Top News:
Jim Baumbach / 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 …
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Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Mets out of control — Although it might seem like the Mets are slogging along on that long, flat road to nowhere, they're actually reaching a tipping-point moment, when Jeff Wilpon calls Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph into his office and says: one of you two is fired. You choose. — Who stays?
MLB.com:
American and National League All-Star coaches appointed — American League All-Star manager Terry Francona of the Boston Red Sox and National League All-Star manager Clint Hurdle of the Colorado Rockies have announced the managers who will serve as their coaches at the 79th All-Star Game …
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 …
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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:
On the Yankees beat, New York Times, NY Daily News, NJ.com, New Jersey Online, New York Post, WasWatching.com and Rivera's Cutter
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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.” — The way things are going right now, that's a lot of things.
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.
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Shawn / Squawking Baseball:
The Risk and Reward of Long Term Deals — At a couple of different points in the last fifteen years or so, signing pre-arb players to long term contracts through their first FA-eligible seasons became a vogue move around Major League Baseball. It's now moved beyond that …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Jeff Barker / Baltimore Sun:
O's Angelos doesn't screech over Nats' downtown promotion — Turf war? What turf war? — The Washington Nationals sent their mascot and other representatives to distribute Nationals coolers and pocket schedules yesterday at the Inner Harbor, just blocks from Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
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Screech's Best Friend / Nats320:
That Inner Harbor Invasion — All Photos Courtesy of Mike Schaffer—Senior Account Executive of Brotman-Winter-Fried Communications—Falls Church, Virginia — It's worth repeating—it's all about the fun when it comes to Our Washington Nationals—both ON and OFF the field of play for Sohna …
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
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Holliday: no worries about online fodder — PHOENIX — Part of the fallout from losing is that off-field issues become more interesting than on-field performance. — Two major media outlets ran identical online stories Thursday regarding Matt Holliday's uncertain future with the Rockies.
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Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Mock Draft: May 16 — BA takes first stab at first round — Projecting the first round of the draft three weeks in advance is never easy, and this year is more difficult than most. — None of the four players who entered 2008 as the consensus top four prospects—Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez …
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
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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
