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Wednesday’s Half Marathon Around the NL

Astros 2B Craig Biggio is just 8 hits from 3,000.

Slumping Braves OF Andruw Jones is searching for answers.

Brewers SS J.J. Hardy sat out Tuesday’s game with an ailing hip.

The slumping Adam Kennedy has found a seat on the Cardinals bench.

Sammy Sosa has a chance to hit #600 against his former club, the Cubs.

The Diamondbacks pushed Brandon Webb’s next start up a day.

Chad Billingsley will take Jason Schmidt’s place in the Dodgers rotation.

Bengie Molina got a day off on Tuesday for the Giants.

The Marlins are having some issues with their defense.

Last night was the 18th anniversary of Dwight Gooden’s 100th win for the Mets.

Jason Bergmann and Luis Ayala will be returning to the Nationals very soon.

Chase Headley is making the most of his first chance with the Padres.

Phillies reliever Geoff Geary shaved off his goatee to change his luck.

It felt like home for Pirates OF Jason Bay in Seattle.

Bronson Arroyo will get an extra day of rest for the Reds.

Todd Helton is taking things one day at a time for the Rockies.

Tuesday’s Half Marathon Around The AL

Big Papi, Youk and Lowell will all rotate spots during the next six games for the Red Sox.

Angels OF Reggie Willits is putting his hat in the AL Rookie of the Year race.

Injured A’s pitcher Rich Harden looked good in a simulated game on Monday.

Blue Jays DH Frank Thomas broke the record for homers by a DH on Sunday.

Devil Rays 1B Carlos Pena can hit the ball to all parts of the field.

The Indians gave Travis Hafner a rare day off at home.

Former Seattle DH Edgar Martinez will be inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

The Orioles canned Sam Perlozzo on Monday.

Former Ranger Rusty Greer made his coaching debut in the Texas Collegiate League.

Jorge De La Rosa may be bumped from his start on Friday for the Royals.

Kenny Rogers will return to the Tigers rotation on Friday.

Johan Santana is winless in last 3 starts for the Twins.

White Sox catchers are having a hard time throwing out base stealers.

The Yankees signed two dudes from China.

Monday Jog Around the AL & NL East

Manny Delcarmen is happy to be back in Boston.

The Braves have one of the best bullpens in the National League.

Blue Jays pitcher Shawn Marcum has had good success because of his nasty changeup.

Brett Carroll made his MLB debut for the Marlins on Sunday.

Edwin Jackson hopes to have a better outing for the Devil Rays than he did in his last one.

With their pitching struggling, the Mets are in a big slide currently.

The D’backs employed a modified shift against the Orioles’ Aubrey Huff in their weekend series.

Nationals 1B Dimitri Young is looking forward to seeing his old teammates.

Yankees OF Kevin Thompson always keeps a bag packed.

The Phillies are using a three-headed platoon at third base.

Sunday Stroll Around The Majors

Big Papi still doesn’t understand why he was ejected on Friday night.

Angel stud pitcher John Lackey is probably All-Star Game bound.

The Astros’ Mark Loretta is comfy at shortstop right now.

Oakland added Ruddy Lugo to their roster on Saturday.

Curtis Thigpen hopes to stay in Toronto for a long time.

The Braves have one of their hot bats on the bench in Matt Diaz.

Corey Koskie still has a long ways back to the Brewers.

The Cardinals put David Eckstein on the 15 day DL with back spasms.

The Cubs Triple-A team in Iowa has provided 8 guys that are helping the big club right now.

Devil Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir is looking forward to taking some hacks at the plate.

A.J. Hinch has been successful as the Diamondbacks farm director.

New Dodgers hitting coach Bill Mueller is a new breed of coach.

Giants OF Randy Winn is learning how to play the famed Green Monster.

Indians skipper Eric Wedge can handle the heat from his decison-making on Friday night.

Jose Lopez has moved to third base for the Mariners for the time being.

