Top News:
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Nationals Get a Bad Break, Lose Opener — NEW YORK — With Billy Wagner looming in the bullpen, the New York Mets are going to be tough to catch in the late innings. Especially if they get this kind of help from the umpires. — Tom Glavine outpitched Livan Hernandez in a matchup of World Series MVPs …
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Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:
In Comedy of Errors, Nats Aren't Laughing — NEW YORK, April 3 — Have so many people from so many sides — home, visitor, neutral — ever made so many mistakes on the same play? — Where do you even begin? With the third base coach who green-lighted his runner into making …
Dallas Star-Telegram:
Dellucci's trade tough for some — ARLINGTON — The weekend trade of outfielder David Dellucci to secure a replacement for injured pitcher Adam Eaton was tough for many players. Though they understood the need for a pitching upgrade, Dellucci is the second position player, after Alfonso Soriano …
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Season Preview / Associated Press:
Jones and Benitez to go on DL — The Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants are closing spring training with injured closers. — Detroit's Todd Jones aggravated a left hamstring injury while throwing a ninth-inning pitch during Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and will be placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Brian Michael / Phillies Nation:
Phillies v. Red Sox Recap and Tejeda Traded — I hope everyone is having a pleasant Sunday morning and remembered to spring their clocks ahead. Today we'll recap the second of three meetings this week by the Phillies and Red Sox - complete with starts by Gavin Floyd and David Bell.
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
McCarthy in Sox' '07 plans — Ken Williams didn't feel it was necessary to go into details or name teams, but the White Sox general manager did say pitchers Jon Garland and Freddy Garcia were closer to being traded this offseason than maybe they even know. — Then again, they weren't the …
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
White Sox roll in opener — Thome hits first homer; McCarthy picks up win — CHICAGO — Neither euphoria from a pregame unfurling of the 2005 White Sox World Series championship banner nor a deluge of seemingly biblical proportions could delay the South Siders from their appointed rounds Sunday night …
Discussion:
Dan Agonistes
Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Waiting ends as the games begin — Anything is possible as another baseball season commences — After watching a different team win every World Series in this decade, after watching the last two champions end a collective 174 years of drought, after watching Johnny Damon cut his hair …
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Second base: Drafting — Three strong years bear fruit, but questions follow — BRADENTON, Fla. — Mickey White, the Pirates' scouting director from 1999 to 2001, is a professional scout for the Florida Marlins these days, back in the bleachers eyeing raw talent.
Discussion:
Honest Wagner
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
First Base: International signings — Lagging in Latin America a costly mistake — BRADENTON, Fla. — The earliest point in the building process for any Major League Baseball team is through Latin America. That is because international players — anyone outside the United States …
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Notes: Nomar out with ribcage strain — First baseman likely to go on disabled list to recuperate — LOS ANGELES — The latest injured Dodger is first baseman Nomar Garciaparra, felled even before the season's first pitch with a strained intercostal (ribcage) muscle.
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats' Opener Comes With a Lot of Questions — 2nd Season Begins With a Slew of Injuries, No Owner Once Again — and More — Jim Bowden has been in baseball for more than two decades, and has never experienced anything like it. Frank Robinson is entering his 51st season in the sport, and, likewise, this is new to him.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Workout just the start for Nats — After getting in time on field, team faced strategy meetings — NEW YORK — The Nationals took the field at Shea Stadium late Sunday morning and had their usual hitting and fielding drills, which lasted about 90 minutes. But their day was far from over.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Spivey is out, Luna is in — PHILADELPHIA — After a spring training that spiraled from worrisome to a bonafide concern, Cardinals second baseman Junior Spivey will not join the club for opening day and a roster move will be made Monday that determines his future with the club.
Discussion:
The Birdwatch, St. Louis Cardinals Blog, Reverend Redbird, Hey, The 26th Man and Redbirds Fun
Cmathewson / Twinkie Town:
Free Jason Bartlett — Wah 'Append? My second favorite player gets sent down while I'm on vacation and I can't even drown my sorrows in this blog until I return. That is so wrong. — It was only a matter of time before I started referring to our beloved manager by my pet name for him—Gardenhoser.
baseballminutia.com:
Mmmmmm... Pudding — Filed under the more things change the more they stay the same is Adam Dunn's pleasure in his reaction to the Cincinnati Reds moving him back to left field. On the teams broadcasts numerous references have been made to Dunn's preference to playing the game way out in left field …
minorleaguebaseball.com:
Reyes, Memphis no-hit Norfolk in exhibition — Five Redbirds pitchers combine for 5-3 victory over visiting Tides — With Opening Day less than a week away, St. Louis Cardinals prospect Anthony Reyes is already showing why he is one of the organization's top prospects.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Perez under the gun to become Pirates' ace, but what about radar gun? — "Velocity? For sure, I'm not worried about that. I know it's coming." — Oliver Perez, Pirates pitcher on the speed of his fastball — MILWAUKEE — Oliver Perez often can be seen bouncing to his own beat before a game …
Discussion:
Honest Wagner
Landon Thomas Jr / New York Times:
Case Study: Fix a Baseball Team — IT has been a rough first inning for Andrew E. Friedman, the cherubic-faced 29-year-old general manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Opening day looms, and one of his best young pitchers has been lit up for four runs while his third baseman has booted one ball and overthrown another.
