Top News:
Associated Press:
Mussina earns career win No. 253 as Yanks beat Tribe with five-hit effort — CLEVELAND (AP) — Their record is barely above average, one of their superstars is still limping around and their everyday catcher is on the disabled list. — The New York Yankees aren't themselves.
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 27: Yankees at Indians — YANKEES — Notes: Cleveland will start LHP Aaron Laffey, who has never faced any of the Yankees. ... The Yankees are ending a stretch of 18 road games in 21 days. ... Jorge Posada is officially on the DL as of yesterday and Chris Stewart is here and wearing No. 38. ...
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Aggravated quad to keep A-Rod out — Third baseman day-to-day as Yankees begin homestand — CLEVELAND — Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez aggravated his strained right quadriceps in Monday's 5-2 victory over the Indians and said there is “no way” he could play as the club returns home to open a nine-game homestand.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Posada's Trip to the Disabled List Leaves Doubt About His Return — CLEVELAND — Jorge Posada left the Yankees on Monday to visit Dr. James Andrews, the orthopedic surgeon in Birmingham, Ala., and it could be a long time before he rejoins the active roster.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:A-Rod aggravates quad injury
Discussion:
Scott Proctor's Arm
Associated Press:
Giants send struggling pitcher Barry Zito to bullpen — SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Barry Zito was demoted to the bullpen Monday by the San Francisco Giants, who hope the former ace can correct his problems by working in relief. — Zito, who only 16 months ago signed a $126 million …
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John Shea / San Francisco Chronicle:
Zito Demoted to Bullpen — (04-28) 17:34 PDT SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants have a $126 million long reliever. Barry Zito is heading to the bullpen. — Zito was told the news before Monday's game, one day after he surrendered eight earned runs in three innings to the Reds and fell to 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA.
ESPN.com:
After 0-6 start, Giants move $126M ace Zito to bullpen — SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Zito was demoted to the bullpen Monday by the San Francisco Giants, who hope the former ace can correct his problems by working in relief. — The move was first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Jim Carlton / Wall Street Journal:Life After Barry Is a Strikeout At the Ballpark
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Associated Press:
Sox-Orioles game suspended after 11 innings — The White Sox and Baltimore Orioles were tied at 3 when play was suspended after 11 innings Monday because of rain. — The game will resume later this season, but no date was immediately announced. All the statistics from Monday count.
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David Pinto / Baseball Musings:Which Hernandez? — It's not a good year to be a Hernandez on Baltimore.
Discussion:
Associated Press
NY Daily News:
Mindy McCready weeps as she confirms affair with ‘kind and caring’ Roger Clemens — Barricaded behind tightly drawn blinds at her Nashville home Monday, country singer Mindy McCready confirmed a long-term affair with embattled pitcher Roger Clemens. — “I cannot refute anything in the story …
Discussion:
yankeesdaily.com
RELATED:
Philly.com:
Lieberthal to retire as a Phillie — Mike Lieberthal, who spent 13 of his 14 major league seasons as a catcher with the Phillies, will retire as a member of the organization on June 1, the Phillies announced today. — The last player to retire as a Phillie in this manner was outfielder Doug Glanville in 2005.
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Today — Reality Check — Four weeks into the season, we have to start making calls. It's still a little early in most cases, but we have enough information to reach tentative conclusions about some players, teams, and issues. For the next three days, that's what we'll do …
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Hal McCoy / Dayton Daily News:
Krivsky's final say — Wayne Krivsky is finding it difficult to sever his ties with the Cincinnati Reds after he was fired and says, “I must be crazy because I hope the Reds win every game the rest of the year and I still get on-line every morning to check how the minor-league teams did.”
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Associated Press:
Braves' Smoltz to have sore shoulder examined … ATLANTA (AP) — After lasting only four innings Sunday in New York, Braves pitcher John Smoltz returned to Atlanta on Monday and is to have his troublesome right shoulder examined on Tuesday. — Smoltz gave up seven hits and four runs in the 6-3 loss to the Mets.
CBC News:
Late-inning clutch hitting at root of Jays' slide — As the old baseball proverb says, “the more you win early, the less you have to win late.” — Where would the Jays be if they had not got off to a good start? A win is a win and now that the Jays are 11-15 and in last place in the American League East.
MLB.com:
Lasorda to be guest conductor for the Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra — Join Tommy as he leads the orchestra in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” — LOS ANGELES — Hall of Fame Manager and Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda will participate in the Jr. Philharmonic's “Battle of the Batons,” it was announced today.
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Monday Ten Pack — Bastardo can be seen as one of those “is what he is” kind of players: a short lefty with average velocity. However, beyond his left-handedness, he's also got fantastic command and a killer changeup. That's enough to make him some kind of prospect …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
Pirates top Phillies, 5-1 — Myers at a loss to explain anemic fastball — Poof. — The fastball that made Brett Myers a first-round draft pick in 1999 is nowhere to be found. The pitch that hit 95 m.p.h. suddenly cannot break 88 m.p.h. That is a concern for Myers and the Phillies …
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David Murphy / Philly.com:Phillies concerned about pitcher Myers' lack of velocity
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
