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”.
RELATED:
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.
Discussion:
Hardball Times
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 …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Let's not rush to judgment — I think a lot of us — myself included — are getting carried away with proclaiming Yankee Stadium the second coming of Coors Field. — OK, so 20 home runs were hit in four games. That's a lot. But there were 20 home runs hit at the old Stadium from July 31-Aug. 3, 2007.
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.
RELATED:
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.
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 …
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yanks' Nady will avoid elbow surgery … Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady has been diagnosed with a ligament strain in his right elbow and will avoid surgery, SI.com has learned. — The Yankees feared originally Nady could be lost for the season with a completely torn ligament …
Discussion:
The Yankee Universe
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.
RELATED:
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.
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 …
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
Patrick / NPB Tracker:
Irabu Comeback in the Works — Hat tip to the unintentionally prophetic EWC: Nikkan Sports is reporting noted fat toad Hideki Irabu is working out in LA and aiming to resume his career in the US independent leagues some time this season. The article says that he's played in amateur games …
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk
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.
Joey Knight / St. Petersburg Times:
Mitchell lefty Patrick Schuster sets record with fourth straight no-hitter — TRINITY — When lanky Mitchell High left-hander Patrick Schuster tossed his second consecutive no-hitter 13 days ago, he made a headline or two. When he tossed his third in a row five nights later, he made SportsCenter.
Discussion:
My Pinstripes
