Top News:
ESPN:
Phillies manager challenges radio personality to fight — As baseball season began, the Philadelphia Phillies were being eyed as a contender in the National League East. In fact, outspoken shortstop Jimmy Rollins said the Phillies were the team to beat. — But the Phillies have stumbled …
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing, Phillies Nation, Archie Bunker's Army, Nationals Journal, NATSTASTIC and Quo Vadimus
RELATED:
Enrico / The700Level.com:
Charlie Manuel Challenges Howard Eskin To Fight — It can't get any worse. That's the only thing I could think while sitting in the first row in left field last night freezing my ass off. It was a completely disheartening game. The Mets showed why they are the real team to beat …
Marcus Hayes / philly.com:
Manuel explodes after ugly loss — IT WAS AS ugly as the weather. — In 40-degree temperatures with 25-mph wind gusts, the Phillies stayed ice cold and lost to the Mets, 8-1, last night, and fell to 3-9. — It got uglier later. — Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was provoked …
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Manuel confronts reporter after loss — Manager exchanges sharp words following defeat to the Mets — PHILADELPHIA — Manager Charlie Manuel hollered and laced into a profanity-laced tirade after Tuesday's 8-1 loss to the Mets, only his 10 minutes of invectives weren't directed at his players.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Myers goes to bullpen, Lieber to start — The Phillies are mired in a 3-9 start and their manager recently challenged a reporter to a fight. So what's next in Philadelphia? Try shaking up the pitching staff. — Manager Charlie Manuel said Wednesday the Phillies will move Brett Myers into the bullpen …
RELATED:
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Myers to bullpen; Lieber to start — Phillies try to improve relief by moving righty to setup role — WASHINGTON — The Phillies will attempt to improve what's been an unreliable bullpen by moving Brett Myers into a relief role and returning veteran Jon Lieber to the starting rotation.
Discussion:
Roto Authority Fantasy …
Marc Carig / Washington Post:
Nats Show Their Support — Team Wears Va. Tech Hats : Braves 6, Nationals 4 — The Washington Nationals fell behind against a pitcher bound for the Hall of Fame and predictably ended up losing to the Atlanta Braves last night, 6-4. But what otherwise would have gone down as a routine April defeat …
Discussion:
Washington Times, Bad Altitude, Random Thoughts, William World News, District of Baseball, MLB.com and The Parrot
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Lopez, Belliard getting job done — Nats' combination has filled in nicely with Guzman on DL — WASHINGTON — The Nationals' double-play combination of shortstop Felipe Lopez and second baseman Ronnie Belliard has been strong this season. Besides playing solid defense …
Nate Silver / Baseball Prospectus:
Jim Hendry on Line 2 — Felix Pie made his major league debut yesterday and chipped in an RBI double. Full disclosure: I'm a fan on a number of levels. Pie's a big-time PECOTA tout, as the system rates him as one of the best prospects in the game. He's on one of my fantasy teams, which could badly use his steals.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Braves manager Bobby Cox signs contract extension — Franchise's winningest skipper under contract through 2008 season — ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves announced today that they have signed manager Bobby Cox to a one-year contract extension through the 2008 season.
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Backman longs for his second chance — Two years after D-backs fiasco, he returns as manager in independent league — One month from today Wally Backman will officially be back in baseball. May 18 is Opening Day for the independent South Georgia Peanuts, and the former Met is their new manager.
Toasty Joe / Yes Joe, It's Toasted.:
"To See Ramon?" — OK, I'll say it. — I love Ramon Castro. — Seriously, is there a better backup catcher in the game? The guy sits on the bench for three innings, he's ice-cold (literally), and Paulie Lo gets dinged and Ramon gets the call. So what does he do?
Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers put Schmidt on 15-day DL — He has mild inflammation in his pitching shoulder, but no one is convinced it's the reason for his loss of velocity. — PHOENIX — The Dodgers handled Jason Schmidt's tender shoulder the same way his fastball has approached home plate — with great deliberation.
Ben Shpigel / Bats:
Billy Wagner Starring as Mr. Efficient — Even if Billy Wagner will be remembered for being a small guy with a huge fastball, he is doing his best to change his legacy. In Wagner's five appearances, he has struck out two batters (Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell) and that was in the same game, April 9 against the Phillies.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
