O'Day's Painful Day  —  When he got back to the team hotel late Wednesday night Darren O'Day saw the highlights and got the news that his friend and minor league teammate Nick Adenhart had pitched six shutout innings for the Angels.  He thought to call or to text, but decided to wait until Thursday morning.

Raissman: No Mad Dogs allowed for stadium debuts  —  The only shot Chris (Mad Dog) Russo has of doing his Sirius/XM radio show from Citi Field and Yankee Stadium during the home openers next week is if he accepts Bud Selig's recent offer.  —  When informed Monday by Russo that exclusivity clauses …

Remembering The Best Friend I Ever Had  —  I had just moved to Manhattan Beach, California as a four-year-old kid and had no friends yet.  I sat around playing with my He-Man and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures by myself.  A boy saw me playing in the yard with this stuff and approached me.

Ichiro gets seven hits in Minors action  —  Mariners right fielder triples twice in Rookie League game  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki was the leadoff hitter for both teams in a five-inning Rookie League intrasquad game on Thursday afternoon in Peoria, Ariz.

Obama won't throw Nats' first pitch  —  President Barack Obama won't be at Nationals Park on Monday to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Washington Nationals' home opener.  —  According to a White House aide, Obama will decline the team's invitation to throw the pitch in the game …

Dodgers falter at the finish against Padres  —  They surrender a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning and strand a runner at third with no outs in the ninth inning.  —  Reporting from San Diego — Perhaps this was only one bad inning in one bad game.

CORRECTING SHEFFIELD'S CRITICS  —  I have come not to bury Gary Sheffield as so many others have since the Mets signed him unexpectedly last week on the eve of the opening of the season.  Have I come to praise him?  Not necessarily, but I would like to offer a fairer picture of the veteran slugger than usually is presented.

Silva's Pitch Selection  —  Last night, Carlos Silva returned to his former stomping grounds in Minnesota, trying to resurrect his career after a disastrous 2008 season.  Silva represents one of the tests for the predictive power of FIP, which we often use to evaluate pitchers here on the site.

Oliver Perez tagged for eight earned runs as Mets lose to Reds, 8-6  —  CINCINNATI - Oliver Perez's struggles continue into the regular season.  —  Perez was charged with eight runs on five hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings as the Mets lost to the Reds, 8-6, Thursday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.

AL East Roster Analysis  —  To get you ready for the start of the season, we're taking a look at every full-season minor league team's roster to note who's on it and who's missing.  Click the team name to get the roster.  —  BALTIMORE ORIOLES  —  TRIPLE-A NORFOLK: For a limited time only: Matt Wieters is in town!