Two cities, both alike in dignity, in fair Boston, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil short-porch home runs make civil hands unclean…Is now the three hours’ traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient eyes attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
The Red Sox acquire two players from within their division, Guamanian John Hattig gets called up to the majors, and the Braves are messing around with the back end of their rotation.
Playoff-hopeful teams are losing their center fielders, aces, second basemen, and more. Will has the latest news on Jim Edmonds, Gary Sheffield, Placido Polanco, and Pedro.
Joe takes a look at the AL West-leading A’s, and how they got to where they are.
Dan continues his series on baserunning by focusing on individual clubs. Do the Angels really create an advantage by being aggressive?
Nate looks at the myth of how closers are made.
Joe chimes in on the absence of White Sox on his MVP ballot, the Dodgers’ bullpen usage, the absurdity of some official scoring, and more.
Will checks in on Placido Polanco’s shoulder, Derrek Lee’s future, Carl Pavano’s return, and injuries that might affect the stretch runs in the AL East.
Jay chronicles the desolate and the magnificent, the scions of Los Angeles and the beggars of the Bay, the slumpers and the slumpees and the just plain lumps.
This week’s matchups have Jim wondering about the “failing 7 out of ten times” cliche, the careers of Jeremy Bonderman and Greg Maddux, and the Loneliness Factor, a stat that measures…well, he’s not sure what it measures.
Will has news on Pedro, A-Rod, Bobby Crosby, Mike Maroth, and more.
Greg Maddux throws a gem as Derek watches the Giants and Dodgers duel.
Preston Wilson and his goofy contract get DFAd, and there are a bunch of fifth-starters and utilitymen on the move.
Ryan Freel has voices in his head, Ozzie Guillen dismisses an entire country’s shortstops, and Rickey Henderson still isn’t ready to retire.
Will has the latest on the Twins’ ace, as well as information about Mark Prior, Hideki Matsui and a pair of Red Sox regulars.
Maury has a guide to the recent court ruling in the CBC case concerning the rights to MLB player names and statistics.