Ballbug: Cobb goes seven solid, Rays keep rolling over Blue Jays (Associated Press)

3:10 PM ET, August 9, 2012

Top News:

Cobb goes seven solid, Rays keep rolling over Blue Jays — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Alex Cobb pitched seven solid innings, helping the Tampa Bay Rays keep up their home dominance of Toronto in a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays on Wednesday night. — The Rays clinched their 16th consecutive home series win …

Discussion: Yahoo! Sports, Bluebird Banter, TSN.ca and Associated Press

Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:

Blue Jays: Brett Lawrie might join Jose Bautista on DL: Griffin — ST. PETERSBURG, FLA—Wiseguys comedians label Florida “God's waiting room” because of the aging demographic of the Sunshine State. But the Blue Jays, as young and athletic a group as you can find, upped the recent ante for Florida doctors on this road trip.

Discussion: MLB Daily Dish

Eno Sarris / FanGraphs Baseball:
Blue Jays Pitchers Injured at Record Pace?

Discussion: Drunk Jays Fans

Associated Press:

Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton help Rangers edge Red Sox in slugfest — BOSTON — Adrian Beltre had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the ninth inning after Texas blew a late four-run lead and the Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox 10-9 Wednesday. — Josh Hamilton homered among his three hits …

Discussion: ESPN, Boston Herald, Boston Globe, baseballmusings.com, Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press

Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Morales to join rotation, not clear who exits

Discussion: Red Sox Monster, Let's Go Tribe and Over the Monster

Rob Bradford / Full Count:
David Ortiz comes to the defense of Josh Beckett

Discussion: Over the Monster, Red Sox Monster and HardballTalk

Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com Sports News …:

Emerging star Melky and Giants agree to pick up contract talks after the year — The San Francisco Giants made a brief try to extend sudden outfield star Melky Cabrera with a new contract a few weeks ago, but the sides have agreed to put finances aside until after season, when he is due to become a free agent, sources said.

Discussion: San Francisco Giants, MLB Rumors, McCovey Chronicles, Baseball Nation, MLB Daily Dish, Giants Extra, HardballTalk and Viva El Birdos

Steve Henson / Yahoo! Sports:
A's move from Oakland to San Jose can't get traction because the Giants prove slippery

Discussion: HardballTalk

Associated Press:

Scutaro drives in seven runs in Giants' rout of Cardinals — ST. LOUIS — Marco Scutaro hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high seven runs, leading Ryan Vogelsong and the San Francisco Giants to a 15-0 romp over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.

Discussion: The Crawfish Boxes, MLB Daily Dish, Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports

Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:

Ozzie leaning toward putting Bell back as closer — After faltering in first half and losing job, righty hasn't give up run since break — NEW YORK — Performance was the reason Heath Bell was removed from the closer's role at the All-Star break. On the flip side, how he's pitched …

Discussion: HardballTalk

Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:

Stanton, Reyes lead Marlins to 13-0 rout of Mets — NEW YORK—Giancarlo Stanton hit two two-run homers, Jose Reyes also connected against his former team and the Miami Marlins routed the struggling Mets 13-0 on Wednesday night, handing New York its ninth straight loss at home.

Discussion: Faith and Fear in Flushing, Fish Stripes, Associated Press, Yahoo! Sports and ESPN

Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:

Berkman feeling soreness in left knee — ST. LOUIS — On the disabled list because of inflammation in his right knee, Lance Berkman is now also experiencing discomfort in his left knee. Recent tests done on that knee came back negative, but the complications are the latest reminder …

Discussion: HardballTalk

Cal Ripken Jr / Fox Sports:

Orioles call up top prospect Machado — Are the Baltimore Orioles rushing Manny Machado? — Sure they are. But I like the move, for a team that still — yes, still — is involved in the American League East and wild-card races. — If the Orioles were going to promote …

Discussion: Camden Chat

Associated Press:

Rockies Lose 6-4 to Dodgers — LOS ANGELES (AP) — The four-man rotation manager Jim Tracy has come up with for the Colorado Rockies is a double-edged sword. Each of the starters is limited to 75 pitches, whether they are doing well or not, and that can play havoc on a relief corps.

Discussion: Associated Press

Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:

Time for NY Mets manager Terry Collins and GM Sandy Alderson to start preparing for 2013 season — But you can't totally write off this season, not with baseball's recurring narrative of recent teams rushing through the final months of the season en route to a title

Discussion: New York Magazine

Associated Press:

Padres' Clayton Richard downs Cubs with 5-hit shutout … SAN DIEGO — Clayton Richard threw a five-hitter and the San Diego Padres swept the Chicago Cubs with a 2-0 win on Wednesday. — Richard (9-11), coming off one of his better starts of the season, held the Cubs to five singles …

Discussion: Gaslamp Ball, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Associated Press