Top News:
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Bannister keeps Mets rolling in D.C. — Rookie earns first career win by baffling Nationals — WASHINGTON — The fifth batter Brian Bannister faced in his big-league career — way back on Wednesday last week — was Alfonso Soriano. Bannister pitched him inside and higher than he had intended in the second inning.
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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.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets 3, Nationals 1 — The Mets manufactured just enough offense to produce win No. 2 for Pedro Martinez, who kept the ball over the plate and didn't allow a hit until the fourth. In helping the Mets to their fifth straight win, Martinez squirmed out of a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam in the sixth without any damage.
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Pedro leads Mets to fifth straight win — Right-hander survives bases-loaded jam in second victory — WASHINGTON — When it finally happened, the confrontation between Pedro Martinez and Jose Guillen was all about baseball and none of that puffed up, WWE back-and-forth prompted by last week's hit-by-pitch festival at Shea Stadium.
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
Chris Needham / Capitol Punishment:
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.
Sasha Talcott / Boston Globe:
Red Sox radio deal likely to top $12m — Bidding war bucks league trend, reflects team's market power — The multimillion-dollar bidding war to secure radio rights to Red Sox baseball is virtually certain to pump more money into the team at a time when stations in other cities are refusing …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
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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
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
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 …
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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
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:Prior, Wood pleasing Cubs with progress
Discussion:
Goat Riders of the Apocalypse
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Fish experiencing growing pains … MIAMI — Way before the first pitch was thrown in Dolphin Stadium this season, trade rumors had already been surrounding the best two players on the Marlins' roster: third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis.
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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Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Griffey exits early with stiffness in knee — Slugger leaves in fourth inning, listed as day-to-day — CHICAGO — Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. exited in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game against the Cubs, complaining of stiffness in the back of his right knee.
Discussion:
We Heart The Reds
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Notes: DeJean lands on disabled list — Sore shoulder troubled Rockies reliever since late spring — PHOENIX — While his Colorado Rockies teammates were dressing for Tuesday night's game against Arizona, pitcher Mike DeJean was changing back into street clothes.
MLB.com:
Stinnett: Catching on with the Yankees — This is my first year with the Yankees and I can only describe it so far with one word: Unbelievable. — It's by far the best the situation I've ever been in. I just look around at the names on the lockers here and it is one star player after another.
Discussion:
Off the Facade
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Notes: Pitching staff needs to step it up — Honeycutt believes his crew can do much better — PITTSBURGH - Rick Honeycutt pitched in the Major Leagues for 21 seasons, so he knows what it takes, and the new pitching coach doesn't like what he's seen so far from the Dodgers' pitching staff.
Discussion:
Dodger Hill
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Bartholomay throws out first pitch — Chairman emeritus thrilled to see baseball thriving in Atlanta — ATLANTA — While in his native Chicago a few weeks ago, Braves chairman emeritus Bill Bartholomay ran into an old friend who gave him some pitching advice.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Associated Press:
Huff goes on DL; could be out 4-6 weeks — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay placed third baseman Aubrey Huff on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a left knee sprain. — Huff could be sidelined four to six weeks after he bumped into shortstop Nick Green near the bullpen while chasing a foul popup Tuesday night.
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Chris De Benedetti / insidebayarea.com:
Rumors trail team's search for new bay area stadium — FREMONT — Supporters of luring the Oakland A's to Fremont keep saying that A's co-owner Lew Wolff and his son Keith are straight shooters, known for being honest and upfront. — "I don't think in any way are the A's playing us …
