Phillies continue surge behind Halladay (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 20 August 2010 10:12:52 PM. © MLB News Blog

Roy Halladay pitched seven shutout innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 1-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night. The Phillies, who have won 13 of 17 games, are 2 1/2 games behind the Braves in the NL East. Halladay (16-8) won his sixth straight while allowing eight hits, striking out five [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2010/08/21/phillies-continue-surge-behind-halladay-ap/

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BtB Power Rankings: Week 20

post from Beyond the Box Score on 20 August 2010 10:03:25 PM. © Beyond the Box Score

"On Paper" Playoff StandingsAmerican League: E=Rays, C=Twins, W=Rangers, WC=YankeesNational League: E=Braves, C=Cardinals, W=Padres, WC=Phillies*This Week's Feature: The Philadelphia PhilliesThe Phillies have surged of late, getting back into[...]

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http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2010/8/20/1634287/btb-power-rankings-week-20

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Galarraga shuts down Indians again (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 20 August 2010 09:51:28 PM. © MLB News Blog

Armando Galarraga continued his season-long dominance of the Cleveland Indians, pitching seven shutout innings to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 6-0 victory Friday night. Galarraga, facing the Indians for the first time since his near-perfect game on June 2, started just as quickly this time. He retired the first 14 Cleveland hitters before Jayson [...]

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The Cubs Blow ... Another Game - Cubs 3 Braves 5

post from ChicagoCubsOnline.com on 20 August 2010 09:36:51 PM. © ChicagoCubsOnline.com

Game One Hundred Twenty-Three - Cubs 3 Braves 5
WP - Peter Moylan (5-2) LP - Carlos Marmol (2-3, BS 5) Save - Billy Wagner (30)

Three walks and one ball put in play in the ninth inning tell the entire story of Friday's loss to the Braves. Carlos Marmol blew his fifth save of the season after walking the bases loaded in the ninth. The Braves put only one ball in play unfortunately it was a bases clearing triple by Rick Ankiel ... on a 2-2 pitch with two outs. Marmol ended up striking out the side but could not get Ankiel to swing and miss at strike three.

The Cubs seemingly find a way to lose every day.

Lou's crew took a 3-2 lead into the ninth against the first place Atlanta Braves ... and had played a good game before Marmol's meltdown. Ryan Dempster put together one of his best outings of the year and should have posted his fourth win a row.

Dempster made only one mistake Friday afternoon, a solo home run by Omar Infante in the third. Dempster allowed two runs on four hits (seven strikeouts and two walks) in eight innings. Dempster threw 106 pitches, 66 for strikes.

Ryan Dempster retired the last nine he faced and turned the game over to Marmol.

The walks by Dempster and Marmol really hurt on Friday. Of the five free passes issued, four scored ...

Aramis Ramirez drove in two of the Cubs three runs in four trips to the plate. Ramirez tied the game at two with a solo home run in the fourth ... his 18th of the season. Following a hustle triple by Marlon Byrd, Ramirez broke up the 2-2 tie with a double to left in the sixth.

The Cubs offense had plenty of opportunities to plate more runs Friday. Three runs on 10 hits ... Lou's pathetic offense finished the game 2-for-7 with RISP and left six on base.

Derrek Lee made his debut in a Braves' uniform and finished the game 0-for-4. Lee received a standing ovation as he stepped to the plate in the first inning.

With Friday's loss, the Cubs have dropped eight in a row at Wrigley and have not won a game at home since August 4 ... they have lost 11 of the last 12 at home.

The Cubs slipped to a season-low 23 games under .500 (50-73) with another disappointing loss and remain on track to lose 100 games in 2010 ...

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Game #121: Esmil Rogers v. Ian Kennedy

post from Purple Row on 20 August 2010 09:02:10 PM. © Purple Row

John Bazemore - AP

Ian Kennedy stores sunflower seeds in his cheeks while he pitches for an extra boost of calories mid-inning.

View full size photo »

In the off season, the Rockies will be confronted with an issue with Esmil Rogers that isn't too dissimilar to the one that the Yankees faced with Ian Kennedy heading into 2010. Kennedy had been pushed out of the picture by other, higher grade starters in New York, and while he may have had another option remaining (Rogers does not) the Yankees felt that he was put to better use as trade bait, along with other prospects, to acquire Curtis Granderson. Granderson has hit .248/.317/.442, but the Yankees are in first place.

The lesson for the Rockies in this, re: Rogers? There are probably a couple of them:

Don't make awful trades where you give up a lot of parts for one player
Don't feel you have to keep a promising young player if your team will be fine without them.

My guess is that we'll see people drawn to one of those lessons, but not usually both. I gravitate to the first one and ignore the second frequently. Speaking of which, I really don't know if it's a good idea to get rid of Rogers. I hope he shows everybody why tonight.

Next Game

Colorado Rockies
@ Arizona Diamondbacks

Friday, Aug 20, 2010, 7:40 PM MDT
Chase Field

Esmil Rogers vs Ian Kennedy

Mostly clear. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 105.

Know Your Foe #40: Venom-less Snakes hoping to feast on struggling Rockies

posted by Bryan Kilpatrick about 5 hours ago

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Complete Coverage >

GO ROCKIES!!

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A-Rod lifted for PH after 1 at-bat (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 20 August 2010 08:45:29 PM. © MLB News Blog

Alex Rodriguez has been pulled for a pinch-hitter after just one at-bat in his return to the New York Yankees’ lineup. Rodriguez had missed the past three games because of a strained left calf. He started as the designated hitter Friday night against Seattle and grounded out to third base in his one at-bat, jogging [...]

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Pirates expect to raise payroll in 2011 (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 20 August 2010 08:27:30 PM. © MLB News Blog

Pirates president Frank Coonelly expects the team’s payroll to increase next season, but not to the point where the last-place team can afford to sign a premium free agent. The Pirates began the season with a major league-low $34 million payroll, though Coonelly says the end-of-season figure will be about $44 million.

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2010/08/21/pirates-expect-to-raise-payroll-in-2011-ap/

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Mets OF Bay may not return this season (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 20 August 2010 08:03:36 PM. © MLB News Blog

Outfielder Jason Bay’s disappointing season with the New York Mets may already be over because of the concussion he sustained a month ago. Bay isn’t able to do much physically — apparently, due to his remaining concussion-like symptoms — and manager Jerry Manuel said Friday he won’t he ready to play during the Mets’ weeklong [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2010/08/21/mets-of-bay-may-not-return-this-season-ap/

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