Marlins 2B Dan Uggla is playing like an All-Star right now.

The Mets didn’t think Clemens was that overwhelming on Friday night.

Washington has five pitchers working their way back to the big club.

The Orioles have new blood in their bullpen.

Brian Giles is progressing in his return to the Padres.

Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel is trying to find a way to slow his slugger Ryan Howard down.

Jack Wilson has worked his way back to the starting lineup for the Pirates.

Kevin Millwood has gone 0-5 with a 10.05 ERA in his last seven starts for the Rangers.

Bill Bray hopes to start a rehab assignment soon for the Reds.

Cory Sullivan is unsure of his role with the Rockies.

Esteban German took a day off on Saturday for the Royals to rest his aching body.

Kenny Rogers is just about ready to rejoin the Tigers rotation.

Jason Kubel has been struggling lately for the Twins.

The White Sox recalled David Aardsma from Triple-A Charlotte.

Jorge Posada will see some time at first base this week for the Yankees.

Barry Bonds Pre-game With the Media

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Barry Bonds interview with the media as transcribed by Amalie Benjamin from the Boston Globe.

What do you think of your first time in Boston?

“I’m trying to see everything. They said the park looks smaller. This looks bigger than Houston, bigger than Philly. That right field’s a long way. It’s nice so far.”

What do you think your reception is going to be?

“I don’t worry about that. No, I’m here to play a baseball game with my teammates. I’m the opposing player, so I guess opposing players aren’t supposed to get that warm of a reception. You know what I mean? Unless you’re on the other side, you’re supposed to be booed.”

Do you expect to DH all three games?

“Um, yeah. I’m old.”

What did Dave Roberts say to you about playing in Boston?

“He hasn’t said anything about it, really. You know, just said it was nice, he had a great time. He said, ‘You’ve got to love the ballpark.’ I like the city. I mean I went to go see my son here, but I didn’t get a chance to go around the city like I did [that time]. It’s pretty. Really nice.”

When was your last time here?

“Just to visit my son. The year that they won the World Series in 2004. They were playing a game as I was driving right past the stadium. I’ve never seen the inside of the ballpark, so this is the first time.”

Your son was going to school here?

“Yeah. He was going to Valley View.”

Is this a historic moment, for the Giants to be playing in Fenway?

“I think interleague games are great because if you haven’t played a team in their ballpark in such a long period of time, I think it brings excitement. It’s pretty cool. Pretty great for us, too. When would I have ever come here, to see a game or anything? Never, unless I was playing in one.”

Your father played in the American League. Never saw him in Fenway?

“No, never. Watched on TV. Watched a ton of games on TV. You get the Boston games and Yankee games all the time.”

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play a game here?

“No, not really, because I’m in San Francisco. Wonder what it’s like to play here in the World Series. But I’ve been a Giant my whole life. I was in Pittsburgh for a short period of time. I’ve been a Giant my whole life. My whole history is in San Francisco, so I’m a Giant.”

Ever thought about hitting one over the Green Monster?

“No, I’m not righthanded. Never had that thought before.”

Are you anxious about breaking the home run record?

“No, I don’t even think about it right now. We just play baseball as a team, try to do what we can as a team. I don’t even talk about it.”

What was the difference between April and May for you?

“April and May? April I was hitting the ball, May I wasn’t. In June, I’m going like this [makes rollercoaster hand motion]. One day I hit, next day I don’t. I mean, if I get a couple of hits I get walked anyway.”

How are you physically?

“I’m physically OK. I’m all right.”

Will DHing help?

“At 43, sure. Almost anyone at that age. It’s going to be fun, seeing Tim Wakefield and [Julian] Tavarez and stuff, guys I played with too. So Tim Wakefield, if we would have had him pitch the last game we would have been in the World Series as well as that guy pitched for us when he came up with us in Pittsburgh, he threw phenomenal. So we’re both old. And to come back and see him pitch, he’s still out there, is going to be pretty nice even though I don’t do well off him because it’s just too slow. But he’s a good pitcher and he’s always been a good pitcher.”

