Top News:
Bob Herzog / Newsday:
Another bad outing for Pedro — ATLANTA — If Pedro Martinez were managing the Mets, he knows who wouldn't start Game 1 of the playoffs next week. — "The way I'm pitching right now, I don't think Willie will have a tough decision," Martinez said last night after being ripped for eight hits …
RELATED ITEMS:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets' Rotation May Get Jolted After Martínez's Abysmal Outing — The 61st and final pitch Pedro Martínez threw Wednesday night was a breaking ball that barely broke. It floated through the strike zone, the kind of pitch begging to be sent screaming in the opposite direction …
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
So much for Meredith getting the night off — ST. LOUIS - The Cla Meredith phenomenon has shifted into a new realm. — Even when Meredith is scheduled for a night off, he helps propel the Padres toward another win. — Manager Bruce Bochy, changing his pregame plan to rest the torrid rookie …
RELATED ITEMS:
Sports Illustrated:
Requiem for a champion — A month ago when the Red Sox collapsed, the baseball world cried out in a mix of horror and glee that could have been heard in Siberia. This week, the defending World Series champion White Sox were eliminated from playoff contention.
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times
RELATED ITEMS:
Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
Studes' Fielding Awards — It's not only postseason chase time, it's awards time. Lots of folks are proclaiming their choices for MVP (my picks: Derek Jeter and Carlos Beltran; yeah, yeah, I have an East Coast bias) and Cy Young (my picks: Johan Santana and Brandon Webb) awards.
David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners Notebook: Soriano wants to be a starter — Setup man eager to get back on mound after suffering concussion — Rafael Soriano not only wants to get back on the mound, he wants to get up there and stay awhile. — Speaking publicly for the first time since suffering …
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Rebecca Lopez / WFAA-TV:
T.O: 'There was no suicide attempt' — NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE — Just hours after News 8 first broadcast details of a Dallas police report that said Dallas Cowboys star receiver Terrell Owens attempted suicide Tuesday night, Owens was back at the Cowboys' Valley Ranch training center catching some passes from quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
RELATED ITEMS:
ESPN:
Agent: Bonds will play in '07, expects Giants to call — Barry Bonds, who is only 21 home runs behind Hank Aaron, will play in 2007, his agent told the Los Angeles Times. — "Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the paper on Tuesday.
Discussion:
The Sports Frog
Mike Phillips / Miami Herald:
Marlins' Olsen, Moehler will not be suspended — Major League Baseball will not suspend Marlins pitchers Scott Olsen and Brian Moehler, who were ejected last weekend in Philadelphia after hitting batters. — Moehler was ejected Saturday after he hit Ryan Howard.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Contra Costa Times:
It's time to cut off boozy celebrations — According to published reports — and when was the last time one of those gave you a bum steer? — the Detroit Tigers celebrated the clinching of their first postseason berth since 1987 with 220 bottles of champagne.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Know-it-all rookies frustrate Baker, Blanco — One of the problems with the Cubs' rookie pitchers is they don't believe they need to follow the advice of their veteran catcher. — At least that's what manager Dusty Baker told the media Wednesday while applauding the work of catcher Henry Blanco.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Pujols saves Cardinals to snap skid — Lead-changing homer in eighth puts end to seven-game slide — ST. LOUIS — When his team needed him most, Albert Pujols delivered what may have been the biggest regular-season hit of his already incredible career. Pujols hammered a three-run homer …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Fox Sports:
Twins better off facing Yanks with Santana — As you may have heard, the Detroit Tigers are heading to the playoffs for the first time since 1987, and the Minnesota Twins are in the postseason for the fourth time in five years. — To indulge in the obvious for a moment …
Discussion:
TwinsGeek.com
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Kearns not in lineup Wednesday — Right fielder still sore after collision; St. Claire returns to dugout; — Austin Kearns was hoping to be ready to play on Wednesday night, but after participating in some running and hitting drills, Kearns was not in the lineup because of a sore left side.
Discussion:
District of Baseball
MLB.com:
Marlins announce schedule for 2007 season — Florida set to open season in Washington on April 2; Home opener scheduled for April 6 vs. Philadelphia — MIAMI — The Florida Marlins today announced their schedule for the 2007 season, the team's 15th season of Major League Baseball.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers beat Rox, move up in NL West — LA rallies back from three-run deficit; Lowe earns win No. 16 — DENVER — The Dodgers rallied from a three-run deficit on Wednesday night to beat the Rockies, 6-4, pulling them within a game of the first-place Padres in the National League West …