Top News:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Vidro, Tavares Argue About Dimensions at RFK Stadium — Jose Vidro was quite clear. He feels RFK Stadium is unfair to hitters. He thinks the club should have moved in the fences during the offseason. He said so on Wednesday night. And he didn't back down yesterday …
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats' Seams Are Showing — Fifth Straight Loss Prompts Management to Send Down Watson, Recall Church : Mets 13, Nationals 4 — The latest debacle came in the form of a 13-4 shellacking at the hands of the New York Mets yesterday afternoon at RFK Stadium, and by the time it was over …
Discussion:
Nationals Farm Authority, District of Baseball, Church of Baseball and William F. Yurasko's …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals go back to Church — Washington recalls center fielder, sends Watson to Triple-A — WASHINGTON — After he was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans, Nationals outfielder Ryan Church said he would be back in the big leagues in two weeks. It actually took 16 days …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Wells, Sox halted by Jays — Southpaw not sharp in first start; Sox winning streak snapped — BOSTON — When David Wells enjoys his post-playing life a year from now, Wednesday night does not figure to be an outing the left-hander will reflect back to. In fact, expect Wells to wipe …
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Chris Snow / Boston Globe:
Grand opening, then slammed — Clement rocked in second start — Perhaps, for a moment last night, as he was being cuffed around for six runs in a seemingly endless second inning, Matt Clement wished he'd taken his act to Toronto when he could have. By accepting a couple million dollars less …
Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
Jays contend they're in it for the long haul — In the interest of the greater good, baseball needs the Blue Jays. — The eight consecutive years of 1-2 finishes in the American League East for the Yankees and Red Sox is a source of great comfort to their organizations and their fans …
Discussion:
Boston Sports Media Watch
David Lennon / Newsday:
Hernandez is second to none — WASHINGTON — The Mets expected a clear-cut winner to emerge in the fight for the second baseman's job by the end of spring training. They were off by about two weeks. — When Kaz Matsui, as usual, was KO'd by an injury, this time a right knee sprain …
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Mets buzzing over double play — Reyes-Hernandez twin killing deemed 'courageous' — WASHINGTON — It was the morning after and the Mets still were ooo-ing and aah-ing about what they had witnessed. By the time they reassembled Thursday morning for their game against the Nationals …
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Big questions on Unit's exit — 'Stiff' Randy leaves after fifth — In his three starts this season, Randy Johnson has felt like he has been "in complete control." But after mostly cruising through five innings against the Royals yesterday, Johnson rediscovered that his control is hardly total …
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Ted Rowlands / CNN:
Sources: Grand jury looking at whether Bonds lied about steroid use — SAN FRANCISCO, California (CNN) — A federal grand jury is considering whether to indict San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds for perjury because of testimony he gave to another grand jury in 2003, CNN has learned.
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Josh Dubow / Associated Press:
Grand jury investigating Barry Bonds — SAN FRANCISCO —Barry Bonds could be facing bigger problems than baseball's probe into his alleged past steroid use. A federal grand jury is investigating whether Bonds committed perjury when he testified in 2003 that he never used steroids …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Big-bat attack does trick — Sox's 15-hit barrage aids scuffling Garland — DETROIT — The White Sox returned home Thursday with a four-game winning streak and a tailwind of relief. — The relaxation came from an offense that bailed out Jon Garland with a relentless attack to hold off …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:Contreras is crafty, Thome slugs 5th HR
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Joe Lapointe / New York Times:
Boy Who Helped Yankees Is a Hit Again — Jeffrey Maier, a senior at Wesleyan, had two doubles against Bates on Wednesday to reach 170 hits. He hopes for a career in baseball. — MIDDLETOWN, Conn., April 12 — The pitch was a fastball on the outside part of the plate …
John Ryan / Mercury News:
Color them the A's — UNIFORM CHOICE SPEAKS VOLUMES — Inquiring minds want to know. Inquiring, conspiratorial message-board minds with perhaps too much time on their hands. — Are the A's intentionally wearing the green road jerseys that say ``Athletics'' instead of the gray ones that say ``Oakland''?
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Mike Kiley / Chicago Sun Times:
Wood may be nearing minor-league rehab — Kerry Wood could begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment in about 10 to 12 days. If Wood's strong comeback from shoulder surgery last August continues in a simulated game Saturday in Mesa, Ariz., the usual routine would be one more simulated game …
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Pulp friction — Home runs are up this year. We peel away at the conspiracy that the ball is juiced. — Conspiracy theories about the "fly factor" of baseballs are a big hit, so to speak. — With balls flying out of parks at an early-season pace not seen since the suspicious heyday of 2001 …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Baserunning error benches Holliday — Phoenix - Calling it a punitive measure, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle benched outfielder Matt Holliday on Thursday for a baserunning mistake in the team's first road loss the previous night to the Arizona Diamondbacks. — Hurdle explained the decision …
Discussion:
Bad Altitude
