Top News:
Shaun Powell / Newsday:
Is there anyone out there willing to take a stand? — All around baseball nation, today will be a gorgeous day at the ballpark, come wind or clouds or (these days) snow. That's because the forecast says it will be raining 42s. — Players and entire teams will honor the impeccable memory …
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Smith getting hang of New York — Life in big city has proven a challenge to young side-armer — NEW YORK — For the most part, Joe Smith is enjoying his first month as a big leaguer. He fits in well in the clubhouse — his primary residence is under the wing of Aaron Sele …
Discussion:
The FanHouse - Mlb
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Mets' Star Power Beyond Nats' Grasp — Stack up the New York Mets' lineup, from Jose Reyes at the top to Jose Valentin at the bottom, and put it up against the group that the Washington Nationals brought to Shea Stadium Friday night. Mix the names around, come up with different orders …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Associated Press:
Ortiz homers as Schilling, Red Sox shut down Angels — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — BOSTON — Curt Schilling is willing to mix in more pitches these days if it means he's able to throw fewer pitches overall. — Relying less on his fastball and more on changing speeds and location …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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Nick Cafardo / Extra Bases:
The lineups — Boston: — SS Julio Lugo: .324, second on team. — 1B Eric Hinske: Comes into the game with a 12-game hitting streak dating back to Sept. 14 of last season. — DH David Ortiz: 0-for-3 vs. Hector Carrasco. — LF Manny Ramirez: On a 2-for-17 spell. He's 7-for-14 vs. Carrasco.
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
The Short and Happy Career of Ron Wright — Five years ago, in an otherwise forgettable baseball game between the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers, a 26-year-old rookie named Ron Wright struck out, hit into a double play and hit into a triple play. — "Best day of my professional life," Wright said.
MLB.com:
Papelbon saves it in the eighth — Closer gets the best of Guerrero in crucial matchup — BOSTON — Four years later, Bill James' message is finally getting through. — Of course, it helps to have a messenger like Jonathan Papelbon. Right now, the 26-year-old right-hander …
T.J. Quinn / NY Daily News:
Free pass — Source: Bonds explored exemption after failed test — By now, casual fans know that when Barry Bonds was told he had failed an amphetamines test last season, the first thing he did was suggest that he had taken some kind of substance that belonged to teammate Mark Sweeney.
Associated Press:
Buck's gutsy play helps A's beat Yanks — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Travis Buck decided from the moment he made contact that he would stretch his hit into a triple. — The rookie wanted to test center fielder Johnny Damon and did so - barely. — Three batters later, Buck scored the winning run …
Discussion:
Catfish Stew
Associated Press:
Minnesota 3, Tampa Bay 2 — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Carl Crawford compounded one baserunning mistake with another, and Justin Morneau made him pay for it. — After Crawford's two blunders caused a double play in the top of the ninth, Morneau led off the bottom of the inning …
Discussion:
The Griddle
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Ozzie scolds anti-Thome fans ... again — CLEVELAND — Jim Thome got what he expected from Cleveland fans when his name was announced for each at-bat on Friday, but the booing for the former long-time Indians slugger still wasn't sitting well with Ozzie Guillen.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Associated Press:
Cleveland 4, Chi White Sox 0 — CLEVELAND (AP) — Paul Byrd is warming up to pitching in cold weather. — The right-hander worked six sharp innings in his first official start of the season and the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 4-0 Saturday.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Indians extend Westbrook's deal — Tribe agrees to keep 29-year-old pitcher through 2010 — CLEVELAND — The lure of big money and big years was on the horizon for Jake Westbrook. He was just months away from his first shot at seeing what the free-agent market had to offer for his services.
Discussion:
Knuckle Curve, Bucs Dugout, The FanHouse - Mlb, MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Rumors and Plain Dealer Sports
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
More Aches and Pains: Now Pavano Will Miss Start — The Yankees' most fragile player has added himself to the team's growing list of wounded pitchers. Carl Pavano, who missed most of the last two seasons with a variety of injuries, will miss his start here Saturday with stiffness in his right arm.
Kevin Baxter / Los Angeles Times:
Agent is found guilty of smuggling — Dominguez is convicted in case involving Cuban baseball players. Prison term of about five years is likely, prosecutors say. — KEY WEST, FLA. — In the first case of its kind against a prominent sports agent, Gustavo Dominguez was found guilty Thursday …
David Lennon / Newsday:
Pedro could rehab with big club soon — It appears that Pedro Martinez could rejoin the Mets by the end of this month. Not as a fully functioning member of the rotation, of course. He's not that far ahead of schedule. But he could be throwing from a mound sooner rather than later …
