Top News:
Newsday:
Starting today, Mets' Randolph in line of fire — After losing three out of four home games to the lowly Washington Nationals, Willie Randolph is officially in danger of losing his job, writes Jim Baumbach. (Newsday / David L. Pokress) — Before the Mets' 1-0 loss to the Nationals yesterday …
RELATED:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Watch: Wagner's Frustation — Following the Mets 1 to 0 loss to the Nationals today, reporters attempted to interview Billy Wagner, but were unsuccessful. — Wagner, on the offense and pitching, said: … According to eye-witnesses, Wagner directed his final comments in the general direction of Carlos Delgado's locker, saying:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:Billy Wagner rips Mets teammates for ducking media
Discussion:
New York Post, ShysterBall, The Musings and Prophecies …, FanHouse and Can't Stop The Bleeding
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Hal Steinbrenner on Yanks: We'll be fine — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Hal Steinbrenner flew back to Tampa from the Major League Baseball owners' meetings in Milwaukee yesterday, his belief that the Yankees can be a contender this season intact. — In a phone interview that took place shortly …
Discussion:
New York Post, NJ.com, New York Times, WasWatching.com, NY Daily News and New Jersey Online
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Kennedy can't command in comeback — Righty allows five runs after being recalled from Triple-A — ST. PETERSBURG — When the Yankees' road trip opened a city ago, Ian Kennedy couldn't help but glance at the scoreboard in whatever Triple-A park he was working, looking toward the day he could help the big league club again.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman: Cashman bears brunt of Steinbrenner's wrath … According to a person familiar with what's going on in the upper reaches of the New York Yankees' hierarchy, new boss Hank Steinbrenner currently “blames Brian Cashman for everything.” — And, the way things are going right now, that's a lot of things.
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Outfielder Jacque Jones may be Marlin soon — Former Tiger would add depth; Willingham ailing — CINCINNATI - Former Tigers outfielder Jacque Jones cleared waivers Thursday morning and could be a Marlin as soon as today, according an industry source who has spoken with club officials.
Discussion:
FishStripes
RELATED:
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins gaining respect — CINCINNATI — Their series finale against the Reds was rained out by 5 p.m. Thursday, two hours before the start time, but the Marlins weren't going anywhere right away. — The charter plane that would take them back to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
Phillies Notes: Utley has the president's vote — It probably won't improve his approval ratings in the Philadelphia area, but President Bush offered an interesting answer this week when asked who would be the first position player he would want if he owned a baseball team again. — He would want Chase Utley.
Discussion:
The Big Picture
RELATED:
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Homers fuel big comeback for Astros — Erstad's three-run shot ties it; Berkman's water shot a winner — SAN FRANCISCO — What the Astros are doing these days is borderline absurd. — Apparently, not even a bad starting performance and shoddy defense are enough to stop them.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
David Murphy / Philly.com:
Phillies Notebook: Phillies GM Gillick says Hamels will get his due, in time — When the Phillies renewed Cole Hamels' contract this spring and the lefthander expressed some frustration with his $500,000 salary, that line of thinking dictated the reaction from many fans.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Franz Lidz / Portfolio:
THE WINDUP — Bronx Cheer — Jason Giambi has a rock-star lifestyle, including a pair of gold lamé underwear. But when it comes to his batting slump this season, the thong remains the same. — Jason Giambi has a deep, dark secret. Deeper than his compulsion to sleep on the side …
Barry Lewis / Tulsa World:
Naturals slip past the Drillers in 12 innings — Northwest Arkansas has won three in a row over Tulsa. — For the first time this season, the Tulsa Drillers played extra innings at home on Thursday night. — But working overtime didn't change the Drillers' luck as another close game slipped away from them.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Howard Megdal / New York Observer:
Scott Schoeneweis and the Absence of Boos — It is a peculiar irony of this largely disappointing Mets season that one of the loudest sustained cheers any player at Shea received this year was on Sunday, May 11 for left-handed reliever Scott Schoeneweis, quite possibly 2007's least popular Met.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Draft / MLB.com Geeking on the Draft:
Tanner Scheppers injury update — A week ago, Fresno State ace — and potential top 10 pick — Tanner Scheppers was scratched from his weekend start. The Bulldogs tried to give him some extra rest and back him up to Sunday, but ended up scratching him altogether. The reason given was shoulder tenderness.
RELATED:
Aaron Fitt / Baseball America College Blog:Scheppers Has Stress Fracture
Discussion:
Phuture Phillies
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Edmonds patient while Cubs, fans adjust — What an interesting introduction to Wrigley Field for Jim Edmonds: Something old and something new, sometimes bold and sometimes booed. — When he ran onto the field in the first inning, he was cheered for being in Cub blue.
Discussion:
ShysterBall
