Top News:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Boston's five homers sink Yankees — Record four straight help Red Sox complete three-game sweep — BOSTON — The record-tying flurry of four straight home runs struck by the Red Sox in their stunning bottom of the third inning were all no-doubters. But quite a ways after …
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John Harper / NY Daily News:
No Alex miracle or Yank relief — Battered and beaten pen getting to be tired story — BOSTON - Alex Rodriguez was the last hope to avoid the stinging sweep here at Fenway Park, and that was fitting because A-Rod is all that has kept April from being a complete disaster for the Yankees.
Newsday:
Wallace Matthews — Despite sweep, Yanks hold dice — BOSTON — It was a night that could easily be seen as disastrous: As a team, the Yankees suffered a fate they hadn't seen in 17 years, and as an individual, their starting pitcher, Chase Wright, suffered an indignity not incurred on an American League pitcher since JFK was alive.
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Williams Says His Confidence Level Is Fine — In the wake of a six-inning performance in which he allowed 10 runs, Jerome Williams wants everyone to know about his confidence level. — "It's up," he said. "Let's get that clear. It's up. My confidence is fine."
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Forbes:
The Business Of Baseball — Three years ago, the 30 Major League Baseball teams posted an operating loss (in the sense of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of $57 million. Last season they earned a record $496 million. Despite its ongoing steroids scandal …
Craig Counsell / Baseball Musings:
PROBABILISTIC MODEL OF RANGE ARCHIVES — Probabilistic Model of GDPs — A few days ago I introduced the idea of a probabilistic model of Ground into Double Plays (GDP). The probabilistic model of range just measures the ability to turn a ball into an out.
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
The Strange Career of Wes Ferrell (SP Leverage, Part 4) — This is the fourth article in a never-ending series on starting pitcher leverage. If you know the gist of these suckers, you can skip this paragraph . For the rest of you, starting pitcher leverage refers to the once-common practice …
S.V. Dáte / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins' pitch for stadium cash apt to fall short — TALLAHASSEE — On a seven-year losing skid but starting with their best prospects ever for a second $60 million subsidy for a new baseball stadium, the Florida Marlins are yet again down to the late innings in the spring legislative session with the outcome in jeopardy.
Discussion:
The Biz of Baseball
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Piniella's plea: I need a 12th pitcher, pronto — Since Angel Guzman was sent to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, manager Lou Piniella has been adamant about the need for a 12th pitcher. — After using five relievers on Sunday in the 12-9, 10-inning loss, Piniella's message to management was loud and clear.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves get scare with McCann — New York — When Brian McCann hopped from the batter's box Sunday, clutching his left hand and grimacing in pain after being struck by a pitch, Braves Nation held its collective breath. — And manager Bobby Cox held his. — "He better be OK …
Discussion:
Rain Delay
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: LaRoche hearing advice from all over — LOS ANGELES — When is a critical home run almost completely devoid of meaning? — So far, that has been the case every time for Adam LaRoche, at least as it relates to snapping out of his season-long slumber at the plate.
blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com:
Contract finalization due today; Lopez extension not ready — The Mariners will announce their final nine contract signings of the spring today. — The club traditionally wraps up all contract negotiations before the start of Cactus League play. If the club and the player can't agree on terms, the Mariners will impose a contract.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright didn't feel tired — Fatigue factor? — CHICAGO — Cardinals righthander Adam Wainwright, having his second uneven start since he tossed 113 pitches in a game April 11 in Pittsburgh, couldn't hold a 7-4 lead in the sixth Sunday, allowing a three-run homer to Chicago Cubs third …
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
O's sweep Jays away … The Orioles, almost to a man, insist that they're not trying to send any messages. Not to opponents, not to the rest of the league, not to all of baseball. If they beat a division rival, the only significance is that they've won another game. Each one counts the same.
