Top News:
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Dark clouds over the Bronx — NEW YORK - More and more, the Yankees' season is taking on the colorless hue of an 85-win finish, not good enough for October, not bad enough to be catastrophic. The players are either too young or too old, hardly anyone in their prime.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
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NY Daily News:
Joe Girardi struggles with media management — As the question exited the mouth of Joe Girardi during the latest episode of the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network's “The Joe Girardi Show,” it was apparent he knew the answer. — “Am I ever allowed to take the Fifth?” Girardi asked host Michael Kay.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Fractured rib shelves Hughes
Fractured rib shelves Hughes
Discussion:
Green Pinstripes, NY Daily News, Bugs & Cranks, Bombers Beat, Yankees Chick and iYankees
Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
It's Time To Fire Willie Randolph — It's time for the Mets to fire Willie Randolph. They should fire him if his team sweeps the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend. They should fire him if his team wins all three games by a total score of 27-0. They should fire him if his team puts …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, The Ballclub, Faith and Fear in Flushing, Zisk Online, Brooklyn Met Fan and The 'Ropolitans
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Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
On air, Mets' Wagner continues criticism of Perez — Billy Wagner expanded on his blunt criticism of Oliver Perez Thursday during his weekly radio spot, saying the Mets will go nowhere this year if the enigmatic lefthander doesn't learn how to battle through his own troubles.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets not afraid of Snakes — PHOENIX - The Mets have enjoyed wild recent success in this desert oasis, winning 13 straight games at Chase Field while outscoring the Diamondbacks 104-29 until that streak ended while attempting a four-game sweep last May. — But can the Mets …
Johnette Howard / Newsday:
Mets' Wright needs to step right up, knock club — It was encouraging to hear Billy Wagner call out Oliver Perez and the rest of his Mets teammates after Wednesday's 13-1 embarrassment against the Pittsburgh Pirates, baseball's perennial doormat. At least someone was disgusted.
Sports Illustrated:
Murcer ready to begin broadcasting Yankees games again — NEW YORK (AP) -Bobby Murcer is feeling better and ready to begin broadcasting New York Yankees games again. — The longtime announcer and former All-Star outfielder was at Yankee Stadium on Thursday and plans to resume …
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Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Murcer back at Yankee Stadium, jovial as ever — Beloved Yankees broadcaster Bobby Murcer made his first appearance of the season Thursday at Yankee Stadium. The 61-year-old has been battling brain cancer. — Murcer has his hair and his sense of humor back. Actually, he never lost his sense of humor.
Discussion:
My Pinstripes
Fluto Shinzawa / Boston Globe:
After a pause, Ryan pulls out a complete stop — At the moment Toronto's 3-0 victory had seemingly ended last night, A.J. Burnett was standing in the clubhouse, waiting to congratulate his teammates on a much-needed win. — The only man he saw, however, was manager John Gibbons.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Dillon expected to join team on Friday — General manager Melvin would not speculate on roster move — Infielder Joe Dillon is expected to join the Brewers on Friday in Houston, further calling into question the immediate future of reliever Derrick Turnbow.
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Yahoo! Sports:
Brewers designate Turnbow for assignment — The Milwaukee Brewers have designated struggling relief pitcher Derrick Turnbow for assignment. Turnbow, an All-Star closer in 2006, is 0-1 with a 15.63 ERA in eight games this season. He gave up six runs in two-thirds of an inning at Chicago Wednesday.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Spring rest leads to hot start for White Sox's Carlos Quentin — TORONTO - Carlos Quentin didn't like what he heard during his first week of spring training, but he had to listen in order to show the White Sox what they had acquired. — “No one ever shut me down before,” Quentin said …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
MLB.com:
Longtime baseball executive Buzzie Bavasi passes away at age 93 — Two-time Executive of the Year won four World Titles with Dodgers — SEATTLE — Emil Joseph “Buzzie” Bavasi has passed away at the age of 93 years old in San Diego, CA, of natural causes after a short illness.
Discussion:
Mariners Blog, The Biz of Baseball, The Griddle, It is about the money, stupid and 6-4-2
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Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Buzzie Bavasi, former Dodgers GM, dies at 92
Buzzie Bavasi, former Dodgers GM, dies at 92
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins Notebook: Lindstrom's back still sore; DL a possibility — MIAMI GARDENS — Lindstom's back still sore; DL could be an option — MIAMI GARDENS - Right-hander Matt Lindstrom's back is acting up again, but an MRI on Thursday ruled out any serious injury.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Kyle / Driveline Mechanics:
Links: Hardball Times Articles on Pitching Mechanics — It's not often that I say this, so let me get it out of my system: I think Paul Nyman is right. In his latest article on The Hardball Times, he talks about the bow-arch-bow system that is crucial to developing velocity …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Aaron Barnhart / TV Barn:
Bob Costas: “Buzz realizes that he did a disservice to his own points” — Now that the video of Buzz Bissinger has knocked around cyberspace for 48 hours or so, what did it all mean? Richard Sandomir of the New York Times had the chance to answer that question when he interviewed Bob Costas …
Discussion:
ShysterBall, Baseball Digest Daily, Friar Forecast, Salon, Nice Guys Finish Third, Joe Posnanski and FanHouse
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