Top News:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nationals Go 13 Innings, Win on Lopez's Fly Ball — If there is a game going late, and the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals are on the schedule, chances are they are the teams left on the field, long after the children are in bed, the stands have emptied, the local news has started.
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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 …
Discussion:
Beerleaguer, Federal Baseball, Mike's Mets, The FanHouse - Mlb, I've Made a Huge Tiny Mistake and The Good Phight
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.
Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:
Quick Work Left In Wake — Finally, Some Runs For Knuckleballer — TORONTO — If baseball truly wants to shorten the length of games, it should just arrange for Tim Wakefield to pitch all of them. — Wakefield has long been the master of the sub-three hour game.
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Wakefield, power overwhelm Jays — Knuckler's flutterer flummoxes Toronto; Sox hit three homers — TORONTO — Overshadowed by Curt Schilling's intensity, Josh Beckett's electric stuff and Daisuke Matsuzaka's hype, Tim Wakefield has little interest in getting attention anyway.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:Matsuzaka gets aced out again
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Peter's Red Sox Forever, Surviving Grady, The Joy of Sox and The Soxaholix
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Gonzalez to have MRI on elbow — Left-handed reliever is feeling soreness, will sit out Thursday — ATLANTA — As he struggled through his first few Spring Training outings, Braves left-handed reliever Mike Gonzalez indicated he was healthy. But just two weeks into the season …
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Wright's 25-Game Hitting Streak Has a Power Shortage — David Wright will not quibble with his batting average, which is .327 after last night's 9-2 victory over the Florida Marlins. In fact, Wright says "it's not important to me whatsoever." He also has the team's record with a 25 …
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Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
A 7-2 victory for Rockies overshadows loss of RHP Lopez — Lopez is out, but Rockies savor win against Dodgers — Box score — Tempered by the loss of right-handed starter Rodrigo Lopez for at least a couple of weeks, the Rockies still got some satisfaction out of their 7-2 victory against the Dodgers on Wednesday night.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Analysis: Why are Brewers outspending Pirates? — Despite similar markets, situations, Milwaukee's payroll $20 million higher — MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers, based in the National League's smallest market and a region two-thirds the size of Pittsburgh's, will outspend the Pirates …
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Howard might need MRI on sore leg — First baseman pulls up lame running bases, but stays in game — WASHINGTON — The postgame limp paled in comparison to the pained look on Ryan Howard's face as the injured first baseman tried to block out the agony. — Howard stood, then dragged …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Mike DiGiovanna / L.A. Times:
Kendrick goes on disabled list — Broken bone in his left hand will sideline the second baseman a month to six weeks. — OAKLAND — A team starved for offense lost another of its top hitters Wednesday when second baseman Howie Kendrick, who was batting .327, went on the 15-day disabled list because of a broken bone in his left hand.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter will resume his efforts to rehab — SAN FRANCISCO — Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter will resume an exercise and throwing program today as a hoped-for first step toward returning to the mound next month. — Carpenter, on the disabled list retroactive to April 2 due to persistent swelling …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Piniella may hunger for 12th pitcher — Lou Piniella debated all spring about whether to start the season with 11 or 12 pitchers. — The Cubs finally settled on 12, but with Angel Guzman sent to Triple-A Iowa to be converted back into a starter, how long can Piniella go with an 11-man staff?
Associated Press:
Mariners ace Hernandez leaves game with elbow tightness in first inning — SEATTLE (AP) — Mariners ace Felix Hernandez left Wednesday night's 5-3 loss to Minnesota with tightness in his pitching elbow after he got just one out and allowed his first two runs of the season.
