Notes: Hermida given day off  —  Right fielder is listed as day-to-day with sore hip flexor  —  MIAMI — One of the Marlins' top young players was not in the lineup Wednesday afternoon because of tightness in his right hip.  —  Rookie right fielder Jeremy Hermida aggravated his hip flexor …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

Delgado opts to stand far from Cheney  —  WASHINGTON - Carlos Delgado's opposition to U.S. military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan are well documented.  But the first baseman took a tactful approach when Dick Cheney visited the Mets' clubhouse yesterday, before the VP tossed out the ceremonial …

Win or else  —  Hunter makes it clear his future with Twins is contingent on team's competitiveness  —  Torii Hunter has pictured himself in Yankee pinstripes.  But the Twins' marquee player also can see himself finishing his career in Minnesota.  —  The Gold Glove center fielder's future will play itself out this season.

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 …

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.

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 …

Well, That Was Fun  —  When the highlight of the game you're at is the ceremonial first pitch, it's a pretty good indication that you're at a bad game.  I just hope it doesn't mean a bad season, too.  —  If you missed it, Dick Cheney stormed on to the field to a loud chorus of boos.

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 …

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 …