Is this your last year?

“No.”

How many years?

“I don’t know. As long as my body wants me to play.”

After missing so much time last season, how was getting into the flow from the beginning?

“I’m just happy that I’m being able to be out there for my teammates as much as I’ve been able to be out there under the circumstances with the injuries and the knee surgeries. I worked hard, I worked real hard. Time starts to work against you eventually. So I’m just trying to hang in there the best I can. I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job but we need to do a better job as a team.”

Are you confident your body will hold up?

“Oh, I’m fine. I don’t see any problems with my body. As of today.”

Do you think you get a bum rap wherever you go?

“I don’t know what you consider a bum rap, when there’s people — I mean, I’m sitting in a group and I probably know five of you. You don’t know me. So I don’t take it personal. I just don’t.

Doesn’t bother you?

“It can’t. I mean, what does it really mean? What’s the motive? What have I ever done to you? So what’s the motive? I’ve never done anything to you, so I just go out here and do my job on the field and play baseball.”

You don’t take it home?

“No, never. I was born in this game. I’ve seen a lot of things with my father. I’ve seen a lot. I was tough-skinned at an early age. That’s the only way I can sum it up.”

Is it important to you to play in the All-Star game?

“It would be important to me because it’s at home. Yes, definitely. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. But it would be important.”

How would you have felt, given you were so close to not playing in San Francisco?

“I don’t know where you got that information from, but I was never unclose because I’m here.”

Why do you have that recorder? Is it a regular thing?

“I just keep it so I can have it for my own personal records. Just like you have yours. You have your cameras and your records, I have mine. All right, I’ve got to go.”

Friday’s Fast Walk Around the AL & NL West

The Diamondbacks sent down Alberto Callaspo to Triple-A to get more at-bats.

The Angels may have the best one-two punch at the end of their bullpen in all of baseball.

Former Red Sox 3B Bill Mueller was named interim hitting coach for the Dodgers.

The A’s players are very happy with their new manager.

The Giants head to Fenway for the first time since 1912.

The Mariners are using a balanced attack on offense to take down teams.

The Padres turned to Jake Peavy to end their 4-game losing streak and he didn’t disappoint.

Travis Metcalf and Ramon Vazquez will platoon at third for the Rangers.

The Rockies are thriving right now due to Kaz Matsui.

Thursday’s Tiptoe Around the AL & NL Central

Astros reliever Dan Wheeler shoved Chris Sampson last night.

Royals infielder Jose Cortez has psychic powers.

The Brewers are going to be calling up their top prospect.

Neifi Perez has been playing good defense for the Tigers.

Ryan Ludwick got a rare start for the Cardinals last night.

Twins OF Torri Hunter is still working on becoming a better outfielder.

Cubs skipper Lou Pinella is very supportive of his catcher.

The Indians are calling up Jason Stanford to start against the Marlins today.

Pirates SS Jack Wilson is frustrated about being benched.

The White Sox bullpen is sticking together through the adversity.

Reds reliever Eddie Guardado is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in his rehab.

Red Sox Want Youk On Player’s All-Star Ballot

youkcandoit.gifThe Red Sox have asked MLB to replace David Ortiz with Kevin Youkilis on the player’s ballot for the upcoming All-Star game in San Francisco according to Buster Olney from ESPN.

The Boston Red Sox have asked Major League Baseball to substitute hot-hitting Kevin Youkilis for David Ortiz as the team’s first base entrant on the All-Star ballot distributed to other players, a gesture meant to help Youkilis’ chances to help make the American League squad.

Major League Baseball does not require that the same players who are listed on the fans’ ballot appear on the ballots given to players.

I think this is a great gesture by the Red Sox and Ortiz. Personally, I think Youk should make it no problems.