Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Wang overpowers Sox with two-hitter — Yanks righty loses bid for no-hitter with Drew's home run in fifth — BOSTON — Chien-Ming Wang may never receive the kudos generally lauded upon the game's top hurlers, his high winning percentage overlooked as a result of pitching toward contact instead of the league lead in strikeouts.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
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Jim Baumbach / On the Yankees beat:
Gameday Live 11: Yanks-Red Sox — It's over. Yankees win. See ya manana. — Wow. Two outs in the ninth - one out from the one-hitter - Julio Lugo lays a soft bunt in front of Wang to the pitcher's right and reaches on a hit. Can't argue that one. — Mr. Abreu, you're off the hook.
Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Does Anyone Still Doubt That Wang Is an Ace? — Since Chien-Ming Wang lost twice in the division series last season, there's been a curious notion floating around among fans that he is not an ace. After Friday's two-hitter in a 4-1 victory over the Red Sox, are there any doubters left?
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:Joe Girardi: Bring on Bosox
Discussion:
Associated Press, New York Post, NJ.com, Newsday, New Jersey Online, Fenway West and MLB.com
Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Longoria on the way; Niemann too — 3B prospect Evan Longoria is on his way to St. Petersburg and will make his major-league debut Saturday. — “I'm headed that way,” Longoria said late Friday before boarding a flight to Tampa. “I'm very excited, obviously. I hope I'm in there tomorrow.”
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Marc Lancaster / Rays Report:
Longoria on the way — Evan Longoria's major-league debut may only be a day or two away. The Rays' prized prospect was not in Durham's lineup for the Bulls' home opener tonight and Durham's radio broadcast reported he is on his way to the majors. — Updating: A person familiar …
Discussion:
MLB Fleece Factor
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Niemann to debut in bigs on Sunday — Rays hope 2004 first-rounder will patch up injured rotation — ST. PETERSBURG — Jeff Niemann will make his Major League debut Sunday against the Orioles. — According to team spokesman Rick Vaughn, Niemann was expected to arrive Friday night …
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Dontrelle Willis leaves game with injury — CHICAGO - The news about the Tigers' pitching staff is not getting any better. — Dontrelle Willis took the mound against the Chicago White Sox tonight, needing to show improved command after walking seven batters in his Detroit debut.
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Willis says injury could've been worse — Tigers starter stumbles while delivering, hyperextends knee — CHICAGO — The message from Tigers pitcher Dontrelle Willis after his injury Friday night was that it could've been worse. He wasn't just referring to the fact that his team won the game.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
tampabay.com:
Rays pitcher Reyes slugged, Tased, arrested at Tampa bar — Rays pitcher Al Reyes, left, talks with Manager Joe Maddon, before Friday's game against Baltimore. [James Borchuck, Times] — Update, 9:50 p.m. Reyes came in to pitch in Friday's game, got the final two outs of the eighth inning …
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Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Mets' Figueroa gets first win in 5 years — NEW YORK (AP)—Nelson Figueroa earned his first major league win in five years, retiring 14 straight batters at the start and pitching his hometown New York Mets past the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on a foggy Friday night.
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Howard Megdal / New York Observer:Now Starting for the Mets: Nelson Figueroa, King of Quadruple-A
Discussion:
MLB.com, Brew Crew Ball, Amazin' Avenue, MetsBlog.com, Bucs Dugout, NY Daily News, SNY.tv, Kranepool Society and the metropolitans
New York Post:
HIGH'JINX' HITS YANKEES — CREW SABOTEUR BURIED RED SOX GEAR UNDER NEW STADIUM — The new Yankee Stadium may be cursed! — A devilish Boston fan working on a concrete crew at the $1.3 billion stadium covertly buried a Red Sox T-shirt under what will become the visiting team's locker room …
Discussion:
Projo SoxBlog, SOX & Dawgs, Boston Globe, My Pinstripes, Yankees Chick, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine, ESPN, The Postmen, Sliding Into Home, umpbump.com, Boston Globe, Rivera's Cutter, Red Sox Monster, The Hot Corner, Hot Stove New York, YanksBlog.com, River Ave. Blues, Yanksfan Soxfan, With Leather and Scott Proctor's Arm
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Associated Press:
Arizona LHP Davis' surgery successful — PHOENIX (AP)—Arizona left-hander Doug Davis could return from thyroid cancer and pitch in four to six weeks, the doctor who performed the surgery said Friday. — Dr. Bob Evani said the survival rate for this type of cancer is near 100 percent.
Discussion:
Out in the Desert
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ESPN:
Twins recall Liriano from Triple-A for Sunday start — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Minnesota Twins recalled left-hander Francisco Liriano on Friday, and he's expected to make his first start after missing all of last season because of elbow surgery Sunday against the Kansas City Royals.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Jeter to remain on the shelf — Brian Cashman was WEEI in Boston today and said that Derek Jeter would likely not play until the Yankees get to Tampa. — Given how cold it is here and the probability of rain, that makes sense. — No word on yet on Jorge Posada's status.
Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
Myers vows to come out smokin' against Cubs — NEW YORK - Brett Myers hasn't been himself in his first two starts this season. — He hasn't shown his fastball as much. He hasn't been his aggressive self. — “I'm closing for nine innings tomorrow,” said Myers, who will start tonight …
RELATED:
The Times-Tribune:
Horne to the disabled list — Just bounced text messages back and forth with Alan Horne. — The MRI showed a slight tear of his right biceps and he's going back to Tampa to rehab the injury. Horne said he wasn't sure how long he would be out, but the damage isn't to a ligament, which seems like good news.
