Orioles acquire RHP Bass from Twins (PA SportsTicker)
The Baltimore Orioles on Friday acquired righthander Brian Bass from the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named or cash considerations.

Baltimore hitting coach suspended game; O’s make roster moves

Major League Baseball suspended Baltimore Orioles hitting coach Terry Crowley one game for inappropriate actions in a September 3 game against Red Sox.

Baseball Today (AP)

Grand old trip rough on Twins (Yahoo! Sports)
The Twins got roughed up in their 14-game trip. But, they’re still within striking distance of the White Sox.

Twins Postgame: Mauer regains AL batting lead

Twins catcher Joe Mauer regained the American League batting lead in Friday’s 12-2 victory over Oakland, going 5-for-6 to raise his average to .324. “The last couple weeks, I haven’t been feeling that great at …

Q&A with Carlos Gomez

AL MVP field thins with Quentin injury (Yahoo! Sports)
The surging MVP candidacy of Dustin Pedroia may have received an unfortunate boost Friday with the news that…

The Red Sox swept the Twins in a three-game series in Boston this season, so Minnesota knows first-hand how much of an advantage it is for the Sox, leaders in the American League wild-card race, to play 14 of their remaining 23 games at home.

That fact, combined with Boston’s 4 1/2-game lead over Minnesota in the wild-card race entering the Twins‘ game against Toronto on Wednesday, makes it seem as though Minnesota’s chance at the postseason almost surely rests on a division title alone.

If Boston goes just 11-12 in the team’s remaining 23 games, Minnesota would have to finish the season 17-7 to win the wild card outright. Catcher Mike Redmond said that, if Minnesota wants to make the postseason at all, whether it be via wild card or division win, the ballclub has to…

Morneau making case for second MVP
Morneau making case for second MVP On the field for each of the Twins‘ first 139 games has been slugger Justin Morneau, who’s provided Minnesota both MVP-caliber play and leadership.

Victory over the Twins a glimpse into future

Blue Jays starter David Purcey fails to stop Minnesota’s Joe Mauer from scoring on a wild pitch Sept.

McDonald lifts Jays over Twins (AP)

Knocked out of first place by defensive miscues and missed opportunities at the plate, the Minnesota Twins aren’t cursing their luck, just hoping it changes in a hurry. John McDonald singled home the go-ahead run in the 11th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Minnesota 5-4 on Wednesday night, posting their eighth straight victory over the Twins.

Brewers, Rays good stories but a good Series? (AP)
Around this time of year, the job of a general manager in Milwaukee is usually to explain how promising the young talent brought up for the final month of the season is and to remind fans they can still get great bratwurst at the ballpark. So it’s a little hard to criticize Doug Melvin for pushing hard for CC Sabathia to get the first retroactive no-hitter in major league history, even if he’s…

Twins focused on capturing AL Central
Twins focused on capturing AL Central Only a half-game out of first place in the AL Central entering Wednesday’s game vs. the Blue Jays, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said his club’s goal is to capture a division title.

Hot-hitting Jones earned shot by Twins

Garrett Jones deserved better. Much better. The Minnesota Twins promoted five Rochester players after Monday’s season-ending 9-6 home victory over the visiting Buffalo Bisons.

Twins not panicking after tough loss
Twins not panicking after tough loss Scanning the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Centre following Wednesday’s game, you would not know that the Twins‘ came out on the wrong end of a 5-4, walk-off loss to the Blue Jays in 11 innings.

Small-market Twins keep winning

IT’S ENTIRELY A result of the market. How many times have we heard that message? Or, to be more accurate, how many times has it been spun to us that way by A’s management? The A’s inability to sign big-money …

It’s difficult for Glen Perkins to picture himself as a viable candidate for the American League Rookie of the Year Award, for one very basic reason: He doesn’t consider himself a rookie.

Brewers, Rays good stories but a good Series? (AP)
Around this time of year, the job of a general manager in Milwaukee is usually to explain how promising the young talent brought up for the final month of the season is and to remind fans they can still get great bratwurst at the ballpark. So it’s a little hard to criticize Doug Melvin for pushing hard for CC Sabathia to get the first retroactive no-hitter in major league history, even if he’s…

Small-market Twins keep winning

IT’S ENTIRELY A result of the market. How many times have we heard that message? Or, to be more accurate, how many times has it been spun to us that way by A’s management? The A’s inability to sign big-money …

Twins Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Red Sox swept the Twins in a three-game series in Boston this season, so Minnesota knows first-hand how much of an advantage it is for the Sox, leaders in the American League wild-card race, to play 14 of their remaining 23 games at home.

