Top News:
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Towers left feeling down after loss — Missed opportunites, four-run second frame haunts Jays — BOSTON — It's not how you start, it's how you finish. At least that's Toronto's response to it's rocky start to this season. — As far as the Blue Jays' 5-3 loss to the Red Sox on Tuesday …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Pena's entrance lacked grace — The cheers that filled Fenway Park on the final two outs of the eighth inning in yesterday's 5-3 win over the Blue Jays were — contrary to the view of Wily Mo Peña, who called them ''incredible" — either in relief or in jest.
Discussion:
Boston Sports Media Watch
Chris Snow / Boston Globe:Revved Sox — Winning streak hits 5 as they shine in home opener
Discussion:
Wallball Single
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.
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Jack Curry / New York Times:Young Friends Help Bond the Mets and the Nationals
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Under The Knife — The Best Job in the World — In the four years we've been doing BP Radio, we've had some great guests. It's easier at this point to name who hasn't been on rather than who has. Whether it's chatting with Peter Gammons or Bill James, talking with Peter King or Rob Neyer …
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Notes: Prior makes more progress — Throws 30 pitches in bullpen session on Tuesday — CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs pitcher Mark Prior threw 30 pitches off the bullpen mound at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, including some breaking balls at the end, and is making good progress in his rehab from a strained muscle in his right shoulder.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:Prior, Wood pleasing Cubs with progress
Discussion:
Goat Riders of the Apocalypse
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.
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Associated Press:
Red Sox, Crisp agree to three-year extension — BOSTON — Coco Crisp agreed Wednesday to a $15.5 million, three-year contract extension with the Boston Red Sox. — Crisp, on the disabled list with a broken finger, was already signed for this year at $2.75 million.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Associated Press:
Red Sox sign Crisp to 3-year extension — BOSTON —Coco Crisp has agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Red Sox, keeping the man who replaced Johnny Damon in center field in Boston until at least 2009, the team announced Wednesday. — The deal with Crisp …
Associated Press:
Loria wants Marlins' fate decided soon — MIAMI - Standing in the corner of the Florida Marlins' clubhouse an hour before their home opener Tuesday, owner Jeffrey Loria renewed his threat to move the team. — Loria said the Marlins will find another home if they're unable to swing a deal soon for a new ballpark in South Florida.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
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Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Pinstriped pop star — NEW YORK - Before he got to first, he blew a bubble. Derek Jeter had just hit a home run to push the New York Yankees ahead in their home opener, and of all the things to do, he huffed until a bright pink globe of Bazooka formed. Maybe it was a conscious move, and maybe it wasn't.
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Aaron Gleeman / Hardball Times:
The Real Chase — One of the biggest, most-hyped storylines of the 2006 season is Barry Bonds' pursuit of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and the all-time home run record. Throughout spring training Bonds made headlines for whatever he did, and sometimes even for what he didn't do.
Discussion:
The Griddle
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats ready for showdown against Pedro — New York (5-1) at Washington (2-6), 7:05 p.m. ET — The Nationals hope to snap their three-game losing streak as they take on the Mets at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on Wednesday night. — It's Round 2 between Mets' right-hander Pedro Martinez and the Nationals.
Nate Silver / Baseball Prospectus:
Lies, Damned Lies — Neighborly Baseball — One of the underlying themes behind the aggressive approach that Kenny Williams and the White Sox took this off-season is that the Sox are competing not only with their AL Central rivals, but also against the Cubs for the hearts, minds …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Hough defends Dickey — Old-timer checks up on demoted knuckleballer, tells him to stay upbeat — ANAHEIM, Calif. - Charlie Hough understands the predicament in which R.A. Dickey finds himself. It's hard to be loved when you are a knuckleballer. — Hough, who called Dickey last week …
Washington Post:
Lack of Minority Investors Is Weakening Lerner Bid — With Major League Baseball officials saying they now expect a decision on the new ownership of the Washington Nationals by the end of next week, there were strong indications yesterday that a paucity of local minority investors is hurting …
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Rockies spoil D-Backs' home opener — Counsell's three-run triple highlights offensive attack — PHOENIX — When he faced the Rockies last week at Coors Field, Diamondbacks starter Orlando Hernandez was at his craftiest. — The veteran right-hander threw from different arm angles …
