Top News:
Associated Press:
Diamondbacks-Padres Preview — The starting pitchers for the Arizona Diamondbacks had their problems. That was before they arrived at Petco Park. — The Diamondbacks look for their first series sweep in San Diego in nearly seven years on Wednesday when they send veteran Orlando Hernandez to the mound to meet the Padres.
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Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Snakes rake Peavy, rout Padres — Pitcher doesn't survive Arizona's 4-run seventh — The Padres didn't bother to make an offer to the dynamic Vladimir Guerrero three winters ago or to their slugging catcher, Ramon Hernandez, last spring after a new regime took over.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Cordero gets win, Blalock gets save for Rangers — ARLINGTON - The Rangers won in the bottom of the ninth again Tuesday. — This can't go on forever. — As much fun as it's been for the Rangers to dogpile on a chosen hero - Tuesday, Hank Blalock got the honor when his single gave …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Gil Lebreton / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Coco can't save the day, any day — ARLINGTON — There's an elephant in the room, but manager Buck Showalter says that the Rangers aren't ignoring it. — "I know I'm better than this," the problem-in-question, bullpen closer Francisco Cordero, said Tuesday night. — For Cordero, it was another night at the office.
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Mench is finding his comfort zone — ARLINGTON - In spring training, Kevin Mench was toying with opponents. Games were almost like batting practice in Surprise, Ariz. Mench hit .417, had seven home runs and drove in 18 runs in 20 games. He wasn't impressed. — Neither was Buck Showalter.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Schilling says he was willing, just not able — CLEVELAND — He never had thrown this many pitches in a Red Sox uniform, or for anyone else in almost six years. In 534 big-league starts going back 19 seasons, he'd thrown more pitches just 16 times in his career. In April? Just twice, back in 1998.
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Chris Snow / Boston Globe:
Decision goes to Sox — Ramírez makes Indians pay with eighth-inning blow — CLEVELAND — After Terry Francona had watched Curt Schilling throw 133 pitches, after Eric Wedge had tapped Scott Sauerbeck to face David Ortiz to begin the seventh, only to watch Ortiz round the bases …
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:It's Manny to the rescue — Blast saves Schilling, Sox
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets blast back at Barry — Nady, Floyd answer Bonds' 710th — SAN FRANCISCO - Barry Bonds took a step toward history. Steve Trachsel took command after that, as the Mets beat the Giants, 4-1, last night. — Xavier Nady's homer to left to lead off the seventh - over the glove …
Discussion:
The Metropolitans
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Kevin Baxter / Miami Herald:
Enchanted April no more — Pitching in 39-degree weather, Dontrelle Willis experienced his first loss in April in 10 decisions and first loss at Wrigley Field. — kbaxter@MiamiHerald.com — CHICAGO - Who says these young Marlins can't show us things we've never seen before?
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Jacobs sees way out of slump — · Slow starts aren't all bad. Sure, Mike Jacobs isn't happy about opening with 11 hits in his first 56 at-bats, but he can focus on one positive. — Two or three multihit games and that .196 average skyrockets. A 5-for-10 stretch would amount to a 46-point spike.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:Pierre set to take on pal Willis for first time
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Dallas Morning News:
Greer hopes to coach — Former Ranger takes office job with an eye toward a coaching role — ARLINGTON - Former Rangers outfielder Rusty Greer wants to manage. — Although Tuesday's announcement that Greer has signed a personal services contract with the Rangers has him in the front office …
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
rangers notes — Barajas battling slump — ARLINGTON - It's important for any position player to separate his offensive play from defensive play. It's even more important for a catcher. — And for Rangers catcher Rod Barajas, who is struggling with his hitting right now …
Yahoo! Sports:
Wise guys — Wise guys — I walked up to Mike Mussina recently and told him he looked like Greg Maddux last week while shutting down a hot-hitting Toronto team. — "Maddux?'' Mussina said. " He's got about a hundred more wins than I do. "Yes," I told him, "but you looked like Maddux …
Discussion:
Replacement Level …
David Lennon / Newsday:
Wright stresses importance of playing hurt — SAN FRANCISCO — David Wright still has the bruise from Jon Adkins' fastball that tattooed him beneath the left armpit. His aching groin doesn't feel so great, either, and anyone who watched Wright crumple to the dirt Saturday after trying …
Eli Saslow / Washington Post:
Traber Digs a Hole And the Nats Fall In — Washington Spots Reds 4 Runs in 1st: Reds 6, Nationals 5 — He once equated his comeback to an endless slog uphill, and Billy Traber thought he could finally see the apex last week. It took 948 days without a major league start …
Mike Klingaman / Baltimore Sun:
Student exorcises O's demon in film … Ten years later, Orioles fans remember the play, the kid and the umpire's call. — Has it been that long since the team's playoff hopes turned on a 12-year-old's theft of a long fly ball? Since Jeffrey Maier reached over the wall at Yankee Stadium to pick the pocket of an Orioles outfielder?
Discussion:
William F. Yurasko's …
