| Braves add Bourn in 5-player trade and Jets give Plaxico second chance |
|
|
|
|
ATLANTA (AP) -- While other NL contenders beefed up for the playoffs, the Atlanta Braves seemed to keep missing out on players who could've boosted their hopes.Atlanta acquired speedy outfielder Michael Bourn from the Houston Astros on Sunday in a five-player deal, giving the Braves their first true leadoff hitter in at least six years.The Astros received outfielder Jordan Schafer and three minor league pitchers, but the Braves didn't give up any of their top pitching prospects."We haven't had that kind of threat in the top of our lineup in a long time," said third baseman Chipper Jones, one of the numerous Braves slowed by injuries.Bourn is hitting .303 and leads the majors with 39 stolen bases. He goes from the last-place Astros to a playoff-contending team that has one of baseball's best pitching staffs, but was downright desperate for offensive help because of various ailments and lackluster performances.Bourn sure fills a need. [Read the full article] SEATTLE (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox have added a much-needed starter after an earlier trade fell through, acquiring oft-injured left-hander Erik Bedard from the Seattle Mariners in a three-team trade at the deadline Sunday.The Red Sox, whose deal for Oakland's Rich Harden fell apart late Saturday night, also got right-hander Josh Fields, a 2008 first-round draft pick."He was real tough on us," Boston manager Terry Francona said of Bedard, who started his major league career with the Baltimore Orioles."He's a guy who has shown he can pitch in the American League East. First half of the year before he tweaked that knee he was pretty solid," Francona said. "His stuff was good. We're excited.""I know that (general manager) Theo (Epstein) talked to him and he sounded like he was excited. We'll kind of build him back up," Francona said. "He just came off the DL Friday. [Read the full article] Menard became NASCAR's newest first-time winner Sunday with an upset victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a track steeped in tradition for his family.Yes, it came in a car sponsored by the hardware chain owned by his billionaire father. But nobody dared to deny that Menard earned the win and had worked hard to finally make it to Victory Lane in his 167th start at NASCAR's highest level.True to his low-key and reserved personality even as he crossed the finish line, Menard had no desire to shove the win in the face of his critics."We're winners in Sprint Cup. That's the big deal. To do it at Indy, even bigger deal,'' he said. "Can't change people's opinions. They're going to say what they want to say. That's fine with me. We'll celebrate this. We'll enjoy it. Whatever they say, they say. Can't control it. [Read the full article] 
|