Around The Majors- Friday

Lots of big series this weekend, including a couple that have already started. I'll go over yesterday's games, go through some news, and get to the weekend preview.

Thursday Recap
Detroit scored 2 huge runs off of Bobby Jenks in the 9th to lead Detroit past the White Sox 3-2. Paul Konerko drove in the Chicago runs. Boston scored a run in the 9th off of Dannys Baez to edge Baltimore 7-6. Coco Crisp homered and drove in 3 for the Red Sox. In a battle of division leaders, Casey Kotchman and Garrett Anderson each drove in 3 as the Angels pummeled the Indians 10-3. Rick Ankiel went nuts, homering twice and driving in 7 as the Cardinals destroyed the Pirates 16-4. The Dodgers took 3 of 4 from the Cubs as Andre Ethier hit the game winning 3 run shot in a 4 run 9th to shock the Cubbies 7-4. Soriano drove in 4 for Chicago.

Breaking News
As of 1:45pm Friday, the Pirates have fired GM Dave Littlefield as Pittsburgh is headed for its 15th straight losing season.

News and Notes
- How will Baseball respond to the Daily News' Rick Ankiel report about HGH? Would the Union agree to blood testing? It may be the only option to save the credibility of the game. You see that players in the NFL have been suspended for HGH left and right, and a large amount of suspensions might finally send a message to the players that illegal performance enhancing drugs cannot be tolerated. Look at Cycling. The entire Tour de France was completely engulfed in blood doping scandal, and the sport is willing to take a hit until the sport is clean again. Ditto for Track and Field. To a lesser extent, the NFL is doing the same thing. MLB has to step up and revitalize the integrity of the game. I urge Baseball to finally put and end to the Steroids Era.
- Erik Bedard may miss the rest of the season because of his strained right oblique.
- David Dellucci and Gary Sheffield were activated from the DL, so was Mark Mulder, and Seattle released Rick White.

Weekend Preview
Friday
Jon Lester faces Daniel Cabrera in Boston, and Batista and Verlander go in Detroit in what could be a Wild Card elimination series. Dustin McGowan goes in Tampa, Haren faces Volquez in Texas, and young Ian Kennedy faces Gil Meche and the Royals. Vazquez faces the Twins, and Westbrook faces Lackey in LA.
JD Durbin battles Florida, Hill faces Gorzelanny in Pittsburgh, Bush-Arroyo in Cincy, and Smoltz faces Washington. Justin Germano faces the Rockies, Webb faces Wainwright in a big series in Phoenix, and Chad Billingsley and the Dodgers face the Giants (10pm ESPN).
Saturday
Tom Glavine faces Houston at 1. 4pm on FOX, you could see either Garza-Contreras, Eaton against the Marlins, or David Wells and Barry Zito by the Bay. Dice-K faces Baltimore, Weaver and Robertson in Detroit, Pettitte-Bannister in KC, and AJ Burnett in Tampa. Zambrano faces Snell in Pittsburgh (7pm FOX), James and Atlanta face the Nationals, and Suppan battles Harang. Gaudin-Gabbard, Maddux-Francis, and Looper faces Owings. Sabathia and Santana go in LA (9pm FOX).
Sunday
King Felix and Bonderman go at it at 1. Beckett faces Guthrie in Baltimore and Roy Oswalt faces Pedro Martinez in New York. Shields faces Toronto, Sheets faces the Reds, and Willis and Moyer battle in Philly. Trachsel faces Morris in Pittsburgh, Wang faces Grienke, and Santana faces Garland. Chris Young goes in Colorado, Penny battles Cain, Davis faces St Louis, and Jered Weaver battles the Indians (8pm ESPN).