Top News:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Revised Batting Order Changes Dynamic for Mets — Carlos Beltrán had seen enough. So in a quiet moment Tuesday afternoon, he pulled a chair beside José Reyes's locker and offered some unsolicited advice. Recalling their conversation Wednesday night after the Mets' 5-2 victory …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Faith and Fear in Flushing, It's Mets For Me, Mets Geek, Eephus Pitch and Federal Baseball
RELATED:
Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Carlos says loosen up, then has blast of own — He stirred up spring training with his “team to beat” boast. Before Tuesday's win against the Nationals, he gave a pep talk to teammate Jose Reyes, encouraging the shortstop to return to his dancing, wildly celebrating self.
Discussion:
On the Mets beat, MetsBlog.com, Mets Merized Online, The 'Ropolitans, Kranepool Society, Surfing the Mets and Hot Foot
Mark Hale / New York Post:
THE BEL TOLLS — CARLOS' THREE-RUN BLAST, PEP TALK FUEL REYES, METS — The discussion came before Tuesday's game against the Nationals. Carlos Beltran initiated it with Jose Reyes, and because of it things may have changed with this team. — Beltran approached Reyes on Tuesday and delivered this message - be yourself.
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Reyes homers, celebrates like old self as Mets win — Mets catcher Brian Schneider congratulates pitcher Billy Wagner at the end of the game after the Mets beat the Washington Nationals 5-2 at Shea Stadium. (Newsday Photo / Kathy Kmonicek / April 16, 2008)
Forbes:
The Business Of Baseball — The key numbers show that the national pastime is more popular than ever. In 2007, baseball broke its attendance record for the fourth consecutive season when 79.5 million fans hit the turnstiles. A big plus: Interleague games, where teams in the American …
Discussion:
SPORTSbyBROOKS, MLB.com, Squawking Baseball, Red Sox Monster, Sons of Steve Garvey and Hot Foot
RELATED:
Evan Grant / Associated Press:
Texas Rangers beat Toronto in 14 innings — egrant@dallasnews.com — TORONTO - In his third meeting with his club in the last week, Rangers manager Ron Washington had gone for more of a pep talk, reminding them it's OK to bend but to let the other team break. — The Rangers seem to finally have heard.
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Forbes: Yankees, Mets, Red Sox worth most — The Yankees, Mets and Red Sox top Forbes Magazine's annual list of baseball team valuations, with only the Yankees surpassing $1 billion. Befitting baseball's biggest rivalry, however, the Yankees and the Red Sox are the only clubs that are pegged to operate at a loss.
RELATED:
Andy Jasner / MLB.com:
Tejada acknowledges age discrepancy — Shortstop is actually two years older than previously believed — PHILADELPHIA — Miguel Tejada just aged two years. — Astros general manager Ed Wade was recently informed that Tejada was actually born on May 25, 1974, as opposed to May 25, 1976, as listed in the club's media guide.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Jose De Jesus Ortiz / Houston Chronicle:
Tejada two years older than Astros thought — Shortstop, actually 33, lied about age when he signed in 1993 — PHILADELPHIA — Saying he wanted to unburden himself, Miguel Tejada approached general manager Ed Wade and asked to correct misinformation he gave the Oakland A's when he signed in 1993.
Discussion:
Houstoned Ballz
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Pedro optimistic about return date — Injured Mets pitcher expects to come back ahead of schedule — NEW YORK — One day after Mets general manager Omar Minaya suggested Pedro Martinez might not return to active duty until late May or early June, Martinez was quoted as having said his recovery may be shorter instead of longer.
Discussion:
Mets Fever
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Zambrano solid on mound, plate in win — With wind playing a role, Cubs pound Reds again — How windy was it Wednesday night during the Cubs' 12-3 victory over Cincinnati at Wrigley Field? — So windy the Cubs took down the ceremonial flags for Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ron Santo …
USA Today:
Contact rate can be more revealing than batting average — By Ron Shandler, Special for USA TODAY — What do Pat Burrell, Joe Crede and Xavier Nady have in common? — All three are major league veterans who have established a performance baseline during their respective careers.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
Ten things I didn't know last week — Win Shares and Loss Shares — A couple of weeks ago, I talked about the essential place wins and losses have in the sabermetric universe. There are a lot of stats that track a player's contribution to his team's wins (you can probably come …
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Jeff Sackmann / Hardball Times:
The benefit of batting eighth — Baseball's conventional wisdom suggests that batting eighth in the National League—that is, in front of the pitcher—has its pros and cons. With an extremely weak hitter on deck, opposing pitchers would seem less likely to throw strikes.
Chicago Tribune:
Cubs place Soriano on 15-day DL — The Cubs placed left fiedler Alfonso Soriano on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a right calf strain. — Soriano, hitting .175 with five RBIs, left Tuesday's victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the top of the first inning after injuring himself catching a flyball.
RELATED:
