Wakefield: Sunday was 'a huge gold nugget' for me -- Mike Petraglia, WEEI
Youkilis tried to get the attention of the Red Sox dugout after he was hit, trying to get them to save the historic ball for him. His efforts went for naught.
"I didn't know what he was talking about," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He was like, ‘Get the ball!' I was like, ‘What'd you do?' I don't think we got it. I don't know if he was being facetious or not."
Lowrie Not So Forgiving -- Jason Mastrodonato, MLB.com
"After he missed the first one, I figured there's a good chance [I'd get hit]," Lowrie said.
Walking to first base, he wasn't happy.
"I'm [ticked] off. I just got hit with a 97-mph fastball," he said. "I mean, I understand the situation, but I'm [ticked] off."
The making of Big Papi: Remembering Ortiz' power-hitting origins -- Alex Speier, WEEI
How Adrian Gonzalez has helped David Ortiz reunite with .300 -- Rob Bradford, WEEI
This middle-of-the-order...It's pretty good.
3. Adrian Gonzalez: .342/.391/.574
4. Kevin Youkilis: .281/.415/.548
5. David Ortiz: .299/.373/.530 (Yeah, he fell back under)
Buchholz seeing the benefits of improved conditioning -- Brian MacPherson, Providence Journal
OK, but still no more 127 pitch nights please.
McAdam: I think we've seen the last of Dice-K -- CSNNE.com
OK, now, there's not really anything to this other than McAdam speculating that Daisuke might end up getting Tommy John surgery, which would keep him out for basically the remainder of his contract. He also mentions that the Sox haven't been happy with Doubront's conditioning, which is a legitimate point when considering him a possible replacement.
But what I'm more interested in is whether or not Daisuke having Tommy John is good for the team? Obviously you don't actually give it to a guy who doesn't need it, but if it does come, it could force the Sox to make a move. I'd say between Lackey and Daisuke, they definitely need at least one straight-up replacement--I don't see both of them making it back as productive fourth/fifth men. I expect the team as is can furnish one decent long-term starter between Aceves, Wakefield, and Doubront. But two seems unlikely. And if one of them is definitely gone for the season, it might spur the team into action.
Pena reunites with friend Crawford -- Jessica Camerato, CSNNE
Terry Francona Was Favorite for Cubs' Manager Job in 2003 -- Ben Levine, NESN
Around The AL East
Yankees 9, Mets 3 -- Lord Duggan, Pinstripe Alley
Orioles 2, Nationals 1 -- Stacey, Camden Chat
Matusz shines in rehab outing -- Jeff Zrebiec, The Baltimore Sun
Astros 3, Blue Jays 2 -- Tom Dakers, Bluebird Banter
Rays 4, Marlins 0 -- GameFish, Fish Stripes
Longoria's "Slump" Will Not Last Long -- JCMitchell, DRaysBay
MLB In General
Suspect arrested in beating of Giants fan -- Justin Berton, Demian Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle
Unlike the last high-profile baseball-related legal story, something tells me the public opinion is going to be pretty uniform on this one.
On Pitchers Hitting, And The Value Of Practice -- Jeff Sullivan, Baseball Nation
We don't really talk about this much, but DH: Yay or nay?
Forget Sean Burroughs. What About Wily Mo Pena? -- Satchel Price, Beyond the Box Score
Wily Mo!