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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 4: Rays at Yankees — YANKEES — Notes: Thanks to Kevin Devaney for texting this in. He also reports that Melky Cabrera had his hearing today and had his suspension reduced to two games. So he will sit today and tomorrow. ... Neither Betemit or Duncan have faced Andy Sonnanstine …
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Howie Rumberg / Associated Press:
Rays score 7 in 8th, rip Yankees 13-4 — NEW YORK (AP)—Tampa Bay backup catcher Shawn Riggans was on the bench, studying Yankees batters for his start Saturday when starting backstop Dioner Navarro took a gruesome fall down the dugout steps. — With little time to prepare for an at-bat …
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Blue Jays sign Rios for six, Hill for four — Rios' contract worth $64 million; Hill's includes three options — TORONTO — Timing is everything. — On Friday, when the Blue Jays arrived back at Rogers Centre for their home opener against the Red Sox, Toronto announced …
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Associated Press:
Pirates, Capps agree to 2 years, $3.05M — PITTSBURGH (AP)—Pittsburgh Pirates closer Matt Capps agreed Friday a $3.05 million, two-year contract that runs through 2009 and covers what would have been his first year of arbitration eligibility. — The Pirates and Capps discussed …
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Washington Post
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates, Capps sign two-year, $3.1 million contract — MIAMI — The Pirates and closer Matt Capps today signed a two-year contract worth $3.1 million. — Capps last month was given a $435,000 salary for the current season. That figure was increased to $500,000, plus a $250,000 signing bonus.
David Ginsburg / Associated Press:
O's power past Mariners — R. Hernandez goes 3-for-4 with a home run; L. Hernandez drives in two runs — Ramon Hernandez is congratulated by teammates after his solo home run off Mariners pitcher Cha Seung Baek. (Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr. / April 4, 2008)
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
El Duque may fill in for Pedro — ATLANTA - Mets officials believe Pedro Martinez's injury really is a mild strain that will sideline him only until mid-May, so they're not inclined to seek any outside pitching help now. Assuming Orlando Hernandez progresses well during a minor-league rehab assignment …
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Associated Press:
Tejada triple lifts Astros over Cubs 4-3 — CHICAGO - J.R. Towles did a handstand after he was hit by a pitch in the second inning, then homered in the fourth. — Miguel Tejada added a go-ahead triple in the eighth inning as the Houston Astros beat the Cubs 4-3 Friday and sent Chicago to its third loss in four games.
Mike Scandura / MLB.com:
Colon keeps pace in rotation berth bid — Red Sox righty breezes through five frames in Minors start — PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Bartolo Colon wouldn't bite. — Colon delivered a Major League performance Thursday night while pitching for the Pawtucket Red Sox in their International League opener against the Indianapolis Indians.
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Mark Feinsand / Blogging the Bombers:
Girardi ill, will miss tonight's game (updated) — Howdy, readers. It's Anthony McCarron, pinch-blogging once again for our man Mark. — Here is some news: Joe Girardi is a “game-time” decision on whether he will manage tonight against the Rays because of an upper respiratory infection.
John Branch / New York Times:
Rockies Fans Keep Faith in the Power of Last Season — DENVER — Mayor John Hickenlooper stood on the corner of Blake and 21st Streets, across from Coors Field, reflecting the warmth brought by sunshine and the return of the Colorado Rockies, the defending champions of the National League.
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ESPN
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Rangers left-hander Gabbard beats the Angels — Angels can't solve the pitcher, who keeps them off balance the whole game. — The Angels have one of baseball's most feared right-handed sluggers in Vladimir Guerrero, and over the winter they added Torii Hunter, who has considerable power from the right side.
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6-4-2
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Jose Canseco still raging over 'roids — Admitted steroid user Jose Canseco pushes campaign against baseball in a sometimes edgy book signing in Chicago — A courtesy cup of black coffee was waiting for Jose Canseco on Friday when he arrived at his seat inside a downtown bookstore …
Cameron Martin / Bugs & Cranks:
Bill James thinks steroids fueled the Twins' two championships — Last night I was reading The Bill James Gold Mine 2008, enjoying the section on Atypical Seasons, which of course talked in great detail about Norm Cash (1961) and Darrin Erstad (2004), who overachieved more than anyone relative to their career numbers.