Top News:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Beckett ready to bring some Texas heat — Boston (1-1) at Texas (1-1), 8:05 p.m. ET — The Red Sox can finally showcase their prized offseason acquisition in a game that counts on Wednesday night, when Josh Beckett takes on the Rangers in the rubber match of a three-game series.
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Loe looking for high marks in '06 debut — Boston (1-1) at Texas (1-1), 7:05 p.m. CT — Right-hander Kameron Loe enters his first full season as a starting pitcher at the Major League level when the Rangers face the Red Sox on Wednesday, and the big righty has some lofty goals.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
No joshing — it was ugly — Game 2 was one to forget — ARLINGTON, Texas — Not much life in this one. Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield fell behind, 4-0, before recording an out, new catcher Josh Bard forgot how many outs there were in the first inning of the second game of the year, and the Sox lost to the Rangers, 10-4.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Associated Press:
Gooden sentenced to year in prison for drug use — TAMPA, Fla. — Former baseball star Dwight Gooden was sentenced Wednesday to a year and a day in prison for violating probation by using cocaine. — The 41-year-old pitcher was serving three years of probation for speeding away from a police officer during a drunken driving stop.
Discussion:
Red Reporter
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Mitch Stacy / Associated Press:
Gooden sentenced to a year in prison for violating probation — Gooden sentenced to a year in prison for violating probation — TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Former baseball star Dwight Gooden was sentenced Wednesday to a year and a day in prison for violating his probation by using cocaine …
Discussion:
The Eddie Kranepool Society
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Song belongs to Met-tallica — Billy, not Mo, entered as the first 'Sandman' — Not only should the Mets play "Enter Sandman" when closer Billy Wagner takes the mound at Shea, the manager of Metallica says they should turn up the volume. — "Frankly, they could have played it louder …
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
For Wagner and Rivera, Play It Again, Metallica — The song took hold in Houston and accompanied Billy Wagner to Philadelphia. Between those stops, it has blared nearly 600 times, providing an intimidating backdrop for his entrance from the bullpen. — But until the song "Enter Sandman" …
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats Believe Replay Is Worth Another Look — NEW YORK, April 4 — It was in plain view on ESPN's "SportsCenter" and the evening news. It was on in the visiting clubhouse at Shea Stadium, where various Washington Nationals players looked at a video image on a computer screen, then walked away, disgusted.
Discussion:
Washington Times
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Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Pettitte, bats unable to get on track — After Astros receive rings, left-hander struggles in '06 debut — HOUSTON — The Houston Astros were honored on Tuesday during a pregame ring ceremony that recognized their accomplishments on the field in 2005. — Unfortunately for the Astros …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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Mike Kiley / Chicago Sun Times:
Offense not so Lee-pendent — CINCINNATI — One of the many encouraging signs for the Cubs during their season-opening 16-7 victory Monday against the Cincinnati Reds was that first baseman Derrek Lee did very little offensively and still came away with two RBI.
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Chicago Tribune:
Padres claim fan threw toy syringe — Giants outfielder Barry Bonds said a fan tossed a syringe at him during Monday's game at San Diego. — Bonds picked up the object — about the size of a fat cigar — and carried it off the field in the eighth inning. The object did not appear to have a needle.
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Jeff Barker / Baltimore Sun:
Angelos to testify on Nats' TV deal … WASHINGTON // A congressional committee has invited Peter Angelos to testify at a hearing Friday on problems with the Washington Nationals' television deal, and the Orioles owner said he plans to show up and provide his version of why so few Nationals games are available to many fans.
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Tom Singer / MLB.com:
The schedule is a Major undertaking — There's more than 2,400 games and only 181 days to play them — The Longest Season. The long and winding road, through the dog days of summer, into October. The grind, plain and simple. And, of course, the proverbial "marathon."
Discussion:
Baseball Toaster
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Stadium vote goes Royals' way — Tax measure passes to renovate Kauffman Stadium — KANSAS CITY — The Royals' rebuilding program now includes more than a team. It also includes Kauffman Stadium. — A sales tax vote to renovate the Royals' home and the NFL Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium …
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Garciaparra lands on disabled list — Loney recalled, expected to be in uniform Tuesday — LOS ANGELES — New first baseman Nomar Garciaparra was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday by the Dodgers, who replaced him by recalling 21-year-old first-base prospect James Loney.
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers offense rolls past Pirates — Miller drives in three; Gross homers in first Brewers at-bat — MILWAUKEE — If they could just get Prince Fielder going, it would be all systems go for the upstart Brewers. — For the second straight day on Tuesday, they came from behind to beat the Pirates at Miller Park.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Maury Brown / Hardball Times:
Rob Neyer and Baseball's Blunderous Past — "This is worse than a crime, it's a blunder" - Charles M. de Talleyrand — I can remember it like it was yesterday... Yelling at the tube like a blithering idiot, my head swiveling back and forth so hard I nearly pulled a Linda Blair. Hands in the air.
examiner.com:
Jim Bowden: Scouting our way to the top — WASHINGTON - The Washington Nationals future will depend on the success of the player development and scouting departments over the next four to five years. I was very pleased with our first two selections of last year's draft as both Ryan Zimmerman …
