Top News:
Newsday:
Manuel's sense of humor helps keep Mets loose — With the shadow of last September's collapse haunting these Mets, and his bullpen more volatile than the teetering U.S. economy, Jerry Manuel should be one freaked-out manager right now. He could be paranoid that general manager Omar Minaya …
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Dominant Santana helps Mets keep up — Schneider adds two jacks, helps club stay on course in NL East — WASHINGTON — The visiting clubhouse was, as usual, a beehive of activity. Hours remained before the Mets would engage the Nationals on Thursday night.
Discussion:
Mets Geek
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
SCHNEIDER, SANTANA WAX WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON - Thank you, Johan Santana? — More like thank you, Geovany Soto. — Locked in a race with Philadelphia and Milwaukee for the final two NL playoff spots, the Mets erupted in clubhouse cheers and high-fives yesterday afternoon when Soto's dramatic …
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Johan Santana lets Jerry Manuel wear his poker face — WASHINGTON - Jerry Manuel had been joking, of course, when he said Johan Santana might have to throw 170 pitches. But there is nothing funny about the state of the Mets' bullpen, so you waited to see just how far the manager would push his ace Thursday night, big lead and all.
Jack Curry / New York Times:
No Playoffs Was No Big Deal in 1993 — It was a time when the Yankees and their fans did not consider a playoff appearance a divine right, a time when there were actually empty seats at Yankee Stadium and a time when Mariano Rivera was starting games in the minor leagues.
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues
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Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Joe Girardi mulls Bernie Williams for spring training stint with Yankees — Joe Girardi has long wanted Bernie Williams to return to Yankee Stadium. If the manager has his way, Williams' appearance at Sunday's finale ceremonies will only be the beginning of the former center fielder being around the team again.
Discussion:
New York Post, NJ.com, New York Times, Projo Sox Blog, New Jersey Online, On the Yankees beat and Sliding Into Home
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
White Sox drop series in New York — Vazquez struggles as AL Central lead is trimmed to 1 1/2 games — NEW YORK — It took Ozzie Guillen one disparaging word to describe his team's 9-2 loss before 53,152 at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night. — That same word could have described …
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Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Burrell lifts Phils to seventh straight — Slumping outfielder's two-run shot the difference vs. Braves — ATLANTA — Pat Burrell struck out five times Tuesday. — Five times, and looked bad doing it. He stroked a single on Wednesday, but not much else.
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Marcum undergoes MRI on right arm — Jays awaiting second opinion from Dr. James Andrews — TORONTO — The Blue Jays have performed their own tests on the ailing right arm of Shaun Marcum and have drawn their own conclusions about the extent of the starter's injury.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Kennedy seeks trade for '09 — CINCINNATI — Convinced manager Tony La Russa no longer considers him an everyday player, Cardinals second baseman Adam Kennedy has asked that the club trade him rather than bring him back for the final installment of his three-year, $10 million contract.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
It's Gone! Goodbye! — The last home run in the House That Ruth Built will be hit this week; then the wrecking ball will take its cuts at Yankee Stadium. The walls of this American monument do talk, and it has a few final secrets to share — I am dying. — It's O.K. You need not feel sorry for me.
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David Chalk / Bugs & Cranks:Memories Of That Old Dump In The Bronx: B&C's Anti-Tribute
Discussion:
It is about the money, stupid, eastwindupchronicle.com, ShysterBall, Deadspin and NY Daily News
David Nakamura / Washington Post:
Nationals Park Revenue Falls Short of the Mark — Sales Taxes and Attendance Are Lower Than Expected — The Washington Nationals' new ballpark is on pace to generate about $13.5 million in sales taxes for the District government in its inaugural season, well below the $16.1 million city officials …
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Traffic stop surprises Morgan — Police pull over outfielder for heavily tinted windows — PITTSBURGH — Nyjer Morgan found himself in the middle of a scene with Pittsburgh police outside of PNC Park in the early-morning hours that resulted from heavily tinted windows on Morgan's black SUV.
Discussion:
Bugs & Cranks
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
On Loney's hit, Dodgers prevail in 12 — Bases-loaded RBI single trims LA's magic number to seven — PITTSBURGH — If things break just right, the Dodgers can mark their 50th anniversary in Los Angeles by clinching the division title at home after edging the Pirates on Thursday in 12 innings …
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David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Bedard's injury seldom leaves players the same — Of 36 pitchers with torn labrum, only one returned to earlier form — A double play is known as “a pitcher's best friend.” A torn labrum should probably be known as his worst enemy. — A broken arm, a torn rotator cuff, even the dreaded …
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Rays unable to protect late lead — Twins' five-run ninth off Wheeler, bullpen erases five homers — ST. PETERSBURG — All season long, the back end of the Rays' bullpen has been a place where opposing rallies have gone to die. — Entering Thursday night's game, the Rays had a record …
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins beat Astros for eighth straight win — MIAMI GARDENS — Now comes the tough part. — The red-hot Marlins won their eighth straight game Thursday night, completing a sweep of the Astros with an 8-1 victory without injured All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez.
Rick Gano / Associated Press:
Cubs score 4 in 9th, beat Brewers in 12 — CHICAGO (AP)—Geovany Soto and the Chicago Cubs can almost taste the champagne after one of their sweetest and most improbable victories of the season. — Soto hit a tying three-run homer with two out in the ninth inning, Derrek Lee singled …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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