Top News:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nationals Lack Luster — Offense Listless, Crowd Lethargic, Defeat Sluggish: Mets 7, Nationals 1 — When all the fans settled into their seats under the sun, long after Vice President Cheney had skipped his ceremonial first pitch into the dirt in front of Washington Nationals catcher Brian Schneider …
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Jack Curry / New York Times:
Young Friends Help Bond the Mets and the Nationals — WASHINGTON, April 11 — The rookie pitcher Brian Bannister naturally wanted nothing to do with Brian Schneider's towering pop fly while it floated in the sunny sky above. Catcher Paul Lo Duca dropped his mask, peeked into the glare …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
No Walks, Little Talk, but Rookie May Have Right Stuff — WASHINGTON, April 11 — The Mets know what it is like to be teased by a young pitcher. In the last two decades, they have watched several of their prospects climb through the minors before quickly slipping into mediocrity or oblivion.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets applaud Banni-star — Rook takes fight out of Nationals — WASHINGTON - Brian Bannister shied away from the inside corner during his first time through the Nationals' lineup, trying to avoid the spark that could set off a brawl. — In the end, there were no bean balls …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Wagner makes it bit of a wild finish — WASHINGTON - Billy Wagner's velocity was up, but his control was off. The closer hit 96 mph while walking three batters in the ninth inning against the Nationals. — "It's ugly, but I've had uglier games," he said about yesterday's 31-pitch appearance.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Fans' attention centers on clutch Bernie — Bernie Williams had forged countless Opening Day memories from his 15 previous years in pinstripes, so it was fitting that Johnny's Damon's home debut still held a few nostalgic moments for his center-field predecessor.
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Murray Chass / New York Times:
From the Talk of the Town to Hardly Talking — THIS is about the day that George Steinbrenner almost talked to me. — George always used to talk to me, not to mention every other reporter who covered the Yankees. Sure there were times when he didn't — wouldn't would be more exact …
Discussion:
NY Daily News
NY Daily News:
Longballs make for short memory — For openers, this sure had quite a closing. — On a spectacular sun-splashed spring afternoon in the Bronx, the Yankees put 54,698 of their adoring fans and Opening Day dignitaries and power brokers through the full gamut of emotions - joy, frustration …
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Kinsler suffers dislocated left thumb — Rookie second baseman likely headed to DL — ANAHEIM — Rangers rookie second baseman Ian Kinsler is probably headed for the disabled list after dislocating his left thumb in a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Tuesday night.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Chris Snow / Boston Globe:
Revved Sox — Winning streak hits 5 as they shine in home opener — So it wasn't quite last year's Opening Day. No World Series banner unfurled, no rings, no Bill Russell, no laughing Mariano Rivera taking a bow, no Alex Rodriguez miscue to open the floodgates. It wasn't perfect.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
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John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners Notebook: Borchard in jeopardy — Lawton's return likely will drop OF from roster — CLEVELAND — Joe Borchard's time with the Mariners might not last past today. — Borchard is the likeliest of the Mariners to be moved off the roster to make room for Matt Lawton …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Sore shoulder lands DeJean on disabled list — Phoenix - If the Rockies want to call bullpen member Mike DeJean, they will have to reach him on his cellphone. — What had become increasingly clear in his mind for two weeks became impossible to ignore as DeJean flew back to Denver …
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Jim Salisbury / Philly.com:
Philadelphia Phillies — It's a little early for scoreboard watching, but it was impossible not to keep tabs on some of the out-of-town action yesterday, particularly the fray out in Cincinnati, where the Reds hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates. — Though they were not opponents on this day …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
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Miami Herald:
Ramirez shows his worth — Josh Beckett gave the Boston Red Sox another outstanding start Tuesday, and Mike Lowell went 4 for 4 in his Fenway Park debut. But the key player obtained by the Marlins in that big November trade, shortstop Hanley Ramirez, gave South Florida baseball fans a taste of why he was so coveted.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
At 3rd, Crede 2nd to none — White Sox teammates believe he's worthy of a Gold Glove — DETROIT — The White Sox improved their hitting in the off-season when they traded for slugger Jim Thome from Philadelphia and they fortified their starting rotation when they acquired Javier Vazquez.
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Winter Olympics / Chicago Sun Times:
With his extension official, Lee stumps for Dusty — First baseman Derrek Lee wants the extension parade to march on. — After his four-year contract extension was announced Tuesday, Lee said he hopes to see manager Dusty Baker kept in the fold with a long-term deal.