That fact, combined with Boston’s 4 1/2-game lead over Minnesota in the wild-card race entering the Twins‘ game against Toronto on Wednesday, makes it seem as though Minnesota’s chance at the postseason almost surely rests on a division title alone.

If Boston goes just 11-12 in the team’s remaining 23 games, Minnesota would have to finish the season 17-7 to win the wild card outright. Catcher Mike Redmond said that, if Minnesota wants to make the postseason at all, whether it be via wild card or division win, the ballclub has to…

Hot-hitting Jones earned shot by Twins

Garrett Jones deserved better. Much better. The Minnesota Twins promoted five Rochester players after Monday’s season-ending 9-6 home victory over the visiting Buffalo Bisons.

Victory over the Twins a glimpse into future

Blue Jays starter David Purcey fails to stop Minnesota’s Joe Mauer from scoring on a wild pitch Sept.

Knocked out of first place by defensive miscues and missed opportunities at the plate, the Minnesota Twins aren’t cursing their luck, just hoping it changes in a hurry. John McDonald singled home the go-ahead run in the 11th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Minnesota 5-4 on Wednesday night, posting their eighth straight victory over the Twins.

Twins miss chance to take division lead
Twins miss chance to take division lead The Twins established an early four-run lead, but could not hold it as they were defeated, 7-5, by the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Tuesday. With the loss, Minnesota’s record fell to 77-61.

Twins focused on capturing AL Central
Twins focused on capturing AL Central Only a half-game out of first place in the AL Central entering Wednesday’s game vs. the Blue Jays, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said his club’s goal is to capture a division title.

Bautista and Rios both get 4 hits for Blue Jays (AP)

Locked in a tight AL Central race, the Minnesota Twins can’t afford too many nights like this. Jose Bautista and Alex Rios had four hits each, hitting back-to-back homers Tuesday as the Toronto Blue Jays erased a four-run deficit to beat Minnesota 7-5 for their seventh straight victory over the Twins.

Twins play first game with callups
Twins play first game with callups With Minnesota playing its first game since the Major League rosters expanded, the Twins had six of their seven callups in uniform on Tuesday.

Twins not panicking after tough loss
Twins not panicking after tough loss Scanning the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Centre following Wednesday’s game, you would not know that the Twins‘ came out on the wrong end of a 5-4, walk-off loss to the Blue Jays in 11 innings.

Morneau making case for second MVP
Morneau making case for second MVP On the field for each of the Twins‘ first 139 games has been slugger Justin Morneau, who’s provided Minnesota both MVP-caliber play and leadership.

A’s: Anniversary moment

At one point during the A’s astonishing still-hard-to-believe run in the late summer of 2002, that was the one-word graph used by the Times to describe a win.

Twins Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Matt Tolbert does not like leaving a bad first impression. That’s why Tolbert, who rejoined the Twins on Tuesday after missing more than three months recovering from a torn ligament in his left thumb, went to drastic measures after missing a treatment during his rehab in Fort Myers, Fla., because he overslept.

To teach himself a lesson, Tolbert bought a sleeping bag and camped out on a training table in the clubhouse for four nights.

“They thought it was a little crazy,” Tolbert said. “I don’t care what it looks like as long as I’m there for treatment every day, I didn’t care what people thought about me. I didn’t miss another treatment.”

Tolbert rejoins the Twins as a role player after nearly being granted the everyday job at second base before his injury, which…

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Twins play first game with callups
Twins play first game with callups With Minnesota playing its first game since the Major League rosters expanded, the Twins had six of their seven callups in uniform on Tuesday.

Twins Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Matt Tolbert does not like leaving a bad first impression. That’s why Tolbert, who rejoined the Twins on Tuesday after missing more than three months recovering from a torn ligament in his left thumb, went to drastic measures after missing a treatment during his rehab in Fort Myers, Fla., because he overslept.

To teach himself a lesson, Tolbert bought a sleeping bag and camped out on a training table in the clubhouse for four nights.

“They thought it was a little crazy,” Tolbert said. “I don’t care what it looks like as long as I’m there for treatment every day, I didn’t care what people thought about me. I didn’t miss another treatment.”

Tolbert rejoins the Twins as a role player after nearly being granted the everyday job at second base before his injury, which…

Intense preparation fuels success for Quentin
There’s an unwritten rule in major league clubhouses that news reporters should not interrupt a player’s preparation for a game. That’s one reason Chicago White Sox left fielder Carlos Quentin hasn’t gotten the attention his American League-leading 36 home runs might normally warrant.

