Top News:
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 …
David Lennon / Newsday:
This is becoming a very deep lineup — WASHINGTON — The day after the Nationals complained about the fences being unreachable at RFK Stadium, the Mets made the cavernous ballpark look like Williamsport, smacking three long home runs before many of the 25,465 fans had even settled into their seats.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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 …
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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 …
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
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 …
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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 …
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 …
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
Associated Press:
Reports: Grand jury investigating whether Bonds committed perjury — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal grand jury is investigating whether Barry Bonds committed perjury when he testified in 2003 that he never used steroids, according to media reports. — The panel has been hearing evidence …
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Bob Herzog / Newsday:
Torre supports Sturtze — For a second straight outing, Tanyon Sturtze allowed a home run to the first batter he faced, eliciting a loud chorus of boos from a crowd of 54,381. On Tuesday it was Shane Costa. Yesterday it was Tony Graffanino, cutting the Yankees' lead to 4-2 in the top of the eighth.
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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 …
Discussion:
The GYS Network
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
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
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
NY Daily News:
Hey George, quit shovin'! — Over the past few days, media members waiting for George Steinbrenner have received little in return for their patience. — When it comes to The Boss, you wait - at your own risk. — For the home opener, veteran New York Times baseball writer Murray Chass asked …
Bob Herzog / Newsday:
Damon's dinger his first in stripes — It's hardly his theme song, as Johnny Damon is most definitely a rock-and-roller. But it was appropriate for the moment, that after Damon's first home run as a Yankee, the music that blared from the speakers at Yankee Stadium yesterday after the eighth inning …
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Yankee Programming Goes Over the Wall — The first news heard at the top of yesterday's edition of "Yankees Batting Practice Today" on the YES Network was that the Yankees would not be holding batting practice, so stick around for Royals B.P. — But a Yankee batting practice program without …
