Top News:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Rookie Gets No Support — O'Connor Falls In Nationals Debut: Cardinals 6, Nationals 2 — ST. LOUIS, April 27 — When the ball came out of Ryan Zimmerman's hand, just before it skipped in front of Nick Johnson's glove, the ensuing events were predictable.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Harris sent down to Triple-A — Decision a tough one for Robinson, Nationals to make — ST. LOUIS — In order to get left-hander Mike O'Connor on the 25- and 40-man rosters, the Nationals optioned infielder Brendan Harris to Triple-A New Orleans and designated outfielder Tyrell Godwin for assignment.
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Single step for Matsui — Key hit helps lift doldrums, Yanks — Within an inning, Hideki Matsui's season seemed to pick up some momentum last night at the plate and in the field. The Yankees' left fielder did not smash out of his hitting slump, but he got a break.
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NY Daily News:
Day later, Yanks walk the walk — Just as brilliant minds predicted, the Yankees are making the seamheads in the Elias Sports Bureau sweat for their money. Each morning the busy workers crunch mountains of numbers, gasp, and then hit the save key for posterity.
Mark Herrmann / Newsday:
Low-key Jeter leads by example — He does not have the American League Most Valuable Player plaque, as one of his teammates does. He did not have the winning hit last night, he did not have the lion's share of publicity this spring, he maybe does not have as much of his team's hopes on his shoulders as the closer does.
Thomas Heath / Washington Post:
City to Break Ground With Owner — District officials said yesterday they expect Major League Baseball to name a new owner of the Washington Nationals in time for Thursday's groundbreaking for a $611 million stadium project that the city is building for the team.
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Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
As Homers Skyrocket, Baseballs Put to the Test — Commissioner Bud Selig has taken notice of the nearly 25 percent increase in home runs in the first month of the season. And he was curious enough about the jump to ask that Major League Baseball test the baseballs, he disclosed yesterday during …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Ronald Blum / San Diego Union-Tribune:MLB hopes to transfer Nationals to new owner by mid-June
Discussion:
The Griddle
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
MRI results good news for Bannister — Right-hander has Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring — ATLANTA — Flights from San Francisco to Atlanta are surprisingly short, a mere four hours. (No wonder the Braves once played in the National League West.)
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Moving Willis by deadline makes sense — Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria keeps denying that the team might trade left-hander Dontrelle Willis, growing increasingly outraged by each new round of speculation. — What Loria can't deny is the sheer logic of moving Willis at the July 31 non-waiver deadline …
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6-4-2
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Loria tries to snuff out Willis, Cabrera rumors — The owner adamantly insists his two star Marlins are not going anywhere. — Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is a soft-spoken man, but when the topic turned to the future of his marquee players, Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera …
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets can be table Turner — ATLANTA - The Braves already have doused cold water on the Mets once this season, halting a feel-good 10-2 start by taking the final two games of a series in Flushing last week. — Now comes a reprise or retribution. — The teams open another series tonight …
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:Trying to regroup at home
Discussion:
The Eddie Kranepool Society
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Rays prospect Young throws bat at ump — Incident occured after ejection for arguing balls and strikes — Devil Rays top prospect Delmon Young is facing a potentially lengthy suspension after throwing his bat at an umpire's chest during Wednesday night's game at Pawtucket.
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Nady has become popular choice — Everybody loves Xavier. That's hard to believe for someone who was traded for Mike Cameron, the most popular player in the Mets' clubhouse during his two-year stay. But Xavier Nady has made an immediate impact since coming from the Padres in that early November swap …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Navarro Falters but Gets Backing — Squatter's rights last only so long. Despite votes of confidence all around, catcher Dioner Navarro must improve or risk being nudged aside by prospect Russell Martin. — Ideally, the Dodgers want Navarro, 22, to hold the job all season to give Martin ample time to develop at triple-A Las Vegas.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards Minor Leagues Update: Who's on first? — Having put 62 minor league games of mileage on his cleats and added 216 at-bats to his lauded swing, Cardinals' top pick Colby Rasmus said he headed off for his first full season of pro ball prepped. But standing in center field a few weeks ago …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Ben Jacobs / Hardball Times:
What's up with the NL Central? — The neat thing about April is that you can find all sorts of goofy looking baseball statistics or situations. For instance, take a look at the NL Central winning percentages. If you prorated those winning percentages over 162 games, here's what the win totals would look like for the six teams:
