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.
Discussion:
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.
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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David Lennon / Newsday:
Oldie is still a goodie — Franco's pinch HR sparks six-run rally as trip begins with a win — SAN DIEGO — The Mets approached last night's game against the Padres with an all-hands-on-deck mentality. They emptied the trainer's room and even the forgotten Kaz Matsui …
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
Associated Press:One for the aged — Franco's record home run rallies Mets past Padres
Discussion:
The Metropolitans
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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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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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 …
Discussion:
Cursed To First
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Pedro forced to get more crafty — SAN DIEGO — Pedro Martinez has taken on a mythical quality with the Mets, and not just on the days that he's pitching. When principal owner Fred Wilpon stopped by the Shea clubhouse this week to congratulate him on his 200th victory, Martinez shook his hand and mentioned, "Donald Trump says hello."
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.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
David continues to show Wright stuff — Teenage girls screech when he comes to the plate. Gossip columnists notice where he eats. People in baseball, including his own teammates, say he is blossoming into the new face of the Mets, perhaps the way Tom Seaver once was.
Chris Snow / Boston Globe:
Kazmir, Rays put clamps on Sox — It was 2 and 2 to Mike Lowell with two outs in the sixth inning last night, Mark Loretta on second, Manny Ramírez on first, and the Sox behind, 2-1. Scott Kazmir — undaunted by the Sox lineup, Curt Schilling's attempt at intimidation on WEEI …
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
Chuck / Ivy Chat:
Here We Doubt Again — Once again the Cubs have a major injury to a star player. And once again fans expect Jim Hendry to make a trade now, before the season slips away, to rectify the situation. — Why should we hope for this? Hendry's let us down each of the last two years, why expect something different this year?
