Top News:
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Wells may retire: Knee woes worry lefty — David Wells said he will abruptly pull the plug on his 20th and final major league season if his knee problems do not start to improve or if he discovers that he is risking his future health by continuing to pitch.
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404
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Chris Snow / Boston Globe:
Wells not optimistic on future — Knee woes source of constant pain — David Wells played catch yesterday and planned to undergo his second of three Synvisc injections in his right knee last night. In the interim, the soon-to-be 43-year-old did not sound optimistic about his ability to again pitch with health.
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Tom Yantz / Hartford Courant:
Wells Might Retire Before Season Ends — If Pain Continues, He Won't Wait — BOSTON — David Wells' retirement could come sooner than expected. — "It's bone-on-bone pain," he said Thursday of his ailing right knee. — Wells, who had a Synvisc injection in his knee last week …
Mike Petraglia / MLB.com:
Notes: Crisp gets new splint — Center fielder hoping to return to action next month — BOSTON — Coco Crisp continues to make progress in his efforts to return from a broken left index finger. — The Red Sox center fielder was fitted with a more flexible splint Thursday, allowing him more freedom during his rehab.
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Ortiz looking for upgrade — DH award not his first choice — As usual, David Ortiz's laugh entered the room before he did. The Red Sox slugger followed, clad in a red warmup shirt and clutching a bottle of pink vitamin water, sure to be the official drink of budding designated hitters across New England.
Discussion:
Reb Sox
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Johnson, Nationals Pound the Phillies — Traber Also Contributes as Robinson Wins 1,000th: Nationals 10, Phillies 4 — PHILADELPHIA, April 20 — Nick Johnson's manager knows something about hitting, and that means he knows something about the feeling Johnson must have right now.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Wrist of fate — 2 broken bones likely to bench Lee at least 2 months; Cubs sift options — Derrek Lee could miss at least two months with a broken right wrist, putting the injury-plagued Cubs in the same boat in which they capsized last summer. — Lee will be in a cast for up to six weeks …
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Lee sidelined by fractured hand — Cubs slugger will wear cast for up to six weeks — CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee has a fractured right hand and will be in a cast for up to six weeks, the team announced late Thursday. — Lee has a fracture of the distal radial and the distal ulna bone in his hand.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Becoming Oldest to Homer, Franco Rallies the Mets — SAN DIEGO, April 20 - More often than not, Julio Franco is the answer to questions that begin, "Who is the oldest player in baseball to..." — Franco, at 47 years 240 days, is by far the oldest player in the major leagues …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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Associated Press:Mets-Padres Preview — After winning 10 of 12 games to open …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Notes: Piazza ponders past, present — Veteran catcher reflects before game against former team — SAN DIEGO — Renewing acquaintances with some old friends from New York at PETCO Park on Thursday, the Padres' Mike Piazza was in a philosophical frame of mind, pondering where he's been …
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Cursed To First
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Piazza sends greeting across the miles to fans — SAN DIEGO — Eternally sunny skies, a laid-back vibe, beautiful PETCO Park to call home. Life seems good for Mike Piazza with the Padres. But after Piazza spoke to the media yesterday during an impromptu dugout news conference …
Michael K. Ozanian / ESPN:
Forbes.com: The Business Of Baseball … Baseball owners continue to slam the ball out of the park. Team values increased an average of 15 percent for the second consecutive year, to $376 million, in our 2006 survey of Major League Baseball's 30 franchises.
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Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
Developments in the Baseball Blogosphere — Toward the end of the 2004 season, I wrote about a key late-season Dodgers/Giants game, and I graphed the Win Expectancy of the game, play by play. As far as I know, this was the first time it had been done, and I was pretty proud of myself.
Mike Berardino / Sun-Sentinel:
BERARDINO: Tough to say it, but Uggla a beauty — Blending into the major leagues as a rookie second baseman hasn't been the hardest part for Dan Uggla. — Getting people to pronounce his last name properly has been the larger challenge. — Fans. Teammates. Visiting broadcasters.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Notes: Pudge open to other spots — Catcher willing to DH, play other positions to keep bat going — OAKLAND — Ivan Rodriguez will play at DH Friday. He'll play first base if Chris Shelton needs a day off. He might play shortstop if you ask nicely. — "Give me a glove," …
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BaseBlogging
