Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Lidge undecided if he wants to pitch again in '12 — Veteran reliever Brad Lidge, released by the Washington Nationals earlier this week, said he has yet to decide if he will try to come back and pitch for another team in 2012. — Lidge — Lidge, 35, signed a $1 million contract with Washington in January.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and SI Tracking Blog
Fox Sports:
Puig deal signals bright Dodger future — LOS ANGELES — So, a reporter asked Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, what do you hear about the team's new $42 million man, Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig? — “He can fly,” Mattingly said. “But I don't think they expect him to be here tomorrow or anything like that.”
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers finally score, but still lose, 3-2 to Mets
Dodgers finally score, but still lose, 3-2 to Mets
Discussion:
True Blue LA and MLB Daily Dish
Associated Press:
Johnson Leads Marlins Past Lee, Phillies 6-2 — MIAMI (AP) — Josh Johnson pitched six strong innings to help the Miami Marlins win consecutive games for the first time in nearly a month and keep Cliff Lee winless with a 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.
Discussion:
The Good Phight and Associated Press
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Top 20 International Prospects List — The 2012 draft was unusual for several reasons. Aside from the new rules, there was little consensus about who the best player in the draft was or how teams had the top of their boards lined up. — In the world of scouting 15- and 16-year-old …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Amazin' Avenue, Pirates Prospects and redsminorleagues.com
Associated Press:
Jennings Homers Twice Off Verlander in Rays' Win — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay's Desmond Jennings homered twice and David Price outpitched Justin Verlander to become the AL's first 11-game winner with a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
Discussion:
Associated Press
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Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Concussion lands Gutierrez on seven-day DL — SEATTLE — Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez was placed on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion on Friday and the Mariners recalled right-handed reliever Steve Delabar from Triple-A Tacoma to take his place on the roster.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Lookout Landing
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Ellsbury gets a hit in Minors rehab opener — SEATTLE — For the first time since April 13, center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury played in a baseball game on Friday. The venue was Fort Myers, Fla., for a Gulf Coast League Game, and Ellsbury went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a walk while serving as the designated hitter.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers confident starters will return to form — ATLANTA — Recent injuries to the Diamondbacks starting rotation aren't enough to change General Manager Kevin Towers' priorities heading into the trade deadline. — “I think we feel like we've got enough depth,” Towers said.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
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Mark Townsend / Yahoo! Sports:
The Diamondbacks do not love Daron Sutton's suit, suspend announcer for dress code violations
The Diamondbacks do not love Daron Sutton's suit, suspend announcer for dress code violations
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and Getting Blanked
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Mike Trout, Bryce Harper spur debate — Could the talented rookies someday compare to Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle? — They're the two youngest players in the major leagues. They arrived on the grand big league stage on the very same day. And we've spent the past two months buzzing nearly …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
D-backs' Hill completes second cycle this season — MILWAUKEE (AP) — Aaron Hill has hit for his second cycle of the season Friday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the second major league player since 1900 to accomplish the feat twice in the same year.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Trio of Cubs homers back stellar Maholm — Valbuena, Clevenger and Soriano homer to help starter end slump — CHICAGO — Friday's game between the Cubs and Astros was delayed for nearly one hour because of rain, which allowed WGN TV to show highlights from Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game against Houston on May 5, 2008.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and The Crawfish Boxes
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Bryce Harper loves Washington, and says he wants to play his entire career in the city — Ron Harper speaks with his youngest son most every day, and on the evening of June 13, Bryce Harper sounded tired. The Washington Nationals had finished a road trip through Boston and Toronto …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
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Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Jeter passes Ripken, moves into 13th on hits list — NEW YORK — With a leadoff double against the Chicago White Sox on Friday night, Derek Jeter moved past Cal Ripken Jr. into 13th place on the all-time hits list. — Jeter now has 3,185 hits in his career.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Angel Verdejo / Boston Herald:
Padres rally as Astros meltdown in 9th inning — Astros closer Brett Myers didn't blame anyone or anything except himself for the team's 7-3 loss to San Diego on Thursday night. — “I (stunk). I gave up runs. That's not my job,” said Myers, who gave up six runs — five unearned …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
Girardi botches ninth vs. White Sox — Instead of calling on Robertson, manager's ‘mix-and-match’ puts Yanks in a mess … NEW YORK — The following column is being written with the approval and blessing of Joseph Elliott Girardi, the manager of the New York Yankees.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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Robert MacLeod / Globe and Mail:
Bautista keeps blasting away but Jays lose slugfest to Angels — Is there something wrong with Robinson Cano's phone? — Perhaps his mobility plan restricts long distance calls from the U.S. to Canada. — Red Sox rough up Romero, Blue Jays 10-4 — HOT BODY Blue Jays slugger to bare it in Body Issue
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Bluebird Banter
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