Top News:
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Padres aim to get even with Mets — New York Mets (11-4) vs. San Diego (6-9), 7:05 p.m. PT — At times like this, in the wake of a distressing defeat, a cool-handed veteran is the ideal antidote. The Padres, accordingly, turn to Woody Williams, their most experienced moundsman …
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Jay Posner / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Piazza happy with his new surroundings — After spending nearly eight seasons with the Mets, Mike Piazza has been with the Padres for only seven home games. But when someone asked him yesterday about the biggest difference between playing in New York and San Diego, he didn't hesitate.
Discussion:
NY Mets Blog
Matt Gelb / Mets Geek:
Win Probability Glance 4-20-06 — In five plays, the Mets' Win Probability increased 67.2%. When the Padres had the bases loaded and no one out in the seventh inning, the Mets WP stood at a mere 8%. Let's track the progression: … Obviously Franco's home run represents a huge chunk of the increase …
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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
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Showalter says Cordero still Rangers' closer — SEATTLE - In the wake of his second blown save in eight days, Rangers closer Francisco Cordero and pitching coach Mark Connor insisted the pitcher isn't abandoning his fastball for the slider. — That's right, manager Buck Showalter agreed.
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Royals could get worse if trades happen — As bad as the Royals are, they could get worse. — One American League executive says that he would prefer to play the Royals in the second half, reasoning that the team likely will trade first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek …
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Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
Will ounce of prevention be the best medicine? — It was a 6-4 homestand. Good? Disappointing? Too close to call? — With a fraction under 10 percent of the season in the books, there is one safe thing we can say about the 2006 edition of the Boston Red Sox: They have come exactly as advertised.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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Mike Petraglia / MLB.com:
Former teammates ready to square off — Boston (11-5) at Toronto (7-7), 7:07 p.m. ET — It will be a Florida Marlins reunion when Josh Beckett, looking for his fourth win in as many starts for the Red Sox, opposes Toronto's A.J. Burnett Friday night in the opener of a three-game weekend series at Rogers Centre.
Associated Press:
Yankees top $1B in Forbes valuation — NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees became the first baseball team valued at more than $1 billion in the annual estimates made by Forbes magazine. — The Yankees' value increased 8 percent to $1.026 billion, the magazine estimated in its May 8 issue, which was released Thursday.
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Associated Press:
Nationals GM Bowden regrets 'embarrassment' — WASHINGTON — In his first public comments since being charged with drunken driving, Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said Friday he regretted "the embarrassment" and strongly denied scuffling with his girlfriend shortly before their arrests.
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Today — On Edmonds — Jim Edmonds, Hall of Famer. — What's your first reaction to that? A quiet nod? A horrified recoil? Something in between? — I've been playing with this idea for a while, mentioning Edmonds as my personal choice for a "stealth" Hall of Fame candidate whenever asked for one.
Bleed Cubbie Blue:
Advice For The Cublorn — No, that's wrong. You can panic now. — Mike & I went to see Spamalot last night — he had missed the show when our merry little bleacher band went to see it last year, and so with its touring-company return last year, I decided it was worth seeing again.
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
To many, organs give life to baseball — Several parks proud to embrace game's rich musical tradition — CHICAGO — White Sox organist Nancy Faust could be described as one part entertainer, one part musician and one part mad scientist. How else could the following scenario be explained?
Jim Moore / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Go 2 Guy: Where have all the M's fans gone? — For the third consecutive game, there were more empty seats than fans at Safeco Field Thursday night. — Tuesday's game set a record low for attendance at Safeco Field until Wednesday's game went even lower, down to 17,613 fans.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Chris Haft / Mercury News:
Bonds sits again; Giants insist that he's just resting — PHOENIX - Barry Bonds was out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game Thursday because of general soreness, although Giants Manager Felipe Alou emphasized that the left fielder's specific physical problems had not worsened.
ESPN:
2006 Power Rankings: Champs back on top — Maybe it's not quite as prestigious as winning a World Series trophy, but the Chicago White Sox are once again looking down upon the MLB kingdom as the No. 1 team in this week's ESPN.com Power Rankings. — The defending champions …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Kolb cleared to return — Right-hander eyes return to Brewers bullpen — MILWAUKEE — Dr. William Raasch, the Brewers' team physician, cleared reliever Dan Kolb for a bullpen session on Thursday, and the right-hander hopes to return to active duty by Friday.
