Top News:
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.
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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”.
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
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:
Hardball Times, MetsBlog.com, THE BASEBALL SAVANT, Federal Baseball and Babes Love Baseball
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Yanks' Nady will avoid surgery on injured elbow … Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady has been diagnosed with a partially torn ligament in his right elbow, but he will avoid surgery, SI.com has learned. — The Yankees feared originally Nady could be lost for the season with a completely torn ligament …
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home, iYankees, River Avenue Blues, Pinstripes, Pa. and The Yankee Universe
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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Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins lose game, starting pitcher — PITTSBURGH - Unlike the Florida Marlins' seven-game winning streak, Nate McLouth's home run ball never came to a complete stop Monday. — McLouth's game-icing, 433-foot, three-run homer off Logan Kensing in the sixth bounced off the concourse beyond …
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
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Jim Baumbach / On the Yankees beat:
Wang to pitch in extended spring training Thursday — Chien-Ming Wang will pitch an extended spring training game Thursday in Tampa, a move the Yankees hope will finally give them some answers as to what is troubling their former ace. — Wang, who will remain on the Yankees active roster …
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels' Reagins begins looking outside for pitching help — He acknowledges inquiring about free-agent starters to help an injury-ravaged rotation. Meanwhile, right-hander Kevin Jepsen is added to the DL. Infielder Brandon Wood is called up. — Angels General Manager Tony Reagins acknowledged today …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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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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Associated Press:
Orioles place Freel on DL, call up Montanez — BALTIMORE (AP) - The Baltimore Orioles have placed Ryan Freel on the 15-day disabled list, one day after he was struck in the head with a ball on a pickoff attempt. — Freel was on second base when the throw hit him in the right side …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
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Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Doumit out 8-10 weeks, having surgery — Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit will miss 8-10 weeks because of surgery scheduled for his right wrist Thursday. — He was diagnosed earlier today with a slightly displaced fracture in the scaphoid bone. That bone will have pins inserted to fuse …
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 …
Darren Rovell / Sports Biz with Darren Rovell:
Giants Hit Home Run With Ethnic Marketing — The San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers have done a great job over the years exploiting the ethnic makeup up their communities. But I have to give extra credit to the Giants today for its Filipino Heritage Night.
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
