Top News:
Richard Griffinbaseball / Toronto Star:
Rangers' answer to Bautista bat flip was gutless: Griffin — To wait seven months after the flip, to wait for the final game of the 2016 season series, in Bautista's final at-bat, was just wrong. — Matt Bush is an idiot. Rougned Odor is a punk. Jose Bautista is an old-school baller that plays the game right.
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Baseball Prospectus, NBCSports.com, JaysNation, Bluebird Banter and Dallas Morning News
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David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Fight in Texas — Jose Bautista caused a fight in the top of the eighth inning in the game between the Blue Jays and the Rangers. With Bautista on first, Justin Smoak grounded the ball to Adrian Beltre at third. Beltre threw to second, where Rougned Odor caught the ball to force Bautista.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo Sports, Lone Star Ball and OutsidePitchMLB
Marcus Stroman / ESPN:
Rougned Odor punches Jose Bautista in face to start brawl — ARLINGTON, Texas — A feud simmering since Jose Bautista's bat flip in last year's American League Division Series boiled over into a brawl in the final game of the season between the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers.
Discussion:
Fox Sports, ESPN and Halos Heaven
Itself / Kansas City Star:
Here's what keeps Royals officials up at night — But unlike past years, the club doesn't have the minor-league inventory to pull off a major trade — A year ago, landing Ben Zobrist and Johnny Cueto near the deadline boosted the team's talent and morale — The losing keeps them up at night.
Discussion:
Royals Review
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Tim Lincecum, Angels Nearing Major League Deal — Right-hander Tim Lincecum is “leaning toward” signing with the Angels and could wrap up a deal today, tweets MLB Network's Jon Heyman. Meanwhile, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports that the two sides are “closing in” on a deal …
Discussion:
Orange County Register, Halos Heaven, Lone Star Ball, MLB Daily Dish and NESN.com
Greg Gabriel / SI.com:
As One Freely Walks Away, Two Badly Want Back In NFL — Tom Coughlin wants to coach again, and Dwight Freeney wants to play. Both make their case, while the rugger-turned-returner retires from 49ers. Plus a commencement speech, a telling Vegas text and more — Peter King's Plymouth State University commencement speech
Discussion:
Pro Football Rumors, ProFootballTalk, NESN.com and NOLA River
Associated Press:
Bochy Challenges for Final Out, Giants Beat Dbacks for Sweep — By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSMAY 15, 2016, 7:39 P.M. E.D.T. — PHOENIX — Manager Bruce Bochy successfully challenged to get a game-ending double play after Brandon Crawford singled in a run in the ninth inning and the San Francisco Giants beat …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, McCovey Chronicles and Yahoo Sports
Associated Press:
Valencia Homers 3 Times as A's Beat Rays 7-6 — By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSMAY 15, 2016, 4:42 P.M. E.D.T. — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Danny Valencia hit three home runs, including a two-run shot in the ninth inning that lifted the Oakland Athletics to a 7-6 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, DRaysBay, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo Sports
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Associated Press:
Suarez Powers Reds to 9-4 Win Over Phillies — By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSMAY 15, 2016, 6:03 P.M. E.D.T. — PHILADELPHIA — Eugenio Suarez hit a three-run homer, Jay Bruce went 3 for 3 and the Cincinnati Reds rebounded from a difficult loss with a 9-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Claim Jimmy Paredes From Orioles — 1:10pm: The Blue Jays and Orioles have both announced the claim. In a full column on the move, Kubatko offers the following quote from Duquette about Toronto's claim of Paredes: … 12:21pm: The Blue Jays have claimed infielder/designated …
Discussion:
School of Roch, Camden Chat, Toronto and MLB Daily Dish
ESPN:
Patriots will host Bears for joint practices Aug. 15 and 16 — FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots will host the Chicago Bears for two days of joint practices on Monday Aug. 15 and Tuesday Aug. 16, the team announced today. The practices are free and open to the public.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk and NOLA River
Associated Press:
Sammy Ellis, former pitcher, coach for multiple teams, dies — Former major league pitcher Sammy Ellis, who became an All-Star with the Cincinnati Reds in 1965, has died. He was 75. — The funeral home handling the arrangements said Ellis died Friday in Temple Terrace, Florida.
Discussion:
ESPN, Minor League Ball and baseballmusings.com
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Left-hander still struggling with command in Triple-A rehab starts — The Denver Post — Colorado Rockies pitcher Jorge De La Rosa on April 15, 2016. (David Zalubowski, The Associated Press) — Although Jorge De La Rosa has pitched two rehab games at Triple-A Albuquerque …
Discussion:
Purple Row and Rox Pile
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Will Rockies release Reyes or try to trade him? — The Denver Post — The enormous question that had been looming over Jose Reyes since last Halloween was answered Friday. — However, the many questions that affect Reyes' major-league career still linger over him and the Rockies.
Discussion:
ESPN, MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
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