Top News:
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: YANKEE PROBLEMS AT THE 13-GAME MARK — In my column in today's Post, I wrote about how close the Yankees were to the humiliating weekend double of having allowed 22 runs on Saturday and then losing to Carl Pavano on Sunday. They never did do much against Pavano, who changed speeds …
RELATED:
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Wang's struggles a mystery to all — Yanks discussing whether to skip righty's next start — NEW YORK — The answers were no clearer one day after Chien-Ming Wang's latest implosion, and the Yankees remained as befuddled as they were the day before. — Wang, for his part …
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
The End of the World — There's no minimizing it: Chien-Ming Wang has been absolutely crushed in his first three starts this season, a stretch that includes Saturday's four-out, eight-run throttling that kicked off the Yankees' 22-4 loss at the hands of the Indians.
New York Post:
DOPEY METS WANNA ERASE DWIGHT'S CITI AUTOGRAPH — WHEN Dwight “Doc” Gooden attended the Mets' Opening Day ceremonies at Citi Field last week, he stopped by the Ebbets Club along the first-base line and mingled with fans who cheered him during his Met career. He shook hands, took pictures and signed autographs.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Mets Today, Walkoff Walk, MLB FanHouse, Mets Merized Online, Can't Stop The Bleeding and Hot Foot
RELATED:
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Over signature scrub, Dwight Gooden wonders if Mets want him at Citi Field … Doc Gooden doesn't understand why the Mets are adamant about removing his signature from a wall inside one of the restaurants at their new stadium, and he wonders if the team doesn't want him to hang around Citi Field this season.
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Lowrie surgery likely in next day — While addressing the media after the game, Red Sox manager Terry Francona revealed that Jed Lowrie is expected to have wrist surgery in the next day or so, a procedure that will keep the shortstop out for several weeks. — Francona indicated that if all goes …
RELATED:
yankees.mlb.com:
Ballpark — Oakland Athletics at New York Yankees has been postponed. — Register to receive breaking news alerts and you'll find out first when the Yankees make major news announcements (a trade, big-name free agent signing, you name it). — POSTGAME ALERTS
Chico Harlan / Washington Post:
Zimmerman Agrees to Five-Year Deal — Until at least 2013, Ryan Zimmerman will be under contract with the Washington Nationals — the team that drafted him, and the team that has now affirmed his role in its future. Zimmerman and the Nationals have agreed to a five-year, $45 million deal, two industry sources said last night.
Discussion:
Fox Sports, baseballmusings.com, Nationals Journal, NATIONALS NEWS NETWORK, Jorge Says No!, Associated Press and MLB.com
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Cards acquire reliever Blaine Boyer from Braves — Memphis (AAA) outfielder Brian Barton dealt to Atlanta — The St. Louis Cardinals made a move today to fortify their bullpen depth by acquiring right-handed reliever Blaine Boyer from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Memphis (AAA) outfielder Brian Barton.
ESPN:
Power Rankings: Mighty Marlins move into No. 1 spot — ESPN.com — What could be more surprising than the Florida Marlins' surprise appearance in the No. 2 spot of last week's MLB Power Rankings? This week, when they are No. 1. — After two weeks of play, our panel of experts agrees …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
The good, the bad and the ugly — Marlins aren't going away any time soon, but Derrek Lee could be in the decline phase — We're two weeks into another wild and crazy baseball season. But who the heck knows what to believe and what not to believe. — So it's time once again …
Carroll Rogers / Atlanta Braves with David O'Brien:
Cloudy in the capital... Washington, DC - Greetings from our nation's capital where there are big green blobs on the radar map, and I'm having a bad hair day. (Here's your clue No. 1 to double-check that byline at the top.) — We've got an 80 percent chance of rain forecast for tonight …
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
MARLINS THE TEAM THAT REFUSES TO LOSE — A packet of antibiotics and a bottle of Nyquil sat on Fredi Gonzalez's desk at Nationals Park after Florida's 7-4 win Sunday. The manager had a sore throat, and that might be the only thing ailing the red-hot Marlins.
Larry Stone / Seattle Times:
Mariners Notebook | Ken Griffey Jr. is judge in Mariners' kangaroo court — Griffey was wearing a black robe on which was embroidered “Judge Mo' Money.” He had a gaudy gold “24” medallion around his neck and was wielding a gavel. — The Mariners held their kangaroo court before Sunday's game …
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Seth Livingstone / USA Today:
Upstart Marlins refuse to lose, own MLB-best 11-1 record — WASHINGTON — Two weeks into the baseball season, the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are looking up at unexpected division leaders. — Leading the charge …
Discussion:
Associated Press
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Pirates vs. Marlins, 4-20-09: Doumit out with wrist injury — Four hours to first pitch ... Game: Pirates vs. Florida Marlins, 7:05 p.m., PNC Park. — Pitching: RHP Ross Ohlendorf vs. LHP Andrew Miller. — First-pitch forecast: Rain, 50 degrees. Some doubts about this one.
Discussion:
Where Have You Gone …
Alex / Seattle Sportsnet:
Holier Than Thou Sabermetricians Rain On Our Parade — Uh, yeah, you smell like corn chips and poo. — Sabermetricians. Ugh. It's like Major League meets Revenge of the Nerds, except the nerds aren't fun and they think they're better than you. And Bob Uecker isn't there to keep things interesting …
