Top News:
Jack Curry / New York Times:
In Boston, It's Catch as Catch Can't — John Flaherty has watched some of Tim Wakefield's vicious knuckleballs make Josh Bard look more like a blindfolded goalie than a reliable catcher with the Boston Red Sox. He grimaces for poor Bard, then offers a silent prayer.
RELATED ITEMS:
ESPN:
Mirabelli to catch Wakefield tonight vs. Yankees — The Boston Red Sox have finalized a trade to obtain catcher Doug Mirabelli from the San Diego Padres in exchange for catcher Josh Bard, minor-league pitcher Cla Meredith and cash, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney is reporting.
USA Today:
Damon, Thome make first return to former homes — They were icons in their cities, the face of their organizations, but return today as the enemy. — Center fielder Johnny Damon, who left the Boston Red Sox last winter to sign a four-year, $52 million contract with the archrival New York Yankees …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:Johnny On The Spot — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla — .
Discussion:
Boston Red Sox Nation
Christian Red / NY Daily News:
Boss to rookie ump: Yer out! — Umpire Adam Dowdy may have called his last game behind the plate if George Steinbrenner gets his way. — After ejecting Joe Torre and Toronto skipper John Gibbons in the span of one inning yesterday, Dowdy incurred the wrath of The Boss as the Yankee owner left …
Discussion:
Yard Work
RELATED ITEMS:
Joe Lapointe / New York Times:The Yanks Win, and Make Room for Another Rival
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
Clark Spencer / Miami Herald:
Sweep reveals Marlins' mess — Colorado outscored Florida by a combined four runs but swept all three games. 'It's hard to believe,' Joe Girardi said. — cspencer@MiamiHerald.com — The term ''moral victory'' rings hollow for manager Joe Girardi. — To him, the area between wins …
RELATED ITEMS:
David Lennon / Newsday:
Trachsel mimics Zambrano — ATLANTA — The Mets shuffled their rotation for this weekend's series at Turner Field because they didn't want one of Victor Zambrano's typical performances to derail them in yesterday's finale against the Braves. — Apparently, Steve Trachsel didn't get the memo.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
RELATED ITEMS:
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs keep eye on Arizona's Clark — With the Cubs hitting just .198 against left-handed pitching and their top right-handed hitter, Derrek Lee, on the disabled list, rumors are spreading that the Cubs may be interested in Arizona's Tony Clark. — The switch-hitting Clark, an 11-year veteran …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED ITEMS:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Middle men run hot, cold — Iguchi, Uribe above average in own ways at second and short — ANAHEIM — They were new to each other, yet worked well together last year. — This April represents a different story, but the White Sox anticipate a happy ending for second baseman Tadahito Iguchi and shortstop Juan Uribe.
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
RELATED ITEMS:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:Sox have turned West Coast corner
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Rodriguez dropping appeal — Reliever to serve three-game suspension starting Monday — ST. LOUIS — After Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Nationals reliever Felix Rodriguez said he was dropping his appeal and will serve his three-game suspension, which would start against the Mets on Monday.
RELATED ITEMS:
Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
May first: Rangers lead West after 8-4 win — CLEVELAND - Rangers manager Buck Showalter said he wanted to get through April and May and still be in the hunt in the American League West. — Well, they got through April. They certainly didn't tear it up, but Sunday's 8-4 win at Cleveland meant …
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Castro could add relief — CLEVELAND - If the Rangers could write their own script, it would have included more outings for 21-year-old lefty Fabio Castro in April. — Castro, whom the Rangers acquired via trade after the December Rule V draft, pitched in only three games in the first four weeks of the season.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
ESPN:
Tigers put whuppin' on Twins — The Detroit Tigers jumped out of the gate in 2006 winning their first five games before losing six of their next eight. At 7-6 and following a 10-2 home loss to Cleveland, manager Jim Leyland went off on his team, saying the losing was unacceptable.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
From bottom up, Fuson wants Padres to bulk up — Grady Fuson saw what weight training did for the Oakland Athletics. He has a similar vision for the Padres. — "With offense usually comes strength, with strength usually comes size, so you want to be more physical," Fuson said.
Knight Ridder:
Frandsen continues painful streak — notebook — SAN FRANCISCO — Another day, another adventure for Kevin Frandsen. — The San Jose native, who joined the Giants on Friday, maintained his three-game streak of being hit by a pitch. Arizona's Brandon Webb nicked Frandsen in the first inning Sunday.
Jeff Angus / 800ceoread.com:
ISBN: 0061119075 Format: Book, 272pp Publisher: Collins List price: [$22.95] — Our price: $18.36 (20% off!) — About Management by Baseball — In Management by Baseball, Jeff Angus arms you with practical examples and proven techniques you can use to improve your managerial effectiveness at work, at home — anywhere.
Frank Fitzpatrick / Philly.com:
The Babe in Kensington — In '23, the legend helped a parish pay off its ball field. — Barry Bonds might well surpass Babe Ruth's home-run total when he and the Giants make their only 2006 visit to Citizens Bank Park next weekend. — But you can bet your supply of performance-enhancing substances …
