Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves, 6:35 PM CDT

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Current Series

3 game series vs Braves @ Turner Field

Houston Astros The Crawfish Boxes
@ Atlanta Braves Talking Chop

Friday, Jul 4, 2008, 6:35 PM CDT
Turner Field

Brian Moehler vs Tim Hudson

Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing in from center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 80.

Complete Coverage >

Sat 07/05

Chris Sampson vs Jo-Jo Reyes

6:10 PM CDTSun 07/0612:35 PM CDT

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W-LGGSCGSHOSVBSIPHRERHRBBKERAWHIP2008 - Brian Moehler4-31510000063.26828271020403.821.38

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W-LGGSCGSHOSVBSIPHRERHRBBKERAWHIP2008 - Tim Hudson8-618181100114.110545421033673.311.21

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The Houston Astros head into Atlanta today after losing 3 straight games to the Dodgers and having lost 5 of the last 10.  The Braves have lost 5 straight and 7 of the last 10 and have an identical record to the Astros at 40 and 46. 

The Astros start off the series by sending Brian Moehler to the hill to face off with Tim Hudson.  Moehler has been outstanding this season as a starter earning a 4-3 record with a 3.38 ERA over his 10 games started. 

The Astros had originally planned to send Roy Oswalt to the hill tomorrow to face Jo-Jo Reyes, but Cooper decided to give Roy a few more days of rest to try and get his strained left hip abductor back to 100%.  Roy said that he could probably pitch on Saturday but that it would be "a stretch".  Roy is now scheduled to make this start on Tuesday against the Pirates and then the final game before the All-Star break.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2008/7/4/564785/houston-astros-at-atlanta

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Dodgers join Brewers in pursuit of Sabathia

The Brewers aren’t the only team pushing hard for Indians left-hander C.C. Sabathia. The Dodgers also are heavily in the mix, according to major-league sources.Read the full story.

Read The Full Article:
http://mlbnewsblog.com/2008/07/04/dodgers-join-brewers-in-pursuit-of-sabathia/

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Robothal's Improbability Drive Kicks Into High
Gear With Dodger Trade Noise

Via BTF comes this gem of Robothal genuflecty silliness, a possible trade for C.C. Sabathia:

The Brewers aren't the only team pushing hard for Indians left-hander C.C. Sabathia. The Dodgers also are heavily in the mix, according to major-league sources.

However, the Dodgers' bid for Sabathia is complicated by their pursuit of Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson as a replacement for the injured Rafael Furcal, sources say.

To get Wilson, the Dodgers would need to trade the Pirates some of the same players that the Indians want for Sabathia, leaving Los Angeles with a choice of one deal or the other.

Sabathia, 6-5 with a 2.16 ERA in his past 14 starts, is scheduled to pitch twice more before the All-Star break. His next start is Tuesday, but several baseball people expect he will be traded before then.

While the Dodgers might not offer a prospect better than Brewers Class AA left fielder Matt LaPorta, their proposal for Sabathia would include three players, sources say.

Class AA right-hander James McDonald, Class AAA shortstop Chin-Lung Hu and third baseman Andy LaRoche are among the Dodgers' prospects likely drawing consideration form the Indians.

Oh, that's rich. The Dodgers have re-committed to weaning themselves off free agents, right? Eh, not so fast. Via Sons, the most damning thing written yet about Colletti's intentions:

"We're more open-minded to who we may have to move," Colletti said.

Asked if he were referring to the young players, Colletti said, "They're not really young kids anymore."

Colletti's comments echoed what owner Frank McCourt told me earlier in the week when asked about the possibility of trading some of the kids. He said the ones they will hold onto are "the ones who are prepared to put in the work, listen to coaches and get better every day." The kids who they would be willing to part with are "the ones that can't do those things."

Got that, you stubborn cuss Matt Kemp? You've got between now and the trade deadline — which, by my count, is a little under a month — to show you're improving every day, listening to coaches, not moving trash cans, and whatever other nebulous witch-doctory the Dodgers have set up so they can justify trading you. Maybe this isn't on the order of the idiotic Carlos Quentin trade/Eric Byrnes re-signing, but it has every possibility of becoming Ned's Waterloo. Ignore, for the moment, the possibility of Ned pursuing Sabathia; Dodgers pitching is the best in the league, something that even Ned ought to understand. Consider the following:

1. As we already know, Colletti cannot tell a good player from a bad one.
2. The Dodgers "position of need" is offense at short. (As Buttercup showed us, a weak GM makes his dumbest mistakes when being overly concerned about what he's losing at one position instead of what he can do to improve elsewhere.)
3. Colletti has already shown he's willing to deal for junk in the middle infield (e.g. Julio Lugo), even on a short-term rental.

