Top News:
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Undaunted, Mets eye two wins at Shea — Players make no excuses for Game 5; remain focused — ST. LOUIS — Perhaps the Mets and their fans can find consolation in a brief history lesson. Twenty years ago this month ... sure, you know the rest. — Like those unforgettable '86 Mets of Straw and Doc …
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Murray Chass / New York Times:
How Bad Was Game 3 Start? Let's Count the Ways — The stench of Steve Trachsel's start in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series won't go away. Not even yesterday's all-day rain, which forced the postponement of Game 5 last night, washed it away.
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Mets ready to respond at home — Team confident it can win two behind boisterous Shea crowd — ST. LOUIS — At difficult moments such as these, it's always helpful to have a positive experience to draw from, to lift sagging spirits. — The Mets, facing a win-or-else predicament …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
The Mets Are Down to Their Last At-Bats — The Mets can spin their plight any way they choose. They still have two more chances at Shea Stadium. The series is not over yet. They are a better team. — But perception does not always equal reality, and the Mets are facing a harsh one now.
Discussion:
Metsquire
Jayson Stark / ESPN:Pujols revives St. Louis with one swing
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Preston is Cards' shark — Bites Mookie's old club — ST. LOUIS - The Mets spent the summer celebrating the 20th anniversary of their accomplishments in the fall of 1986. Now, thanks to Mookie Wilson's stepson, they're on the brink of elimination. — Preston Wilson's RBI double …
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Newsday:
It's a no go for Trachsel — Willie puts him in pen, meaning he won't start possible Game 7 — ST. LOUIS — Not that it's any big secret at this point, but manager Willie Randolph made it official yesterday: Steve Trachsel is in the bullpen now, as Randolph said, "like everyone else."
Discussion:
the metropolitans
Johnette Howard / Newsday:
No choice: Ya gotta believe! — ST. LOUIS — So the Mets' World Series hopes have funneled down to tossing this out: a rookie starter named John Maine, and every other pitcher they can put in cleats after him. A return to Shea Stadium for a Game 6 rematch tonight against Chris Carpenter …
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Trades, free agents next on Cubs' list — Hendry must find players for Piniella — Jim Hendry hired the jockey, and you have to admire Lou Piniella's pedigree and personality, if not his judgment. — But now that Piniella has shown how desperate he was to get back into managing …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:Pressing for answers — Plenty to address for new Cubs manager …
Discussion:
Gonfalon Cubs
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Epstein's signature finally seals deal — Theo Epstein said it and Larry Lucchino seconded it — Epstein finally has a signed contract. — "We have an understanding that I guess was memorialized with a signature," said Epstein yesterday at a gathering at Fenway Park between print media …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Dance partners: Theo, Larry waltz around specifics of GM's deal — Theo Epstein and Red Sox team president Larry Lucchino did some verbal tap-dancing yesterday when asked if the general manager has actually signed the contract he agreed to upon returning to the team in January after a two-and-a-half month absence.
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Interviews start for managerial search — ST. LOUIS — The Rangers interviewed their first managerial candidate Tuesday, spending about six hours at Ameriquest Field with Oakland Athletics third base coach Ron Washington. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said he does …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Salon:
King Kaufman's Sports Daily — Fox fires Steve Lyons for the wrong reason. Can we think of one for Thom Brennaman now? — Fox fired Steve Lyons for that? — Lyons spent 11 years uttering bad jokes and insight-free commentary on Fox's national baseball telecasts.
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Mark Purdy / Mercury News:
Should A's, Giants need advice, here's my two cents' worth — Ken Macha used to have this little joke. — I know, I know. Might be hard to envision. Let's just say that if life were stand-up comedy, and if stand-up comedy had its own BCS rankings, then Macha would definitely not be bowl-eligible.
Greg / Faith and Fear in Flushing:
Faith in Flushing (Fear Strikes Out) — Great news! We've already done what we need to do tonight and tomorrow night 61* times in 2006. — 1. April 6 and 7. — 2. April 7 and 9. — 3. April 9 and 11. — 4. April 11 and 12. — 5. April 12 and 13. — 6. April 13 and 14.
Discussion:
Deadspin
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Eckstein goes to have tests — Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein was taken for an X-ray and a scan of his shoulder late Tuesday night before flying with the team to New York for tonight's Game 6 of the NL Championship Series. — Eckstein sprained his left shoulder while diving for a ground ball …
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Stars turn out to honor Lidle — · New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle was remembered as "a loving husband and an awesome father" at a memorial Tuesday attended by family, friends and teammates of the avid yet inexperienced pilot who was killed on an aerial tour of New York City.
Discussion:
FishStripes
