Top News:
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
‘KISS OF DEATH’ — WILLIE: OMAR ‘SHARPENING HIS MACHETE’ — DENVER - Despite some encouraging words from his boss, Willie Randolph sounded like Dead Manager Walking today. — GM Omar Minaya made a surprise visit here Friday to give his embattled manager a tepid vote of confidence …
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Pat Graham / Associated Press:
With Randolph under fire, Mets snap skid — DENVER (AP)—The pressure was off Willie Randolph at least for a day. — The New York Mets finally ended their five-game skid with a 9-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. — He was definitely feeling a sense of relief as he sat behind his desk.
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
Janie McCauley / Associated Press:
Duchscherer pitches A's past Red Sox 3-0 — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Justin Duchscherer was in a playful clubhouse stare down with teammate Donnie Murphy before the game when the pitcher joked about throwing a no-hitter like Boston's Jon Lester. — A few hours later, Duchscherer nearly did it.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
A's get one — OAKLAND - Alex Cora is considered one of the smartest players in the game and future managerial timber. So it was a little surprising when he decided to go home with Emil Brown's grounder in the second inning. His throw was late to Jason Varitek in trying to nail Mike Sweeney (Varitek also dropped the ball).
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Kevin Baxter / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers call up Clayton Kershaw, at the expense of Esteban Loaiza — L.A. options Yhency Brazoban to Las Vegas and designates fellow right-hander Loaiza for assignment to make room for the hot-throwing lefty from Jacksonville who's due to start in the majors Sunday.
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Paul Moro / MLB Rumors:
Esteban Loaiza DFA'd - Kershaw Called Up — It's a DFA kind of day, I suppose. To make room for the much-anticipated call-up of 20-year old lefty Clayton Kershaw, the Los Angeles Dodgers designated Esteban Loaiza for assignment today. The team now has ten days to either trade him or release …
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Andruw to have knee surgery — Dodgers outfielder will head to DL, miss four to six weeks — LOS ANGELES — After an unsuccessful pregame workout Saturday, Dodgers outfielder Andruw Jones decided to undergo surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee and will be placed on the 15-day disabled list.
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Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:
Andruw Jones to go ahead with surgery — it's an arthroscopic procedure, called a debridement, to repair a tear of the medial meniscus (that's cartilage, from what I understand) in his right knee. He'll be out four to six weeks, and while the down time might not help him …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Associated Press:
Indians place Carmona on DL with strained left hip — CLEVELAND — Fausto Carmona was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday by the Cleveland Indians because of a strained left hip. — Carmona was injured as he ran to cover first base in the third inning of Cleveland's 13-9 loss to the Texas Rangers on Friday night.
Discussion:
Associated Press
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John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners coming apart at the seams — Steadily sinking squad rotten to core in Big Apple opener — NEW YORK — This is no longer baseball. — This is embarrassment, embarrassment that follows the Mariners like stench follows a New York City garbage truck.
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NY Daily News:
Trainer bragged about steroids — For years, Kelly Blair, the owner of 1-on-1 Elite Personal Fitness, bragged to friends and clients who worked out at his Texas gym that he supplied performance-enhancing drugs to professional athletes. — Blair, who was recently questioned …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Associated Press:
McClung solid in rare start, Brewers win — WASHINGTON (AP)—Seth McClung was victorious in his first start in almost two years and Corey Hart and Mike Cameron homered to help the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Saturday night. — Replacing ineffective Carlos Villanueva …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals sign infielder Reese — Veteran to help with Minor League development in Columbus — WASHINGTON — The Nationals signed infielder Pokey Reese to a Minor League contract on Saturday. He will report to Triple-A Columbus. — Reese, 34, is a veteran who played in the Major Leagues for eight seasons.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks staying course in troubled waters — Team practicing patience with decisions made in offseason — NEW YORK — Dark storm clouds morphed into brilliant sunshine on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in the Bronx, but that same clearing still has not taken place for the Yankees' underwhelming opening act.
Discussion:
Bombers Beat
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Yanks make good on Joba plan — Bombers club Mariners for second straight game in the Bronx — NEW YORK — This “Joba Plan” suddenly seems like an awfully smart idea. — The whole point of Joba Chamberlain converting from a starter to a reliever in the Major Leagues was so that he could help …
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Associated Press:
Weaver pitches Angels over White Sox 2-0 — CHICAGO (AP)—Jered Weaver took advantage of the White Sox weakness again. — Weaver pitched three-hit ball over eight innings and Vladimir Guerrero hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth to lead the Los Angeles Angels over Chicago 2-0 on Saturday.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Promotion featuring Ortiz a shot to Yankees — Yankees voice concern over All-Star promotion — OAKLAND, Calif. - If David Ortiz got to call his shot in Yankee Stadium, he thinks he'd pick right field, with that inviting fence just 314 feet from home plate. Asked if he'd try to go upper deck, Ortiz smiled.
Discussion:
Providence Journal
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Carter: I would love to take Shea reins — DENVER - Gary Carter, who is managing the independent Orange County (Calif.) Flyers, is again talking his way out of a job - a job that still belongs to Willie Randolph. — Asked about his interest in managing the Mets on “The Mike and Murray Show” …
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Terence Moore / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Instant replay would strip baseball of its soul — No instant replay, please. Not in baseball, where breath-to-breath squabbles between umpires, managers, coaches and players are as much of the game's soul as the seventh-inning stretch, the national anthem and a box of Cracker Jack. — Quick.
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