Top News:
Johnette Howard / ESPN:
Yankees don't look ready for Red Sox — With Boston coming to Bronx, bumbling Bombers blown out by Kansas City Royals — NEW YORK — The way they dove to snag ground-ball smashes and sprinted from gap to gap all night long to take away base hits, the way they batted around in the second inning …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Over the Monster, Surviving Grady, Pinstripe Alley and WasWatching.com
RELATED:
NY Daily News:
Bondy: Girardi hoping for BoSox boost — The Yankee-Red Sox rivalry never dies, but it has cooled to a hypothermic state best described as dormant. — That's what we get Friday, when Boston arrives in the Bronx with a sub-.500 record, a pitching staff ranked 12th in the American League and a very recent history of non-contention.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and HardballTalk
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
McLane: Astros have deal to sell to Crane — Houston owner hopes to have agreement signed next week — HOUSTON — Astros owner Drayton McLane confirmed Friday afternoon he has an agreement in place to sell the team to a group led by Houston businessman Jim Crane and hoped to be able to sign …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Bucs Dugout
Jon Cooper / MLB.com:
Sweet! Harper's hitting streak hits 16 games — ATLANTA — The beat goes on for Bryce Harper. — The Nationals' first-round Draft pick singled in the third inning on Thursday night to extend his hitting streak to 16 games. — Harper lined a single to right field off Delmarva Shorebirds …
RELATED:
Amy K. Nelson / ESPN:
Russell Martin's new beginning in NY — Former All-Star catcher finds love for baseball again after fading in Los Angeles — NEW YORK — Long after a game ends and their Yankees teammates have either gone out or gone to sleep, A.J. Burnett and Russell Martin are often tucked away in their suburban homes …
Discussion:
Pinstriped Bible … and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Gene Sapakoff / The Post and Courier, Charleston SC:
Tale of salvation: Formerly a tormented teen, RiverDogs star and top Yankee prospect Slade Heathcott has turned his life around — Slade Heathcott aimed the shotgun at his father. — “I was ready to do it,” the Charleston RiverDogs' 20-year-old millionaire center fielder said. “Had my finger on the trigger.”
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, The Yankee Analysts, River Avenue Blues and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Who will Pirates take No. 1 overall in Draft? — Bucs' selection draws intrigue with no clear-cut top pick this year — As exciting as the past two First-Year Player Drafts have been, who the No. 1 pick would be had all the drama and intrigue of a trip to the accountant.
Discussion:
Baseball America and Bucs Dugout
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Dodgers bring back INF Castro, option DeJesus — LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers purchased the contract of Juan Castro from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, marking the start of the veteran utility infielder's fourth stint with the club that originally signed him as a free agent out of Mexico 20 years ago.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Canadian Press:
Former Toronto Blue Jays pitching coach Mel Queen dies — TORONTO — Mel Queen, the Toronto Blue Jays former pitching coach and manager who rejoined the organization in 2008 at its player development senior advisor, has died. He was 69. — The cause of death was not divulged.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Batter's Box Interactive …
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Young joins list of ‘best deals not made’ — Michael Young — thriving in Texas after looking like a sure bet to be traded by the Rangers this offseason — may be today's primary player in the game of “What if?” but he is hardly unique when it comes to starring in baseball's reverse twist on “It's a Wonderful Life.”
Associated Press:
Mariners claim reliever Gray on waivers from White Sox — CLEVELAND — The Seattle Mariners have claimed right-hander reliever Jeff Gray off waivers from the Chicago White Sox. — Gray is expected to join the club on Saturday, when the Mariners will have to make another move to get him on their roster.
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
AP Interview: Schieffer says ‘complexity daunting’ — NEW YORK—The man charged by Major League Baseball with sorting through the finances of the Los Angeles Dodgers is finding a complex jigsaw of companies. As Tom Schieffer traces the money from the baseball team to Frank McCourt …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Bill Shaikin / Dodgers Blog:
Selig on Dodgers: ‘The outcome is not predetermined’
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions: May 4-10 — Players listed with an asterisk (*) signed minor league contracts, replacing major league pacts with the same organization. — Arizona Diamondbacks — Released: LHP Ron Mahay — Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Barry Enright
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun Times:
White Sox need Juan Pierre to be the repair man — OAKLAND, Calif. — The White Sox are going to need better defense in left field and better production at the top of the batting order if they plan to climb their way into contention in the American League Central.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
