Top News:
Associated Press:
Coco Crisp snaps out of slump as A's stop skid at 5 — OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland Athletics leadoff hitter Coco Crisp tinkered with his swing for a few days and finally got the results he had been looking for. — That is critical for a team trying to hang on in the American League West …
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Mets avoid embarrassing offensive record but not another loss, falling to Athletics, 6-2 — The seven hits snapped a streak of five straight games with four hits or less in a game. That already tied a franchise record with the 2004 and 1963 Mets having those streaks.
Jane Lee / MLB.com:
Cespedes reflects on deal sending him to Red Sox
Cespedes reflects on deal sending him to Red Sox
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, Amazin' Avenue, CBSSports.com and HardballTalk
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs all wet, win 2-0 after four-plus-hour rain delay — Leave it to the Cubs to have a rain delay that winds up on Deadspin. — As Tuesday night slipped into Wednesday morning at Wrigley Field, the Cubs remained stuck on the fifth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants …
Discussion:
GammonsDaily.com and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Veteran mentor is high on Cubs' shopping list — NEW YORK — By now, anybody who follows the Cubs has heard the front office's vow to aggressively pursue pitching over the next two winters to catch up to the quality of young Cubs hitters believed to be coming down the pipeline.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Giants-Cubs called after 4.5-hour delay — CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs were declared 2-0 winners over the San Francisco Giants in 4½ innings on Tuesday night after it was determined Wrigley Field was unplayable after a 4 hour, 34 minute rain delay. — As the Giants came to bat …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, McCovey Chronicles and Associated Press
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Lohse, Garza have return dates in sight — MILWAUKEE — Target dates were in sight Tuesday for the returns of Brewers starter Kyle Lohse and Matt Garza from injuries. The team hopes to restore Lohse to the rotation next week in San Diego after he missed a start with a sore ankle …
Discussion:
Brew Beat and Brew Crew Ball
Associated Press:
Cardinals edge Reds with walk-off HBP in 9th inning — ST. LOUIS — Jon Jay was hit by a pitch from J.J. Hoover with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night. — Matt Holliday drew a leadoff walk to start the winning rally.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
RELATED:
Canadian Press:
Carter's three-run homer in ninth leads Astros over Yankees — NEW YORK, N.Y. - Chris Carter snapped a ninth-inning tie with a colossal three-run homer, extending his second-half power surge and sending the Houston Astros to a 7-4 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, The Crawfish Boxes and Pinstripe Alley
Matthew Murphy / The Hardball Times:
Leverage Matters: When to Invest in the Bullpen — Koji Uehara's value will differ depending on the team that signs him (via Keith Allison). — Who was the best pitcher in the American League in 2013? — By WAR, it was Max Scherzer, although teammate Anibal Sanchez had a better ERA, and Yu Darvish had more strikeouts.
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Teddy Cahill / MLB.com:
Labourt strikes out nine in win for Vancouver — Left-hander Jairo Labourt, the Blue Jays' No. 16 prospect, struck out a career-high nine batters in six scoreless innings on Tuesday as Class A Short Season Vancouver defeated Boise, 2-0. — Labourt scattered seven hits and one walk.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
CarGo has surgery, might not be ready by spring — DENVER — Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez had the middle third of the left patella tendon repaired and a bursa sac removed in a surgery on Monday. Head athletic trainer Keith Dugger cautioned that it won't be known for months if Gonzalez …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Purple Row
Associated Press:
McCutchen activated, in lineup vs. Braves — PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen's fractured rib is healed. The reigning National League MVP is hoping his return will have the same effect on the reeling Pittsburgh Pirates. — The Pirates activated the star center fielder off the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online and ESPN
RELATED:
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Pirates activate Andrew McCutchen from the disabled list
Pirates activate Andrew McCutchen from the disabled list
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Canadian Press:
Infante has three doubles, Royals rally late to beat Rockies — DENVER - Omar Infante had three doubles and drove in four runs to help the streaking Kansas City Royals beat the Colorado Rockies 7-4 on Tuesday night. — James Shields pitched six solid innings to get the win for the Royals …
Discussion:
Purple Row and Royals Review
MLB.com:
Phils president: GM Amaro ‘not on the hot seat’ — PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies might have the third-highest payroll in baseball, but they are going to miss the postseason for the third consecutive year. — But Phillies president David Montgomery's support for general manager Ruben Amaro Jr …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Yanks notes: Passing on Cuban star Castillo — Pass on Castillo — The Yankees have ended any pursuit of Cuban outfielder/second baseman Rusney Castillo, according to an industry source. Castillo's power-and-speed element has him linked to interest by several other clubs …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
(USATSI) — Cuban star Rusney Castillo is sifting through offers …
(USATSI) — Cuban star Rusney Castillo is sifting through offers …
Discussion:
SBNation.com, Lookout Landing and Over the Monster