave Caldwell / New York Times:
Swisher Salvages Series With a Game-Ending Home Run — The first-place Yankees had won 86 games entering Wednesday afternoon's game, and their opponents, the last-place Baltimore Orioles, had lost 86. But the Yankees' good record and Baltimore's dismal record had not made much of a difference this week at Yankee Stadium.
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Thomas Kaplan / New York Times:
Mets Win but Walter Reed Visit Remains an Issue — WASHINGTON — Carlos Beltran hit a sacrifice fly on Wednesday to provide the Mets with a third of their offense in a sleepy matinee against the Washington Nationals. But what he did Tuesday may provide a better window on his current standing with the team.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online and Fanhouse MLB Blog
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets visit troops at Walter Reed in DC
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com, MetsBlog.com and Can't Stop The Bleeding
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Red Sox' two-year offer surprised Martinez — Victor Martinez is intent on not getting caught up in the drama that will come with any impending contract negotiations. (AP) — Speaking prior to the Red Sox' 14-5 loss to the Rays Tuesday night at Fenway Park, Victor Martinez addressed …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Boston Globe
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Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Jason Varitek wants to play; status with Boston Red Sox unclear
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Rays 5 HRs, Price's pitching beat Red Sox 14-5
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, Yahoo! Sports and Boston Globe
Peter Botte / Blogging The Bombers:
Phil Hughes will miss next start; Damaso Marte ‘probably not’ returning in 2010 — Phil Hughes will be skipped one start in the Yankees rotation to limit his innings, Joe Girardi said before Wednesday's series finale against Baltimore. Dustin Moseley will start Sunday in Texas …
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily, TYU, Yahoo! Sports and lenNY's Yankees
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Brian Costello / NY Post:
Yankees to skip Hughes' turn in rotation — Phil Hughes will not make his next scheduled start on Saturday and will be replaced by Dustin Moseley. — Joe Girardi said that Hughes will instead start Wednesday against the Rays. Hughes has pitched 155 1/3 innings and is likely approaching his Yankees-imposed limit for the season.
Discussion:
Fanhouse MLB Blog and NESN.com
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Clemente nominee Baker helps around world — Marlins catcher up for charitable award for work in Iraq, Haiti — MIAMI — An elbow injury, which required surgery, limited what John Baker could do on the field in 2010. It certainly didn't slow the Marlins' catcher down from his contributions away from the baseball diamond.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady and FishStripes
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Bernie Miklasz / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Bernie: Ump Davidson a disgrace to the game — If umpire Bob Davidson ejected that fan in Milwaukee on behalf of Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, then it's wrong. So what if the fan bugged Molina? Fans heckling or needling players? This has been going on in baseball for quite some time now ... like, well, forever.
Discussion:
Fish Tank, Yahoo! Sports and ESPN
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Source: Ryne Sandberg interview soon — CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs minor league manager Ryne Sandberg will be one of several candidates the team will meet with over the next 10 days, according to a major league source. Other known candidates include former Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Sports Illustrated:
Hard to figure what Jeter's next Yankees contract will look like … Derek Jeter will be back as a Yankee next season, and for more seasons after that. Of course he will. Doesn't matter whether he's hitting .264 today. Or .364. Or .164. — Jeter will be back with the Yankees …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Bronx Baseball Daily
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Twins batter Royals, up AL Central lead — Liriano sharp, Thome ties for eighth place on HR list in win — MINNEAPOLIS — Extending their lead in the American League Central race has proven to be a difficult task for the Twins recently. — Despite having won six of their last seven …
Discussion:
Twinkie Town and baseballmusings.com
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Konerko needs another day out of lineup
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and South Side Sox
Rob Maaddi / Associated Press:
Polanco's big hit lifts Phillies into first place — PHILADELPHIA—Placido Polanco hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 8-7 Tuesday night to move into first place in the NL East. — The Phillies moved a half-game ahead of Atlanta, which lost 5-0 in Pittsburgh.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, FishStripes and The Good Phight
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Newsday:
Showalter a stickler for BP etiquette — AND KEN DAVIDOFF. anthony.rieber@newsday.com., ken.davidoff@newsday.com — Orioles manager Buck Showalter is known for his attention to detail. One of those details crept up in the outfield Monday morning at Yankee Stadium.
Discussion:
Rivalry Central and Mike Silva's …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Beckham out again with pain in right hand — After playing 3 games, 2nd baseman says pain has returned in different area — DETROIT — Bothered and irritated were two ways to describe second baseman Gordon Beckham and the recurrence of his sore right hand.
Discussion:
Around the Majors and Chicago Breaking Sports
