Truth & Rumors > MLB

07:10 AM ET 05.23 | Don Mattingly peeled a little paint before Wednesday's game, ripping into the team that has him on unsettled ground. Either Mattingly spoke with the blessing of general manager Ned Colletti, team president Stan Kasten and the club's new ownership, or his words amounted to an angry, desperate stand from a man who knows he soon might lose his job. One rival GM said it had to be the latter, finding it difficult to believe that upper management would endorse criticism of its own strategies. "He's trying to get himself fired," the GM said upon learning of Mattingly's comments. Mattingly rarely is as candid or expansive as he was during his pregame session with reporters Wednesday. His remarks offered a glimpse of his frustration.

FOX Sports

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07:09 AM ET 05.23 | With the clock ticking toward their No. 2 overall pick in the draft on June 6, the Cubs' top officials are taking their due diligence on the road. Team president Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer, top scouting/player development executive Jason McLeod and amateur scouting director Jaron Madison [were in Oklahoma City Wednesday] to meet with Oklahoma right-hander Jonathan Gray. ... [Gray] is the more powerful of the draft's top pair of pitchers, but Stanford right-hander Mark Appel -- a senior who refused to sign after being drafted eighth overall a year ago -- is considered the more refined pitcher. Barring unforeseen issues arising with either pitcher in the next two weeks, the Cubs are expected to take whichever pitcher the Houston Astros do not take [at No. 1].

Chicago Sun-Times

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07:08 AM ET 05.23 | The options are, no doubt, being discussed in Queens. Send Ike Davis to the minor leagues. Don't send him to the minor leagues. It doesn't make a difference in the big picture. Here's the greater takeaway, as the Mets saw Matt Harvey's turn in the rotation overshadowed by yet another Ay Yi Y-Ike moment: He just isn't good enough a player to be generating this much agita. So he shouldn't be part of the Mets' plans next year and beyond, when they vow to be out of full rebuilding mode. "This is absolutely baffling to everybody," manager Terry Collins said, after a very questionable Davis decision on defense led to the Mets losing, 7-4, to the Reds at Citi Field. ... "We've got to get this guy going, because we've got to figure out where he's going to fit."

New York Post

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07:07 AM ET 05.23 | On Sunday night, Ryan Mattheus broke his pitching hand in anger, an incident that came on the heels of Bryce Harper running face-first into the Dodgers' scoreboard with a 6-0 lead. Then he compounded his recklessness by coming back too soon, aggravated his swollen knee (a parting gift from the fence) and missed more time. ... This month, Stephen Strasburg melted down in a scoreless game in which he had filthy stuff, losing his poise after Ryan Zimmerman made another error. With two out and only one on, he should have just attacked the No. 8 hitter. Instead, addled by his own perfectionism, he allowed four runs in a loss. This pattern has gone on all season. Whatever bad happens to them, they make it worse, usually for no reason and in a manner that suggests they have mashed potatoes for brains.

The Washington Post

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07:06 AM ET 05.23 | Chad Jenkins may finally have a chance to knock the rust off his pitching arm. The Blue Jays will need a starter Friday against the Baltimore Orioles and manager John Gibbons has a grab-bag full of possibilities. Closest at hand is [Jenkins], who has been sitting in the Jays' bullpen. And "sitting" would be the essential word considering he hasn't pitched since May 12. The other possibilities would be prospect Marcus Stroman, who had a strong 2013 debut for the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Sunday. Then, there is Sean Nolin, viewed by many as being the prospect closest to gaining a spot in the rotation. "We'll see. It's top secret," said Gibbons, playing coy. Stroman threw five shutout innings with four hits, a walk, six and six strikeouts in his first appearance after serving a 50-game suspension for violating the minor league drug program.

Toronto Sun

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