Top News:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Damon trying to get answers from Tigers today — Just spoke to Johnny Damon, who called me on his way to the ballpark. Damon said he still hadn't made his final decision on whether he would come to the Red Sox or stay with the Tigers, but said he was still leaning toward staying with the Tigers.
Discussion:
Full Count, PRO Rumors and Projo Sox Blog
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Johnny is on the spot — In the end, we want to be entertained, don't we? — Who knows whether the Red Sox will catch the Rays for the wild-card spot? But for a few hours yesterday there was some excitement among the players, the media, and the fans. The Tigers put outfielder Johnny Damon …
Discussion:
USA Today, Boston Dirt Dogs, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, lenNY's Yankees, Associated Press and NESN.com
ESPN:
Source: Red Sox want Johnny Damon — The Boston Red Sox put in a waiver claim on outfielder Johnny Damon because they genuinely want him to join the club for the final month and a half of the season, not to block him from going to another team, a club source told ESPNBoston.com.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Catcher improved, mystified
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Johnny Damon's Decision
Johnny Damon's Decision
Discussion:
Full Count, BronxBanterBlog.com and Clubhouse Insider
TSN.ca:
Scutaro drives in four as Red Sox down Mariners
Scutaro drives in four as Red Sox down Mariners
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Surviving Grady, Over the Monster, Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Damon leaning toward staying in Detroit
Damon leaning toward staying in Detroit
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Fanhouse MLB Blog
Fox Sports:
Source: White Sox to claim Manny — Manny Ramirez has been on the disabled list three times this season. — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — Manny Ramirez will not get through waivers.
Discussion:
Minneapolis Star Tribune, PRO Rumors, Chicago Breaking Sports, The LoHud Yankees Blog, SBNation.com and NESN.com
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
White Sox Will Claim Manny Ramirez
White Sox Will Claim Manny Ramirez
Discussion:
Mike Scioscia's tragic illness, ESPN and NESN.com
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Can the Mets make 2011 interesting? — Wait ‘til next year? Bad contracts, Wilpons’ financial issues pose major hurdles — ESPNNewYork.com — The Bernie Madoff scandal is one reason the Mets' finances are under the microscope. — Man up, New York Mets fans. — It doesn't necessarily get better next year.
Discussion:
PRO Rumors
RELATED:
Steve Popper / NorthJersey.com:
Mets seek balance in youth movement — PITTSBURGH - David Wright stood in front of his locker in the middle of the visitors' clubhouse at PNC Park and he wasn't quite sure what he was seeing around him. — Rod Barajas, who had been a part of his circle of friends hanging out all season long …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
David Waldstein / New York Times:
For Mets, Wild Card Is, Who Stays?
For Mets, Wild Card Is, Who Stays?
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and New York Mets Fan Blog
Globe and Mail:
Robert MacLeod — TORONTO — From Tuesday's Globe and Mail — Several hours before Monday's series opener against the New York Yankees, Jose Bautista went about his business in the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse - a routine that included some playful banter in Spanish with teammate Yunel Escobar …
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John Smallwood / Philly.com:
Umpires should explain botched call — OK, WE'RE NOT going to revisit the ghost of Chico Ruiz. — This isn't 1964 and there are no indications that these Phillies are the type of team to let one setback mushroom into a pennant-crushing collapse. — In fact, the entire modus operandi …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, USA Today and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Dan Steinberg / D.C. Sports Bog:
Rob Dibble to Stephen Strasburg: “Suck it up” — The conventional wisdom on Stephen Strasburg's latest injury, whatever it is, was nicely summed up by Thomas Boswell on Monday: … For the unconventional wisdom, look no further than Rob Dibble, analyst for MASN by night, and radio host for SIRIUS XM's MLB Network Radio by day.
RELATED:
Josh Alper / Fanhouse MLB Blog:
Rob Dibble Thinks Stephen Strasburg Should ‘Suck It Up’
Rob Dibble Thinks Stephen Strasburg Should ‘Suck It Up’
Discussion:
D.C. Sports Bog, Federal Baseball and Nationals Journal
Fox Sports:
Brewers may have missed out on Fielder — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter. — The Brewers will not have an easy time trading first baseman Prince Fielder this offseason.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and PRO Rumors
TSN.ca:
Giants blast Reds — Sports Network — San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Matt Cain pitched eight solid innings, while Aubrey Huff and Pablo Sandoval each registered three runs batted in, as San Francisco blasted Cincinnati, 11-2, in the first of three games from AT&T Park.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
RELATED:
Janie McCauley / Associated Press:
Giants beat Reds to open key series of contenders
Giants beat Reds to open key series of contenders
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Steve Batterson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Ozzie Smith wants to be more involved — DAVENPORT, Iowa — Standing at home plate at Modern Woodmen Park, there was only one place Ozzie Smith would have been more comfortable Sunday afternoon. — But there was no podium in the dirt between second base and third where Smith …
Associated Press:
Bud Selig statue to be unveiled Tuesday — MILWAUKEE (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig's statue will soon join the likenesses of Hank Aaron and Robin Yount in front of Miller Park. — The Milwaukee Brewers are unveiling the bronze statue in a ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the stadium's Home Plate Plaza.
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk, Lone Star Ball and IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS
MLB.com:
Statement from the Family of George M. Steinbrenner III — RE: Details of Unveiling of Monument Park Tribute to George M. Steinbrenner — “We remain profoundly grateful and touched by the many expressions of sympathy and support from so many. We wish to thank everyone for their kind thoughts …
Discussion:
Bats
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Don't forget, Rocket soared before the fall — Let me tell you the story of Clementine. — Clementine is a 6-foot-tall white teddy bear that sits in a shed behind my house. Clementine is 16 years old and a little worn around the edges. The big bear is dirty, moth-ridden …
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Study Finds Independent Bloggers “Least Trusted”, Likely Denied Press Credentials in Baseball — Independent bloggers represent the least trusted media type and are the most likely to be turned down for press pass requests, according to the first academic study to assess the sentiments …
NY Daily News:
YES finally catches up to Clemens case — This just in: Roger Clemens indicted for perjury. — Those trapped inside the pinstriped cocoon that is the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network were hit with the “bulletin” feeling Sunday when, during a rain delay (sixth inning) …