Top News:
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
RICCIARDI ON HALLADAY — Talked to Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi. He also will be a guest when I co-host “The Show” this afternoon from 4-6 p.m. on Sirius 210/XM175. He made these 10 points in our phone conversation about the potential of trading Roy Halladay:
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Phils Are Early Favorites For Halladay — One source told Ed Price of MLB Fanhouse that “the Phillies are leaders at this point” in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes. However, that doesn't mean the Jays ace will be dealt. As another source points out, J.P. Ricciardi is not in a hurry to trade Halladay …
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
HALLADAY UPDATE, PHILS AS FRONTRUNNERS — I have talked to a half-dozen baseball executives this morning and the general consensus is that the Phillies should be viewed as the front-runner if Roy Halladay does get traded. Boy the news keeps getting worse and worse for the Mets.
Jim Salisbury / Philly.com:
Phils should take a shot at getting Halladay — The baseball world was abuzz yesterday with news that the Toronto Blue Jays would listen to offers for ace Roy Halladay, and trade him for the right package of talent. — The news was not a surprise at Citizens Bank Park.
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Ricciardi getting plenty of calls on Halladay — Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi said today he's already received “several calls” from interested teams for pitching ace Roy Halladay, but he also said hold your horses. — “It would take a lot for us to part with him,” Ricciardi said.
Discussion:
Projo Sox Blog
Todd Zolecki / The Zo Zone:Amaro Talks Halladay, Martinez, World Peace, Etc.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:Toronto's Roy Halladay has Angels' attention
Discussion:
Jorge Says No!, Boston Globe, Fack Youk, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors and The Globe and Mail
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Sources: Rockies, BoSox explore trade options — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX. — add this — The Rockies have discussed a Garrett Atkins-for-Takashi Saito trade with the Red Sox …
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Denver Post:
Morales happy to rejoin team in any role — Franklin Morales jogged in from the heat and needed a quick drink of water. He rejoined the Rockies as a reliever Tuesday, a role he doesn't expect to be a cup of coffee in the big leagues. — “I am ready to do my job, whatever they ask,” …
TSN.ca:
BLUE JAYS RELEASE RYAN, ACTIVATE DOWNS — The Toronto Blue Jays gave reliever B.J. Ryan his unconditional release and activated left-hander Scott Downs from the 15-day disabled list and on Wednesday. — Ryan, 33, had appeared in 25 games this season, posting a 1-1 record with just two saves and an ERA of 6.53.
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Jon Weisman / Dodger Thoughts:
Kershaw twirls more zeroes in Dodger romp — As they say in the news biz, “We have a developing story.” And it's not about Manny Ramirez. — Clayton Kershaw pitched six shutout innings in the Dodgers' 8-0 blanking of the New York Mets. — In his past five starts …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Mets Geek, Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, 6-4-2, Bottom9 Baseball and Fox Sports
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Ben Walker / Yahoo! Sports:Crew chief: Ump told Jeter he was tagged, too
Discussion:
Associated Press, River Avenue Blues, NY Daily News, Newsday, Pinstripe Alley, Lady At The Bat and New Jersey Online
Larry McShane / NY Daily News:
Strike three for Lenny Dykstra: Former Met files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — It's strike three - and Chapter 11 - for Lenny Dykstra. — The one-time Mets hero, facing divorce, foreclosure on his mansion and a multitude of lawsuits, filed for bankruptcy protection in California, his attorney said Wednesday.
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Reuters:
Dykstra files for Chapter 11 — NEW YORK — Lenny Dykstra, the former star center fielder for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, court records show. — Dykstra, 46, has no more than $50,000 in assets and between $10 million …
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …
Dan Steinberg / D.C. Sports Bog:
How the Nats Lost Last Night — Yesterday evening, I wrote that one of the reasons you have to keep watching this baseball team every night is because of the chance “that you'll see something the universe has never seen before.” That was well-timed. — “In a weird, out of body experience way …
Canadian Press:
KAWAKAMI, BRAVES TOP CUBS IN RUBBER MATCH — Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Casey Kotchman hit a solo homer and Kenshin Kawakami pitched six strong innings, as the Atlanta Braves got by the Chicago Cubs, 4-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
TSN.ca:
RODRIGUEZ SHUTS DOWN PIRATES AS ASTROS ROLL — The Sports Network — Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Wandy Rodriguez threw his first shutout of the season as the Houston Astros took a 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the finale of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Mike Celizic / NBCSports.com:
If fans don't boo Manny, why should the media? — Outrage over drug use doesn't matter to people who see it as only a game — Manny Ramirez may be a drug cheat in the eyes of media members and baseball diehards, but the casual fans could care less, writes Mike Celizic.
Discussion:
THE BOOK
ESPN.com:
Bartolo Colon of Chicago White Sox missing with Triple-A start scheduled Thursday — Chicago White Sox pitcher Bartolo Colon is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday. — Problem is, the White Sox don't know where he is. — “I know where he is supposed to be right now.
Sports Illustrated:
Earl Weaver … “TEAM SPEED? GET SOME BIG#$@&*%$*! WHO CAN HIT THE #$@&*%! $* BALL OUT OF THE PARK!” — On a Saturday afternoon in mid-March, the most irascible manager in the history of the Baltimore Orioles is watching an Orioles pitcher get pasted, one hitter after another.
Discussion:
bronxbanterblog.com
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
BLS Live Blog: A chat with Philadelphia's Shane Victorino — BLS Note: Earlier today, we were joined by Shane Victorino — for a little live chat that included topics like the chances of Roy Halladay — becoming a Phillie, Shane's favorite restaurants in Las Vegas and his take on Jon & Kate Plus 8.
Polls / Brew Beat:
Randolph suspended for Game 2 against Cardinals — Brewers bench coach Willie Randolph was suspended for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals and fined an undisclosed amount for what Major League Baseball called “inappropriate actions” during his argument with plate umpire Bill Hohn in Tuesday's series opener.
