Mets fans aren't taking this Pedro Martinez news well  —  If you're friends with a Mets fan, you might want to keep an eye on him or her for the next few hours.  Not only did Pedro Martinez last only 57 pitches last night before leaving with a strained left hamstring, but the Marlins won the game …

Don Drysdale Scouting Report by Branch Rickey  —  Branch Rickey scouting report on RHP Don Drysdale, from June 15, 1954  —  It is incredible what you can find in the Library of Congress.  While making a quick search on another topic this morning (see Roundup - Wednesday) …

Heady baserunning helps Dodgers win  —  Furcal drives in two runs, dashes home with game-decider  —  LOS ANGELES — Derek Lowe got knocked out, Larry Bowa got thrown out, but the Dodgers managed to pull out a 3-2 win over the Giants anyway with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday night.

WB: Clemente vs. Kaline  —  First impressions  —  I feel confident that most people would say Clemente was better than Kaline.  “Not to take anything away from Kaline,” says a friend of mine, “but Roberto Clemente was the best player I ever saw.”  I'm guessing entirely …

Andino fine after hectic, heroic night  —  Robbery try occurs shortly after hitting winning home run  —  MIAMI — Everything was back to normal on Wednesday afternoon for Robert Andino after a heroic and hectic night.  —  In the 10th inning on Tuesday, Andino experienced the high of delivering …

New Ernie Banks statue needs an apostrophe  —  Shocking: The Cubs unveiled a new Ernie Banks statue on Monday and its biggest initial problem didn't come in being a magnet for pigeon poop.  Instead, there was a missing apostrophe in Mr. Cub's most famous saying, which caused a bit of a stir in Chicago on Tuesday.

Aces up  —  Matsuzaka trumps Oakland  —  OAKLAND, Calif. - The homecoming dance was a disappointment.  —  “It's something I can only say in hindsight,” Daisuke Matsuzaka said last night, “but it would have been nice to pitch better in the Tokyo Dome than I did.”

‘Suspended’ Cabrera steals show  —  By all rights, the star of last night's game for the Yankees, centre fielder Melky Cabrera, wasn't supposed to be playing.  But he has appealed his three-game suspension.  Contributing spectacular back-to-back catches off Lyle Overbay and Aaron Hill …

Berkman's 3-run HR in 9th lifts Astros  —  SAN DIEGO (AP)—The Houston Astros were one strike away from opening the season with three straight losses, then inches away.  —  They managed to stick around long enough for Lance Berkman to hit a three-run homer off Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning …

Farewell to the Chief?  —  WASHINGTON (Map, News) - If baseball experts are right, the Nationals won't have to worry about the N.L. East race.  They won't be in it.  —  But the race that might interest them the most is in the A.L. Central.  Or, at least, that's the one that Chad Cordero might need to monitor.

Game 2: Royals at Tigers  —  PREGAME: It's another afternoon tilt for these two teams.  For the Tigers it will be Kenny Rogers making his season debut.  Last year Rogers battled a blood clot, and later some elbow soreness before finishing the season strong for the Tigers.

Mariners place right-handed pitcher J.J. Putz on 15-day disabled list  —  RHP Roy Corcoran selected from Triple-A Tacoma  —  SEATTLE — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Bill Bavasi announced today that the Mariners have placed right-handed pitcher J.J. Putz on the 15-day disabled list.

Chicago teams still eyeing Coco  —  OAKLAND - The two teams who have shown the most consistent interest in Coco Crisp are the Cubs and White Sox, according to a major league source familiar with both teams.  —  Crisp is currently playing center-field for the Sox in a 0-0 tie with the A's here in the fifth inning.