Top News:
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Greinke admits he was bad guy in Royals saga — KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Nobody does honest like Zack Greinke. Because modern athletes have conditioned us to expect canned analysis, hollow words and cadaverous personalities, there is something so satisfying in somebody unburdened by what others might think.
Discussion:
Getting Blanked and baseballmusings.com
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Bob Dutton / Boston Herald:
Royals edge Brewers with walk-off win — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Suddenly, walk-off victories are common occurrences at Kauffman Stadium. — The Kansas City Royals snatched another victory from defeat Thursday night by scoring two runs in the ninth inning for a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that completed a three-game sweep.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Verlander nabs 1st win in month to lead Tigers — Recap — Box Score — Play-By-Play — Photos — Conversation — Justin Verlander nabs first win in a month as Tigers cap road trip — CHICAGO — Justin Verlander pitched eight solid innings for his first win in a month …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Purple Row, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Over the Monster, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN and Associated Press
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Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Source: Cubs' Dempster, Theo discuss trades … CHICAGO — Ryan Dempster and team president Theo Epstein met Wednesday to discuss potential trades for the Chicago Cubs pitcher, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. — Dempster is in the final season of a four-year, $44 million deal that pays him $14 million in 2012.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Getting Blanked, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Volquez Pitches Padres Past Mariners 6-2 for Sweep — SEATTLE (AP) — Edinson Volquez pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the San Diego Padres beat the skidding Seattle Mariners 6-2 Thursday night for their first series sweep of the season. — Volquez (3-6) was in command all night …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, baseballmusings.com and Associated Press
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Gary Jabara, O.C. communications magnate, in running for Padres
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Gaslamp Ball, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Joe Kay / Associated Press:
Reds hit 3 HRs in 12-5 win for sweep of Indians — CINCINNATI—Brandon Phillips hit one of Cincinnati's three homers and drove in four more runs on Thursday afternoon, leading the ailing Reds to a 12-5 victory and their first three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians since 2008.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports
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John Fay / Cincinnati Reds:
Baker fires back at Lowe with explosive accusations
Discussion:
Red Hot Mama, Red Reporter, MLB.com, Getting Blanked, HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com and Redleg Nation
Jordan Bastian / Major League Bastian:
Derek Lowe has “zero respect” for Dusty Baker
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, Cincinnati Reds, Yahoo! Sports, Red Hot Mama, CBSSports.com and Mark My Word
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Indians Grab Naquin For $1.75 Million — The Indians have agreed on a $1.75 million bonus with first-rounder Tyler Naquin, pending a physical. — A Texas A&M product, Naquin was one of the best pure hitters and had one of the strongest outfield arms in this year's draft.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Red Sox sign third overall pick Pat Light, second-rounder Jamie Callahan — The Red Sox officially have signed supplemental first rounder Pat Light, a hard-throwing right-hander out of Monmouth University, to a bonus of $1 million. Light routinely would work in the mid-90s for Monmouth …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Over the Monster
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Not on All-Star ballot? Harper, Trout all write — Both rookies trying to become first write-in pick to start since '74 — This is a highly unusual season for the All-Star Game selection process. With the Midsummer Classic in Kansas City a month away, a case can be made that the most exciting …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
The Heater Feed:
Luke Scott headed to 15 day disabled list — Designated hitter Luke Scott has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Friday, June 8. Scott has stiffness in his middle back, which he says he injured Friday against the Marlins. He will continue rehab work and says he should be ready …
Discussion:
DRaysBay, MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
Alex Speier / WEEI:
HOW SUCCESS BRED A MONSTER: THEO EPSTEIN CONSIDERS HIS RED SOX LEGACY — CHICAGO — It was not the final note that Theo Epstein wanted in Boston. — The former Red Sox general manager has plenty that is keeping him energized in what he calls the “next chapter” of his baseball life …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Baseball Nation, Full Count, Yahoo! Sports, Fire Brand, HardballTalk and ESPN
John Harper / NY Daily News:
For NY Mets ace Johan Santana, Terry Collins' concern over no-hitter did more harm than good — Well-rested hurler still looking to rein in over-aggressiveness — Johan Santana puts up another stinker - his second bad outing since throwing the first no-hitter in Mets history.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, New Jersey Online, Amazin' Avenue, New York Times and Associated Press
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Cardinals Agree To Sign Carson Kelly — The Cardinals have agreed to sign second-round pick Carson Kelly to a $1.6MM bonus, reports Jim Callis of Baseball America (Twitter link). Kelly's bonus is almost triple the recommended $574.3K bonus for the 86th overall pick and, as Callis notes …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Paul Casella / MLB.com:
Hurlers return to glory after being written off — Santana, Peavy, Zito, Capuano have rediscovered winning forms — These guys were supposed to be done. Whether because of injuries, age or simple ineffectiveness over the past few seasons, they were not only considered to be past their primes …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Steve Kroner / San Francisco Chronicle:
Matt Cain throws perfect game as Giants win 10-0 — (06-14) 01:32 PDT — It took the Giants' franchise 130 years to have a perfect night. Matt Cain's evening will last forever. — Cain was perfect Wednesday night. The Giants' 27-year-old right-hander retired all 27 Houston hitters at AT&T Park.
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Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Matt Cain's Place in History
Discussion:
Getting Blanked, Minor League Ball, HardballTalk, DRaysBay, Baseball Nation and McCovey Chronicles
