Top News:
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.
RELATED:
Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
Start of something (too) big — The Yankees are here. I wish I could get more excited. — Well, that's not completely correct. I am excited, but perhaps not the same way most Red Sox fans are. — I'm excited because to me it's primarily about the baseball.
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.
RELATED:
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.
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
D.J. Short / MetsBlog.com:
Blogger Beat: Talking Chop — This season, at the beginning of each series, MetsBlog will attempt to get the perspective of the opposition and their fans. From this, we hope to be better educated on the opposition going into a series. It also gives us a fine opportunity to highlight some of our favorite team blogs.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
RELATED:
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 …
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.
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."
RELATED:
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 …
Dave / U.S.S. Mariner:
The M's are insane — Eric O'Flaherty is coming up from Tacoma and will join the team in Anaheim. Brandon Morrow will move from the bullpen to the rotation and make Felix's scheduled start in Texas on Monday. — Yes folks, Brandon Morrow is going to make his first major league start …
Nate Silver / Baseball Prospectus:
PECOTA Takes On Right-handed Pitching Prospects — PECOTA versus Baseball America on pitching prospects was where we left off. Today righthanders get all the attention. — Excellent Prospects — Player (Age) Upside — xx. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox (26) 216.7
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
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.
RELATED:
Matt Eddy / Baseball America Prospects Blog:
Hughes Overcomes Early Hiccup — Through his first 10 Triple-A innings, Yankees righthander Phil Hughes had struck out "just" seven batters, walked four and allowed seven earned runs. His effort Wednesday in his third start of the season went a long way toward erasing any misplaced doubt.
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