Ipso facto, it makes perfect sense that a trade bringing the aging, OBP- and SLG-challenged Jack Wilson makes a certain amount of sense from the standpoint of being able to see how Ned could justify to himself such a deal. Of course, one of the things Robo likes to do is to stir up the likes of you and me, so his track record on these non-deal deals is rather poor. But viewed from a certain perspective, it's plausible, and Ned's recent published statements make them sound more rather than less so.

Finally: a word from the BTF thread linked above:

McCourt: Are you a Windows or a Mac guy?

Colletti: Huh?

McCourt: Welcome aboard.

Read The Full Article:
http://6-4-2.blogspot.com/2008/07/robothals-improbability-drive-kicks.html

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Mariners 4, Tigers 1

Raul Ibanez clanged a solo home run off the windows of a restaurant in right field and a pair of Seattle relievers helped finish what Erik Bedard started in the Mariners’ 4-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday.Jose Lopez added a key two-run double late to help Seattle win for the eighth time in [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://mlbnewsblog.com/2008/07/04/mariners-4-tigers-1/

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Erik Bedard, Mariners shut down Tigers 4-1 (AP)

Raul Ibanez clanged a solo home run off the windows of a restaurant in right field and a pair of Seattle relievers helped finish what Erik Bedard started in the Mariners’ 4-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday. Jose Lopez added a key two-run double late to help Seattle win for the eighth time [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://mlbnewsblog.com/2008/07/04/erik-bedard-mariners-shut-down-tigers-4-1-ap/

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Helton placed on 15-day DL, Koshansky recalled
(AP)

The Colorado Rockies placed first baseman Todd Helton on the 15-day DL with a sore back on Friday and recalled Joe Koshansky from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Helton, a career .332 hitter coming into 2008, is hitting .266 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs. Over his past 22 games Helton is hitting .182 (14-for-77) and [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://mlbnewsblog.com/2008/07/04/helton-placed-on-15-day-dl-koshansky-recalled-a
p/

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Game #87: Olsen vs. Reynolds

Let's win this one in regulation innings. Olsen's allowed 21 hits and 15 runs over 13 2/3 IP in his career against the Rockies.

Go Rockies!

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W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP 2008 - Greg Reynolds2-61010000056.16038361022185.751.46

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W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP 2008 - Scott Olsen4-417170000106.19350411440583.471.25

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Lineup

Florida Marlins @ Colorado Rockies

07/04/08 6:05 PM MDT

Florida Marlins Colorado Rockies Hanley Ramirez - SSRyan Spilborghs - CFJeremy Hermida - RFClint Barmes - 2BJorge Cantu - 3BMatt Holliday - LFJosh Willingham - LFGarrett Atkins - 3BMike Jacobs - 1BJeff Baker - 1BCody Ross - CFChris Iannetta - CMatt Treanor - CBrad Hawpe - RFAlfredo Amezaga - 2BTroy Tulowitzki - SSScott Olsen - PGreg Reynolds - P

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Read The Full Article:
http://www.purplerow.com/2008/7/4/564870/game-87-olsen-vs-reynolds

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Red Sox 6, Yankees 4

Kevin Youkilis created the drama. Mike Lowell gave Boston the win.Lowell hit a go-ahead, three-run homer two innings after Youkilis’ shot squirted out of Johnny Damon’s glove, bounced off the top of the left-field wall three times, and sat on the fence for several tantalizing seconds.Youkilis’ ball rolled back to the field for a tying, [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://mlbnewsblog.com/2008/07/04/red-sox-6-yankees-4/

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7/4 Minor League Report

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(AAA) Scranton (51-38) lost to Syracuse 8-5: Box Score - Recap

Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Syracuse
4 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 8 11 1 Scranton/WB
0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 1 5 6 1 W: S. Stidfole (1-1, 1.98); L: J. Cox (3-3, 3.32)
HR: SYR: C. Thigpen (2). SWB: C. Ransom (14), E. Duncan (7).

Scranton/WB:
Justin Christian: 0-for-3, BB
Cody Ransom: 3-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R
JD Closser: 0-for-4, R
Eric Duncan: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, R
Matt Carson: 0-for-4, R
Chris Stewart: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
Kei Igawa: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K (3.82 ERA)
J.B. Cox: 2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (3.32 ERA)

(AA) Trenton (52-34) beat New Hampshire 6-0: Box Score - Recap

Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Trenton
0 0 0 0 1 4 1 0 0 6 10 0 New Hampshire
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 W: P. Coke (7-3, 2.86); L: R. Ray (3-2, 2.10)
HR: TRE: E. Gonzalez (6).