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Red Sox overcome 4-run deficit to beat Orioles in ninth
AL batting leader Dustin Pedroia homered in the seventh inning to begin Boston’s comeback from a four-run deficit, and the Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 Wednesday when pitcher Jim Miller’s threw away a bunt for a game-ending error.

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Martinez ends HR drought, Indians beat White Sox
Victor Martinez hit his first home run in nearly a year to help the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 9-3 on Tuesday night.

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Brewers, Rays good stories but a good Series? (AP)
Around this time of year, the job of a general manager in Milwaukee is usually to explain how promising the young talent brought up for the final month of the season is and to remind fans they can still get great bratwurst at the ballpark. So it’s a little hard to criticize Doug Melvin for pushing hard for CC Sabathia to get the first retroactive no-hitter in major league history, even if he’s…

At one point during the A’s astonishing still-hard-to-believe run in the late summer of 2002, that was the one-word graph used by the Times to describe a win.

Victory over the Twins a glimpse into future

Blue Jays starter David Purcey fails to stop Minnesota’s Joe Mauer from scoring on a wild pitch Sept.

Postseason chase takes precedence
Mat Gamel is one of several players Milwaukee recalled when rosters expanded Monday. He is a top hitting prospect, but the Brewers are likely to continue using their primary starters while they chase a postseason berth.

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Twins face righty after seven southpaws
Twins face righty after seven southpaws After facing Toronto southpaw David Purcey on Tuesday, the Twins became the first team since the 1991 Mets to face seven lefties in a row, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. On Wednesday, that streak will end, but the task is not any easier, as they face righty A.J. Burnett.

Sherpa’s sleepers could be a guide to victory next season
For those in keeper leagues, there’s plenty of time before decisions have to be made, but the process of assembling the best possible roster doesn’t need to wait until pitchers and catchers report next spring.

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Hot-hitting Jones earned shot by Twins

Garrett Jones deserved better. Much better. The Minnesota Twins promoted five Rochester players after Monday’s season-ending 9-6 home victory over the visiting Buffalo Bisons.

Beckett set to return in Texas on Friday
Red Sox ace Josh Beckett is set to rejoin Boston’s rotation on Friday night in Texas.

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Red Sox overcome 4-run deficit to beat Orioles in ninth
AL batting leader Dustin Pedroia homered in the seventh inning to begin Boston’s comeback from a four-run deficit, and the Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 Wednesday when pitcher Jim Miller’s threw away a bunt for a game-ending error.

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Twins focused on capturing AL Central
Twins focused on capturing AL Central Only a half-game out of first place in the AL Central entering Wednesday’s game vs. the Blue Jays, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said his club’s goal is to capture a division title.

Twins play first game with callups
Twins play first game with callups With Minnesota playing its first game since the Major League rosters expanded, the Twins had six of their seven callups in uniform on Tuesday.

Blue Jays starter David Purcey fails to stop Minnesota’s Joe Mauer from scoring on a wild pitch Sept.

Lee becomes Indians’ first 20-game winner in 34 years
Once inside the clubhouse, Cliff Lee’s teammates popped open champagne and toasted his latest win, his biggest win.

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Hearing to determine if Pirates-Alvarez contract valid
The Pittsburgh Pirates could be waiting several weeks to find out if first-round draft pick Pedro Alvarez is part of their organization. Meanwhile, Eric Hosmer, who already was playing in the Kansas City Royals system, could have his future hinging on the same decision.

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Lee blanks Sox, earns 20th win

The aid that was expected from the Republican Party, well, it’s obviously not coming.

Hot-hitting Jones earned shot by Twins

Garrett Jones deserved better. Much better. The Minnesota Twins promoted five Rochester players after Monday’s season-ending 9-6 home victory over the visiting Buffalo Bisons.

D’backs’ Drew, M’s Beltre ride cycles to historic nights
Hitting for the cycle is becoming so common, people hardly even notice. With Stephen Drew and Adrian Beltre both collecting cycles last night, that makes five already this season.

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Minnesota Twins (77-60) at Toronto Blue Jays (70-66),

The Minnesota Twins start the final leg of their lengthy 14-game road trip this evening with the first of three games against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Church’s slam helps Mets win 9-2, sweep Brewers
Carlos Delgado had his fun ribbing Ryan Church about his lack of power production. Church hit a grand slam, his first home run since June 1, and Brian Schneider added a homer in a six-run first inning that provided all the offense the Mets needed to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-2 and complete a three-game sweep Wednesday.

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Attention to detail keeps baseball’s team officials busy
Every team has its version of Rockies assistant GM Bill Geivett. They’re all crucial extensions of their higher-profile general managers, sharing a multitude of tasks and expertise needed to run a 21st-century Major League Baseball team.

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