June 2008 - Baseball Wiretap

Braves' Francoeur Beaned; Leaves Game
Jeff Francoeur escaped serious injury after being struck in the face with a pitch on Sunday, but he had flashbacks to a career-threatening incident that took place in the minor leagues a few years ago

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Red Sox Ace Beckett Won't Go To Japan
Josh Beckett will not travel with the Red Sox when they fly to Japan on Wednesday.

The Boston Globe

Report: Conine To Retire As A Marlin
Jeff Conine will reportedly retire as a member of the Florida Marlins.

ESPN

Pirates, Snell Reach Five-Year Agreement
The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Ian Snell on a five year contract.

RealGM Staff Report

Pres. Bush Will Throw First Pitch At Nats Park
President Bush will throw out the first pitch for the Washington Nationals during their first game at their new ballpark.

ESPN

Could Wood Close For Cubs This Season?
It appears as though Kerry Wood is the front-runner to take over the closers role for the Cubs this season.

The Chicago Sun-Times

2008 Season Preview: Washington Nationals
Lastings Milledge has been on a tear in Spring Training 2008, will the new scenery help his game?

Christopher Reina/RealGM

Inge Will Probably Open With Tigers
The Tigers don't anticipate that they will be able to trade third baseman Brandon Inge before the start of the regular season.

The Ledger

Cabrera Likely To Appeal Suspension
Yankees' centerfielder Melky Cabrera could appeal his recent suspension for his involvement in a brawl with the Rays on Wednesday.

Newsday

Cardinals' Gonzalez Undergoes MRI
The St. Louis Cardinals were awaiting MRI results on Juan Gonzalez's strained abdomen on Saturday.

AP

Rays' Kazmir Won't Pitch Opening Day
Rays' LHP Scott Kazmir has been slowed by a left elbow strain, and won't be available to start on Opening Day.

espn.com

Angels' Lackey Out 3-4 Weeks
RHP John Lackey will miss the start of the season with a strained triceps, the Angels announced on Saturday.

yahoo.com

Dodgers, Padres Play To 3-3 Tie In China
The Dodgers-Padres game was played in China's new Olympic venue and drew an announced crowd of 12,223, a near sellout.

AP

Matsuzaka'a Wife Has Baby, Could Start Opener In Japan
Dice'K's wife has given birth to a boy, that may clear the way for him to start the Red Sox opener on March 25 against the A's in Japan.

AP

Yanks Owner: BoSox Closer A 'Mouse'
Hank Steinbrenner and John Henry have been having a back-and-forth media battle this spring, but now a player has gotten himself into the mix.

The New York Post

Astros' Matsui To Have Surgery
Houston Astros' 2B Kazuo Matsui will undergo surgery to repair an anal fissure on Monday in Houston.

espn.com

Cardinals, Lohse Finalize Deal
Kyle Lohse passed his physical on Friday and has officially become a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Crystal Gets Pink Slip On 60th Birthday
Billy Crystal was cut by the New York Yankees on Friday, his 60th birthday.

ESPN

Pettitte Throws Well, Ready For Start
Andy Pettitte threw 42 pitches during a bullpen session on Friday and seems prepared to start in a spring game against the Red Sox on Monday.

ESPN

The Best Players Of Spring Training
In the obviously not worth much, but for what it?s worth category, we examined the statistics during the first half of Spring Training and gleaned out the top performers.

Christopher Reina/RealGM

Nats' Wily Mo Pena Out With Oblique Strain
Nationals OF Wily Mo Pena will likely begin the season on the DL due to a left oblique strain.

yahoo.com

Yanks, Rays Disciplined For Brawl
Six members of the Yankees and Rays have been disciplined for their role in Wednesday's bench-clearing incident.

RealGM Staff Report

Chan Ho Park Has Shot To Be Dodgers' 5th Starter
Chan Ho Park was a non-roster invitee to Dodgers' camp and actually has a chance to become their fifth starter.

Los Angeles Times

Gonzalez Wasting Opportunity In St. Louis?
Juan Gonzalez has been given a chance to prove he can stay healthy by the Cardinals, but he doesn't appear to be accomplishing that as he's out with a muscle strain.

Post-Dispatch

Cubs Improve Offer For Roberts
Sources confirmed on Thursday that the Cubs have improved their offer to the Orioles for Brian Roberts by including pitching prospect Jose Ceda.

Chicago Sun-Times

2008 Season Preview: Tampa Bay Rays
The Devil Rays lost 96 games in 2007, but a 20-win improvement is certainly plausible and an above .500 season seems inevitable.

Christopher Reina/RealGM

Lohse Signs One-Year Deal With Cards
The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to terms with starting pitcher Kyle Lohse on a one-year deal worth $4.2 million.

Belleville News-Democrat

Girardi May Be Suspended For Opener
There are rumors that New York manager Joe Girardi and Tampa Bay skipper Joe Maddon could face suspensions stemming from the bench-clearing brawl between the two teams on Wednesday.

The New York Daily News

Maddux Leaves Game Against Cubs
San Diego starter Greg Maddux left the team's game against the Cubs on Thursday night after taking a line drive off his thigh.

ESPN

Bonds' Final Home Run Ball May Bring Fan $1M
Jameson Sutton of Boulder, Colorado, has announced he plans to auction the Barry Bonds' home run ball (No. 762) online.

MLB.com