Top News:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
It's Still Slow Going For Nats' Patterson — Velocity Is Lacking in Loss to Phillies: Phillies 4, Nationals 2 — John Patterson's stride was slow, his gaze toward the ground. The Washington Nationals gathered, under cover from a cool drizzle, to welcome Patterson back to the dugout.
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Church Gets Credit for His Work in Center — Philadelphia center fielder Aaron Rowand hit a laser-like line drive in the fifth inning of the Phillies' 4-2 victory over the Washington Nationals yesterday, and Ryan Church began to gallop across the vast expanse known as center field at RFK Stadium.
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Mind Over Matter — The verdict on the Nationals has almost certainly been delivered after only a tenth of the season. The '62 Mets, who lost 120 games, are safe. For that matter, so are the '88 Orioles, who began 0-21. The Nats, in defiance of doomsayers, aren't half bad.
Discussion:
DC Sports Blog
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Agent: Suspended Aybar has substance issue — Suspended Braves infielder Willy Aybar is in Boston, struggling with substance abuse and trying to get his life and baseball career back in order, his agent told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday. — The agent, Luis Valdez …
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Notes: Gonzalez set to return — Lefty reliever could pitch this weekend against Mets — ATLANTA — When it was learned Wednesday night that Mike Gonzalez was going to have his left elbow evaluated via an MRI, the Braves management team wasn't among the many who reacted with panic.
Gerry Callahan / Boston Herald:
It's love-hate with Rodriguez: Boos will be cheers in '08 — The fans tonight will boo him louder, longer, meaner, madder and with more passion than they will boo anyone in a New York uniform. They will go at him hard because Alex Rodriguez has become the face of the Yankees and that face still has those pink lips and puppy dog eyes.
Mike DiGiovanna / L.A. Times:
Angels' Hatcher searching for answers on offense — The hitting coach says some players need to 'turn it up.' Angels have scored 19 runs in losing eight of 10. — It can't be too comforting for critics of Mickey Hatcher to hear the batting instructor size up the Angels' slump and say, "I just wish I had some answers for it."
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Bob Sherwin / MLB.com:
Notes: Guillen holds grudge — Outfielder still not happy with how he was treated by Angels — SEATTLE — Jose Guillen won't forgive or forget. That's just the way he wants it. — Guillen, in his first season as the Seattle Mariners' right fielder, is returning to Anaheim this weekend …
Associated Press:
NY Mets 11, Florida 3 — MIAMI (AP) — Even the backup catcher is swinging a big bat this week for the New York Mets. — Ramon Castro homered and drove in three runs Thursday to help fuel the Mets' latest offensive outburst, and they drubbed the Florida Marlins for the second night in a row, 11-3.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Hill continues mastery, Cubs shut out Braves — ATLANTA — Carlos Zambrano guaranteed in March he would win the National League Cy Young Award. — Rich Hill was hoping simply to stay in the rotation and build on his success from the second half of 2006. — "I don't make any predictions," he said Thursday.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Jon Naito / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Felix injured early — Hernandez struggles, leaves in first with tightness in elbow — He is the boy who would be king. Felix Hernandez has been anointed and nothing in his early season oeuvre would seem to dispute that. — A little over a week after he turned 21 …
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Hendrickson lends serious help — Southpaw shuts down Rockies in stellar spot start — DENVER — When Jason Schmidt couldn't get outs this month, the problem turned out to be his shoulder. When Mark Hendrickson couldn't get outs last year, the problem was a little higher.
Discussion:
6-4-2
MLB.com:
D-backs' Sedona Red merchandise popular among valley baseball fans — PHOENIX — Sales of the Arizona Diamondbacks new Sedona Red merchandise at the Team Shops at Chase Field and at sports apparel stores throughout the Phoenix-area are up substantially compared to this time last year.
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Cabrera exits game with injury — Problem with right obligue ends slugger's day early — MIAMI — Three-time All-Star Miguel Cabrera was lifted after the second inning on Thursday with a right oblique problem, and the slugger's status is day-to-day. — Manager Fredi Gonzalez …
