Top News:
It is about the money, stupid:
The embarrassment of the rich — We're seeing the first signs of a collossal embarrassment for the NY Yankees. We've discussed this ad nauseum last season and this off-season: the out-pricing of the “average” fan while chasing the ultra-rich/corporate “attendees”.
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Sean Brennan / NY Daily News:
For Jason, Stadium is sinking in — The man who brought “Mustache Day” to Yankee Stadium last season was back in the Bronx Monday, and it seemed like he never left. — After seven seasons in the Bronx, Jason Giambi was back in town with the A's and he held a mini press conference before Monday's rainout …
Wallace Matthews / Newsday:
Giambi took a lot more than he ever gave — They gave him the key to the city and he treated it as if it were the key to the mini bar. — That about sums up Jason Giambi's career in pinstripes, a seven-year party for him, the beginning of the end for the Yankees.
Jeremy Olshan / New York Post:
YANKEES ‘MASCOT’ FORCED TO BEG FOR TICKETS — Freddy “Sez” Schuman, the one-eyed, cookware-clanking octogenarian who's been an unofficial pinstripe mascot for 22 seasons was forced to panhandle for tickets at the new Yankee Stadium this past weekend. — In years past Schuman …
Washington Post:
Now It's the Community Giving Back to Dukes — He stayed for the speeches. He stayed for the parade of Little Leaguers — all 54 teams' worth. He stayed for the cheerleaders and the introduction of the high school team and the national anthem — perhaps getting a little fidgety, but staying nonetheless.
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MLB:
Elijah Dukes of Washington Nationals fined, but Little League says it will pay — Washington Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes was fined $500 and benched for being late to Saturday's home game against Florida. — Dukes — But he won't pay the fine himself.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
POST COLUMN GETS METS TO DO WRITE THING ON DOC — ST. LOUIS — The Mets buckled under to a heavy fan outcry yesterday and decided to preserve Dwight Gooden's Citi Field autograph after all. — After insisting for the better part of two days that Gooden's signature inside the exclusive Ebbets Club …
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David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
Paint the wall blue already — Slowly but surely, the Mets seem to be warming to the idea that Citi Field is in actuality their home ballpark. It's taken a few weeks, but the recent acknowledgment from Fred Wilpon that a Hall of Fame is in the works, along with letting Doc Gooden's signature remain on a wall are positive first steps.
Chico Harlan / Washington Post:
Rain Doesn't Dampen Zimmermann's Debut — Almost nobody saw it. Jordan Zimmermann's debut was years in the making — Washington discovered him at a tiny Division III outpost in Wisconsin, drafted him, nurtured him, watched him develop, delayed his big league debut, allowed the hype to ratchet up …
Discussion:
Associated Press
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Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Pena signed to minor deal — The Mets signed veteran outfielder Wily Mo Pena to a minor-league deal today and assigned him to extended spring training. Pena, 27, will report to Triple-A Buffalo after that. — The right-hand hitting Pena, originally signed by the Mets as an amateur free agent in 1998 …
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Michael Fleming / Variety:
Demetri Martin swings at ‘Moneyball’ — Comic to star opposite Brad Pitt in Soderbergh pic — Columbia Pictures and director Steven Soderbergh have set Demetri Martin to star alongside Brad Pitt in “Moneyball,” the adaptation of the Michael Lewis book about ballplayer-turned-Oakland Athletics g.m.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Ohlendorf, Pirates cool off torrid Marlins, 8-0 — Pitcher's seven scoreless innings, McLouth's blast the difference — Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf delivers a pitch against the Marlins last night. Ohlendorf limited the Marlins to just two hits over seven innings to pick up his first win of the season.
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Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
Free Matt Murton — The Colorado Rockies have a crowded outfield. Even after trading away Matt Holliday, they are trying to find playing time for five outfielders, plus using Ian Stewart in the OF on occasion. So, it's not a surprise that Matt Murton wasn't able to crack their opening day roster …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Baltimore Sun:
O's put Freel on DL, call up Montanez — Bergesen officially promoted to make start against White Sox — The Orioles placed utility man Ryan Freel on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a head injury and recalled outfielder Lou Montanez from Triple-A Norfolk to take Freel's roster spot, the team announced in a news release.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Michael Hiestand / USA Today:
Does the ‘N’ in ESPN stand for Northeast? — ESPN says this tops its list of viewer complaints: It has a Northeast bias. — Especially when it comes to three baseball teams. As San Diego Padres pitcher (and ex-New York Met) Heath Bell recently told The San Diego Union-Tribune …
