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5:45 PM ET, April 18, 2008

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Rays sign Longoria to multiyear contract  —  Nine-year deal is longest in Tampa Bay franchise history  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Evan Longoria has been signed by the Rays to the longest contract in franchise history.  —  Friday afternoon at a news conference at Tropicana Field …
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Rays lock up Longoria for six years, $17.5 million  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rookie third baseman Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed Friday to a $17.5 million, six-year contract, a deal that could be worth up to $44 million over nine seasons.  —  Tampa Bay has a club option …
Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Rays, Longoria reach deal - 9 years, $44-million  —  Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, left, and Andrew Friedman, Rays executive vice president for baseball operations, answer reporters' questions at a Tropicana Field news conference today after announcing Longoria's new contract.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Rays To Sign Longoria Long-Term
Discussion: Pending Pinstripes
Sports Illustrated:
Identifying Jose Canseco's ‘Max’ … MIAMI — As the Justice Department pursues its perjury investigation of Roger Clemens, Jose Canseco may put his credibility at risk during a scheduled interview with federal agents next week if the author of Vindicated discloses the identity of “Max.”
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Report: Feds likely to question Canseco on ‘Max’  —  While federal agents are meeting Tuesday with Jose Canseco in connection with their probe of Roger Clemens on possible perjury charges, a person named “Max” might also be part of the conversation.  —  In “Vindicated,” his second book …
ESPN.com:
Report: Trainer says he's Canseco book's ‘Max’  —  NEW YORK — A man named Joseph Dion says he is the person identified in Jose Canseco's book as “Max,” the person Canseco claims was a steroids dealer he introduced to Alex Rodriguez, Sports Illustrated reported on its Web site Friday.
Discussion: Sliding Into Home
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Ramírez unloads on Yankees again  —  NEW YORK - Had enough of the Yankees, having seen them five times in the last seven days?  —  The sentiment is understandable, unless you're Manny Ramírez, who has reason to mourn because he won't see the Bombers again until Fourth of July weekend.
Discussion: Surviving Grady and The Soxaholix
RELATED:
George A. King III / New York Post:
MANNY SOX IT TO BOMBERS, AGAIN
Mark Lelinwalla / NY Daily News:
Nightmare begins in bullpen for Mike Mussina, Yankees
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies outlast Padres in 22 innings  —  SAN DIEGO — This wasn't a game.  It was a relationship.  —  The Rockies and San Diego Padres stayed close for hours Thursday night.  Problem is they don't know to break it off.  Or break away.  —  After 6 hours, 16 minutes, 15 pitchers …
Discussion: Rocky Mountain News and Purple Row
RELATED:
Chimpanzee Rage / Deuce of Davenport:
Marty Brennaman Hates Cubs Fans  —  To say that Marty Brennaman doesn't like Chicago Cubs fans would be a bit of an understatement.  Here's a video with the audio from the Chicago Tribune of Marty Brennaman taking Cubs fans to task for throwing like 20 balls onto the field after a huge Adam Dunn home run at Wrigley Field.
RELATED:
Dan Tomasino / New York Post:
PHIL'S FALLING FAST  —  YANKEES' HUGHES NEEDS TO IMPROVE  —  Phil Hughes is in dangerous territory.  The 21-year-old Yankees right-hander will make his fourth start of the season tonight against the Orioles in Baltimore (7:05 p.m., YES, WCBS 880 AM) but already he faces a crossroads.
Discussion: Yankee GM Blog and WasWatching.com
RELATED:
Sean Brennan / NY Daily News:
Hughes hopes to mow down O's
Discussion: iYankees
George A. King III / New York Post:
A-ROD LEAVES ABREU HANGING  —  Because every move he makes is under a huge spotlight, Alex Rodriguez was asked last night why he doesn't shake hands, exchange fist knuckles or acknowledge Bobby Abreu when Abreu homers in front of him.  —  As Abreu approaches the plate Rodriguez is off …
Susan Slusser / SFGate:
Johnson claimed by Tampa Bay - update  —  From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser  —  I just got off the phone with Dan Johnson's agent, who said that Tampa Bay claimed Johnson this morning.  Johnson confirmed it, as well.  —  “It's been a long 10 days,” Johnson said.
Discussion: MLB Rumors
ESPN.com:
Joba to miss another game, says dad feels better  —  BALTIMORE — Joba Chamberlain's father is breathing on his own and feeling better, no longer needing a ventilator but still in critical condition and awaiting more tests.  —  Chamberlain was to miss his fifth consecutive game Friday night …
Newsday:
Fraternization makes Mets' Randolph hostile  —  This week's visit to Shea by the Nationals, a team managed by former Mets coach Manny Acta, again featured the kind of affection usually reserved for family reunions.  Hugs, handshakes, plenty of laughs.  —  Acta is a great guy, and still well liked in Mets circles.
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Samson: Forbes way off base  —  MIAMI GARDENS - Forbes released its annual state of baseball report Thursday, drawing little more than a chuckle in Marlins offices.  —  According to the magazine's numbers, the Marlins are the least valuable, but second- most profitable franchise in Major League Baseball.
Discussion: FishStripes
RELATED:
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Braves' power prevails against Marlins
Discussion: Talking Chop
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
A shirt stop is needed  —  Offensive image on hot-selling item doesn't reflect positively on city  —  Kosuke Fukudome didn't have to wait long for the ugly American part of his welcome to Wrigleyville.  —  A Fukudome T-shirt with a racist image is the hottest-selling item at a souvenir stand …
Discussion: SPORTSbyBROOKS and FanHouse
 
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 More News: 
Chicago Sun Times:
Easier said than done  —  Williams plays it smart in swap shop reality …
Jon Friedman / MarketWatch:
How the Mets' announcers form a winning team
Discussion: MetsBlog.com, MLB.com and NJ.com
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' Rafael Furcal enjoys resurgence
Discussion: Dem Bums and Dodger Thoughts
Joshua Robinson / New York Times:
Figueroa's Fan Club Moves With His Pitches
Discussion: Hot Foot
Curt Schilling / 38 Pitches:
Intent?  —  You just cannot throw a ball BEHIND someone …
Discussion: SOX & Dawgs
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Detractors having a field day with Lugo
 Earlier Picks: 
Joe Lapointe / New York Times:
Orioles' Support Dwindles as Losses Pile Up
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Beltran's injury really is a pain in neck
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
M's 8, Athletics 1  —  THE SCENE: It was another nice night in the Bay Area.
Discussion: Lookout Landing
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Rodriguez gets a shaky save in Angels' victory
Discussion: 6-4-2
USA Today:
Sabathia struggling to find out what's wrong
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Felix's delivery won't be tinkered with
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Original ‘Wheel of Fortune’ & ‘Love Connection’ Host Chuck Woolery Dead at 83

Esther Kang / People:
Sister Wives Trailer: Kody Feels ‘Slapped In The Face by Polygamy’ as Christine, Meri and Janelle Move On (Exclusive)

Rebecca Rubin / Variety:
Box Office: ‘Wicked’ Opens to Record-Setting $114 Million, ‘Gladiator II’ Starts Strong With $55.5 Million

 
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