Top News:
David Picker / New York Times:
Mets Have No Defense for Pérez's Seven Ball Fours — Oliver Pérez's last outing at Shea Stadium in 2006 went a lot better than his first one in 2007. — Pérez started Game 7 of last year's National League Championship Series and left the mound to a standing ovation …
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Milledge eyeing the weather — Young outfielder's short-term fate lies with forecast — NEW YORK — Lastings Milledge has uncommon interest in the Thursday weather; so, too, Willie Randolph, Rick Peterson and Mike Pelfrey. The equation is quite simple.
Associated Press:
Philadelphia 5, NY Mets 2 — NEW YORK (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies hardly had to take the bats off their shoulders to beat Oliver Perez. Good thing for them, too, because they're still not hitting. — Adam Eaton pitched seven steady innings and Philadelphia walked its way to its second victory …
Discussion:
Mets Today
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:Mets' Milledge May Go to Minors to Get More At-Bats
Discussion:
Blastings! Thrilledge, Mets Fever, The Eddie Kranepool Society and Ben Maller's Sports …
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
On this night, not good enough — There's a good chance the commuter trains were a little less crowded in Tokyo today. It was morning rush hour (8:11 a.m.) in the Japanese capital when Ichiro stepped to the plate to face Daisuke Matsuzaka at 7:11 p.m. at Fenway Park last night.
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Notes: Pena to spell Drew in finale — Reserve outfielder looking forward to making his first start — BOSTON — Nobody is rooting harder for Thursday's weather forecast of rain and snow to be wrong than Red Sox outfielder Wily Mo Pena. The contest against the Mariners …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Notes: Julio's security unclear — Right-handed closer could move into setup role — MIAMI — On Wednesday, a day after Jorge Julio was unable to seal his second save opportunity of the season, manager Fredi Gonzalez was noncommittal when asked if the 28-year-old right-hander would remain the Marlins closer.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Gonzalez plans to do 'what's best' for Julio — MIAMI GARDENS — Struggling closer Jorge Julio said he's willing to pitch in any situation the Marlins put him in, even if it's not the closing role. — "I just want the team to win ballgames,'' he said Wednesday, one day after blowing …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
More Rangers to honor Robinson — Hairston, Lofton, Pettis also expected to get OK to wear No. 42 — egrant@dallasnews.com — ARLINGTON - Even a program won't help you tell some of the Rangers apart Sunday. — Four of them will be wearing No. 42. — The club has petitioned Major …
Discussion:
The Cheater's Guide …
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Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Tigers trot out grand ending … It certainly was not the spot Sam Perlozzo wanted for Kurt Birkins, but with all his other options in the bullpen exhausted at that point, the Orioles' manager had no choice. — So, in a scoreless game in the 12th inning last night, Perlozzo summoned Birkins …
RELATED:
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:Heads, shoulder give out
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Rays Index, Oriole Post, Washington Post, Camden Chat and River Ave. Blues
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats lose for sixth straight time — Williams tosses five effective innings, but bats silenced — ATLANTA — Prior to Wednesday's game against the Braves, manager Manny Acta was a patient man, even though the Nationals had struggled over the previous eight games.
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
James sizzles for second straight win — Chipper, Andruw each homer, combine to drive in five runs — ATLANTA — When told that the Braves were off to their best start since his rookie year, Chipper Jones responded by explaining that he didn't remember the beginning of that 1995 season or even what happened yesterday.
Zachary Dowdy / Newsday:
Falling body sends fan to DL — Ellen Massey always counted being struck by a baseball or a bat at Shea Stadium among the hazards of being a Mets fan, but she never thought a 300-pound man would come crashing down the stands — and onto her. — That's what the Manhattan resident, 58, said happened on Monday, Opening Day at Shea.
Brian Costello / New York Post:
MILLEDGE SET FOR MOVE TO TRIPLE-A — Lastings Milledge knows what is probably coming. He knows that he'll likely get called in after tonight's game with the Phillies and be told he's heading to Triple-A New Orleans. — With pitcher Mike Pelfrey joining the Mets to start tomorrow against Washington …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Citi Field taking shape — Hopes for area revival rise alongside Mets' future home — NEW YORK — It's not much to look at right now — a twisted mass of concrete and steel, hovering low beyond Shea Stadium's outfield wall — but the cranes bobbing and weaving systematically through …
Jim Bowden / Examiner:
It's all in who you hire — WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Building a good team does not start with the players. Rather, it's building a good front office that can make the difference. That's why my first three hires as Nationals GM were Bob Boone, Jose Rijo and Barry Larkin …
