Angel Villalona, a top prospect in the San Francisco Giants organization, is charged with murder in the death of a man at a bar in La Romana, in the Dominican Republic. The 19-year-old 1B faces up to 20 years in jail if found guilty.

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Angel Villalona, a top prospect in the San Francisco Giants organization, is charged with murder in the death of a man at a bar in La Romana, in the Dominican Republic. The 19-year-old 1B faces up to 20 years in jail if found guilty.

21-year-old Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman, who pitched in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and is said to possess a 100 mph fastball, has established residence in the tiny European principalty of Andorra after defecting in July. This allows him to bypass the amateur draft and offer his services to all major league teams as a free agent. Bidding is expected to be fierce.

ByBaseball

21-year-old Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman, who pitched in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and is said to possess a 100 mph fastball, has established residence in the tiny European principalty of Andorra after defecting in July. This allows him to bypass the amateur draft and offer his services to all major league teams as a free agent. Bidding is expected to be fierce.

Cecil Cooper is replaced by Dave Clark, the team’s third base coach, as the manager of the slumping Astros.

Cecil Cooper is replaced by Dave Clark, the team’s third base coach, as the manager of the slumping Astros.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Cecil Cooper is replaced by Dave Clark, the team’s third base coach, as the manager of the slumping Astros. ‘Coop’, who had signed a contract extension to manage until the end of the 2010 season, piloted his club to a 171-170 record, including a disappointing 70-79 mark this season, during his two-year tenure in the Houston dugout.

The Cubs suspend Milton Bradley for the rest of the year

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Cubs suspend Milton Bradley for the rest of the year, a day after the turbulent outfielder criticizes the team in a newspaper interview, citing there wasn’t a “positive environment” in the organization, and he could see why the club hasn’t won a championship in the last century. The decision whether Chicago brings back the 32 year-old, who still has two years remaining on a $30 million, three-year contract he signed as a free agent last offseason, will be general manager Jim Hendry’s call, according to manager Lou Piniella.

Randy Johnson pitches for the first time in two months, facing three Dodger batters in making his first regular-season relief appearance since he set a record with 16 strikeouts in completing a suspended game on July 18, 2001. Things don’t go as well this time, as he gives up two doubles, and the Giants are crushed by Los Angeles, 12 – 1. Combined with Colorado’s 10 – 4 defeat of the Diamondbacks, the Giants now trail the Rockies by 3 1/2 games in the wild card race.

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Randy Johnson pitches for the first time in two months, facing three Dodger batters in making his first regular-season relief appearance since he set a record with 16 strikeouts in completing a suspended game on July 18, 2001. Things don’t go as well this time, as he gives up two doubles, and the Giants are crushed by Los Angeles, 12 – 1. Combined with Colorado’s 10 – 4 defeat of the Diamondbacks, the Giants now trail the Rockies by 3 1/2 games in the wild card race.

In the only other playoff race that’s still up in the air, the Twins beat the Tigers, 6 – 2, thanks to their quirky ballpark. Trailing 2 – 1 in the 8th against Detroit ace Justin Verlander in one of the last-ever regular-season games to be played in the Metrodome, Orlando Cabrera hits a routine fly ball that LF Don Kelly loses against the roof and lets bounce for a double. Two batters later, Jason Kubel hits a two-run single as Minnesota rallies for five runs to win the game and reduce the Tigers’ lead in the AL Central to 2 games.

ByBaseball

In the only other playoff race that’s still up in the air, the Twins beat the Tigers, 6 – 2, thanks to their quirky ballpark. Trailing 2 – 1 in the 8th against Detroit ace Justin Verlander in one of the last-ever regular-season games to be played in the Metrodome, Orlando Cabrera hits a routine fly ball that LF Don Kelly loses against the roof and lets bounce for a double. Two batters later, Jason Kubel hits a two-run single as Minnesota rallies for five runs to win the game and reduce the Tigers’ lead in the AL Central to 2 games.

In the Brewers’ 7-2 victory over Houston, Prince Fielder sets the team’s RBI mark with his eighth inning sacrifice fly. The Milwaukee first baseman’s league-leading 127 RBI total surpasses the 1983 club record established by Cecil Cooper, the Astros’ manager who watches his record be broken from the opposing bench.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In the Brewers’ 7-2 victory over Houston, Prince Fielder sets the team’s RBI mark with his eighth inning sacrifice fly. The Milwaukee first baseman’s league-leading 127 RBI total surpasses the 1983 club record established by Cecil Cooper, the Astros’ manager who watches his record be broken from the opposing bench.