Trenton:
Ramiro Pena: 1-for-5, 2 RBI
Colin Curtis: 1-for-4, BB
Austin Jackson: 1-for-5
Chris Malec: 0-for-4, R
James Cooper: 0-for-4, R, BB
Edwar Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Cody Ehlers: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
Joseph Muich: 1-for-4, RBI
Reegie Corona: 3-for-3, RBI, R
Phil Coke: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K (2.86 ERA)
Anthony Claggett: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (1.06 ERA)

(High A) Tampa (42-41 overall; 5-8 in 2nd half) lost to Sarasota 6-0: Box Score - Recap

Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Sarasota
0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 6 8 1 Tampa
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1 W: M. DeJesus (2-3, 4.19); L: Z. McAllister (3-4, 2.47); SV: R. Geronimo (10)
HR: SAR: J. Francisco (12), D. Stubbs (4), E. Rodriguez (2).

Tampa:
Luis Nunez: 1-for-3, BB, SB
Kevin Smith: 2-for-4, 2B
Andres Perez: 0-for-3, BB
Seth Fortenberry: 1-for-4
Mitch Hilligoss: 2-for-4, 2B
Tim Battle: 1-for-4
Zachary McAllister: 8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K (2.47 ERA)

(Low A) Charleston (50-35) lost to Augusta 5-2: Box Score - Recap

Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Charleston
0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 7 0 Augusta
2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 X 5 10 0 W: W. Rodriguez (1-0, 2.16); L: R. Zink (1-2, 3.63); SV: D. Mixon (2)
HR: None.

Charleston:
Bradley Suttle: 0-for-3, BB
Jesus Montero: 1-for-4, 2B
Brandon Laird: 1-for-4
Matt Morris: 1-for-4, R
Carmen Angelini: 2-for-4, R
Prilys Cuello: 2-for-3, RBI
Dellin Betances: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (4.05 ERA)
Jonathan Ortiz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (1.67 ERA)

(Low A Short-Season) Staten Island (11-7) beat Mahoning Valley 11-9: Box Score - Recap

Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Mahoning Valley
1 0 0 0 3 0 2 3 0 9 10 2 Staten Island
1 0 1 4 3 1 1 0 X 11 13 2 W: J. Gonell (3-1, 4.15); L: K. Mead (1-3, 6.89); SV: P. Venditte (4)
HR: STA: W. Ibarra (2).

SI Yanks:
Walter Ibarra: 2-for-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB
Raymond Kruml: 3-for-5, 2 RBI, 3 R, BB
Mike Lyon: 2-for-3, BB, 2 RBI
Daniel Brewer: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, BB
Jack Rye: 0-for-5, RBI
Mitch Abeita: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 R, BB
Melky Mesa: 0-for-5, R
Jahdiel Santamaria: 2-for-5, RBI, R, SB
Ryan Wilkes: 2-for-4, R, BB
Pat Venditte: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K (0.00 ERA)

(Rookie) GCL Yankees (7-6) lost to the GCL Tigers 7-1: Box Score - Recap

Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E GCL Tigers
1 0 0 0 1 0 3 2 0 7 12 1 GCL Yankees
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 2 W: B. Hamilton (1-0, 1.42); L: B. Bruney (0-1, 4.50)
HR: None.

GCL Yanks:
Kyle Anson: 0-for-2
Jose Pirela: 1-for-4, 2B, R
Michael James: 1-for-4
Jimmy Paredes: 1-for-4
Christopher Smith: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI
Tom Baldridge: 0-for-3, BB
Brian Bruney: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (4.50 ERA)
Humberto Sanchez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (2.45 ERA)
Kelvin Perez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (4.50 ERA)

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SlidingIntoHome/~3/327107831/74-minor-league-repor
t.html

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On the fence: Youkilis triples off top of wall
(AP)

Kevin Youkilis created the drama. Mike Lowell gave Boston the win. Lowell hit a go-ahead, three-run homer two innings after Youkilis’ shot squirted out of Johnny Damon’s glove, bounced off the top of the left-field wall three times, and sat on the fence for several tantalizing seconds. Youkilis’ ball rolled back to the field for [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://mlbnewsblog.com/2008/07/04/on-the-fence-youkilis-triples-off-top-of-wall-a
p/

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