Top News:
Canadian Press:
Peralta, Scherzer lead Tigers over Blue Jays — TORONTO — Jhonny Peralta hit a three-run homer and Max Scherzer threw eight strong innings as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 on Thursday. — Gerald Laird also went deep with a two-run shot for the Tigers (64-64) …
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …, Bluebird Banter and TSN.ca
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John Lott / canada.com:
Jays' Snider stays cool while awaiting his chance — PHOTOS ( 1 ) — Toronto Blue Jays player Travis Snider (C) joins kids from Jays Care Rookie League and the Hospital for Sick Children to unveil Jays Care Community Clubhouse at the Rogers Centre. — TORONTO — For the third time in four days …
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Mets' Jose Reyes (oblique) exits game — NEW YORK — A strained oblique forced Mets shortstop Jose Reyes to leave Thursday night's game versus the Florida Marlins in the second inning. The Mets described the injury as “mild,” but said Reyes will not play again until he has no pain in the oblique.
Discussion:
NESN.com and Yahoo! Sports
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Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Jose Reyes reaggravates injury, Marlins explode for seven runs in sixth, down New York Mets, 11-4 — New York Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese ties a career-high with eight strikeouts but is pulled during a Marlins seven-run sixth inning. Jose Reyes (b.) exits in the second inning due to injury.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Joseph White / Associated Press:
Pujols hits 400th, but Nats top Cards 11-10 in 13 — WASHINGTON—Ian Desmond singled home Nyjer Morgan in the bottom of the 13th inning and the Washington Nationals overcame Albert Pujols' 400th home run Thursday night in an 11-10 roller-coaster win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and Yahoo! Sports
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Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Pujols belts career home run No. 400 — WASHINGTON — Albert Pujols' 400th Major League home run wasn't just historic, it was emphatic. Unfortunately, it was also for naught. — In the fourth inning of the Cardinals' 11-10, 13-inning loss to the Nationals on Thursday night …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Mark Viera / New York Times:
Yankees' New Boss Determined to Carry On — Hank Steinbrenner brought to mind the image of the Boss as he barked at his players to get onto the stage for a news conference. “Let's go!” he said. — Steinbrenner was not directing his major leaguers but rather Hank's Yanks, the 18-and-under team he sponsors.
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Matt Ehalt / NY Daily News:
Hank Steinbrenner: New York Yankees will be defending World Series title — Hank Steinbrenner is already looking to the future. — Speaking Thursday at Yankee Stadium, the part-owner of the Yankees said he believes the Yankees will be defending their World Series championship come October.
Discussion:
NESN.com, WasWatching.com and Sliding Into Home
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Pedroia probably done for the year — Nothing is official yet, but according to major league source Dustin Pedroia will likely shut it down for the remainder of the season. Pedroia is expected to spend the next 10 days back in a boot to stabilize the left foot that got sore again after two games.
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Clubhouse Insider, SOX & Dawgs, Fanhouse MLB Blog, HardballTalk and ESPN
Johnette Howard / ESPN:
Pete Rose's advice for Roger Clemens — Rose was quixotic, arrogant and desperate in his denials. Does that sound familiar? — Twenty-one years after his adamant denials began, six years after he finally conceded the charade was up, Pete Rose remains baseball's gold standard for obstinacy in the face of incriminating evidence.
Discussion:
NESN.com and Cincinnati Reds
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Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Oliver Perez wants to stay with Mets … NEW YORK — Even after being essentially ostracized by the New York Mets, pitcher Oliver Perez still wants to be with the team next season. — “I want to be back here,” Perez told ESPNNewYork.com. “I want to have a championship because I know the fans want it and I want it, too.”
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Mets Merized Online, MLB Rumors, New York Mets Fan Blog, Hot Foot and New Jersey Online
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Associated Press:
Liriano outpitches Lee, Twins beat Rangers 6-4 — ARLINGTON, Texas—Francisco Liriano allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings, Delmon Young hit a three-run homer, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers and struggling Cliff Lee 6-4 on Thursday night to avoid a four-game sweep.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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Jamey Newberg / MLB.com:
Newberg Report: Short-term yield
Mark Simon / ESPN:
A tale of two first basemen — Ike Davis is a lot like John Olerud — a comparison that suits the ex-Met just fine — John Olerud misses baseball. — “I miss the challenge, the competition, the trying to get your swing right and get in a zone where whatever is thrown, you hit hard …
Rob Maaddi / Associated Press:
Rodriguez goes 7 strong, Astros sweep Phillies — PHILADELPHIA—Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven sharp innings, Carlos Lee homered and the Houston Astros beat the Phillies 5-1 Thursday to complete their first four-game sweep in Philadelphia in 11 years. — The two-time NL champion Phillies …
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball, The Crawfish Boxes and Yahoo! Sports
Sports Illustrated:
Stage is set for seismic shifts on the managerial front this winter … There could be more big-name managers on the open market than ever this winter, with several marquee names potentially on the move, setting up several interesting scenarios. Yet, at least three men with great playing pedigrees …
Discussion:
Memories Of Kevin Malone and MLB Rumors
Quinn Roberts / MLB.com:
Beltre's banter results in pair of ejections — Third baseman, Francona tossed by home-plate umpire — BOSTON — Trash talking between friends occurs often in sports, and in Adrian Beltre and Felix Hernandez's case, this time was no different. — Just one small problem: Home-plate umpire Dan Bellino didn't know it.
Discussion:
Empyreal Environs, Boston Globe, The Joy of Sox and Fenway West
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NY Daily News:
Playing backup to Ruben Tejada isn't sitting well with Luis Castillo; Josh Thole has busy night — Luis Castillo arrived for work at Citi Field Wednesday, looked at the starting lineup and didn't know what to think. He did know that Jerry Manuel had spent the season rewarding good play with a start the next day.
Discussion:
New York Post, Mets Gazette, MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk, Tedquarters, New York Times and Amazin' Avenue
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