Top News:
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Lerners to buy Nationals from MLB — Family-led ownership group has long ties to DC — After a yearlong search and decision-making process, Major League Baseball has sold the Washington Nationals to a group headed by Theodore and Mark Lerner. — The news was given to the Ted Lerner …
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NBC4:
Groundbreaking Scheduled For New Ballpark — WASHINGTON — A ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony is planned for this morning at the site of the new Washington Nationals ballpark. — D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams and the Nationals' new owner, Bethesda businessman Theodore Lerner, will be part of the 10 a.m. ceremony.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
David Picker / New York Times:
Delgado Has the Will and Finds a Way — The weather during last night's game between the Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates was miserable. The wind at Shea Stadium was howling during the first pitch, and rain began falling in the third inning. — But the stormy conditions did not begin in earnest until the top of the ninth.
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Sean Brennan / NY Daily News:
Chavez fills in nicely — Willie Randolph may want to drop a little a something on that big horse race in Kentucky this Saturday. His hunches seem to be right on these days. — Before last night's game, Randolph, going strictly with his gut, decided to sit Xavier Nady in the opener …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Julian Garcia / NY Daily News:
Wagner saves excuses — Billy Wagner had excuses - such as wind and rain - but chose not to use them following the Mets' 4-3 victory over the Pirates last night at Shea. — Instead, the Mets' closer took full responsibility for blowing a two-run lead in the ninth, denying Pedro Martinez …
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Mets walk off winners — Delgado's HR in 12th wins it after Wagner can't seal the deal — The blown save in the ninth inning wasn't what the Mets envisioned when they signed Billy Wagner in the offseason to be their closer. — The winning home run in the 12th inning?
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
A-Rod grabs chance in clutch — RBI single lifts Yanks in 10th — ST. PETERSBURG - Alex Rodriguez was waiting in the on-deck circle when Joe Torre called him over from the dugout. Rodriguez was a little confused. Tenth inning, tie game, go-ahead run in scoring position . . . and the manager wanted to talk?
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
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Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
A-Rod turns clutch — He and Matsui come through with big singles in 10th to break slumps — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez was in the on-deck circle, just about to walk to the plate in a critical 10th-inning spot, when he heard a whistle from the dugout. — Rodriguez looked back and saw Joe Torre calling.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Rodriguez Breaks Out of a Slump That Wasn't — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 3 — When Alex Rodriguez came to the plate in the 10th inning Wednesday night, he had two hits in his previous 23 times at bat. But he was not slumping. Rodriguez, the Yankees' third baseman, has never slumped.
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mulder in St. Louis to have back examined — HOUSTON - Lefthanded starting pitcher Mark Mulder returned to St. Louis Tuesday night to be examined for back stiffness that has bothered him for much of the last two weeks, club officials confirmed Wednesday afternoon.
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Paul Hagen / Philly.com:
New pastime: Needling Barry — MILWAUKEE - There's a statue of Hank Aaron outside the main gate at Miller Park. The plaque underneath contains the information that the Hall of Famer played for the Milwaukee Braves from 1954 through 1965, after which the franchise relocated to Atlanta …
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Rain delay provided an opportunity to soak the fans — Despite more brutal weather, they played baseball at Fenway last night. Hallelujah. But had they not played, the Red Sox still would have been winners at the cash register. The $ox always win these days.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Winter Olympics / Chicago Sun Times:
Prior's recovery runs into another roadblock — PHOENIX — Pitchers Kerry Wood and Wade Miller were with their teammates Wednesday in the Cubs' clubhouse at Chase Field, but Mark Prior was missing and no gear was in his empty locker. He is dealing with a physical setback that has nothing to do with his right shoulder rehab.
Discussion:
Ivy Chat
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Notes: Rotation facing makeover? — Little indicates Perez may not make his next scheduled start — LOS ANGELES — Odalis Perez's next turn in the rotation comes up on Sunday. Whether he makes it appears doubtful. — Perez took a 6-0 lead into the fifth inning on Tuesday night in Arizona.
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
The Diary of Carlos Delgado — The students wanted to present Carlos Delgado with a gift he could actually use, something that did not cost a lot of money but showed a lot of thought. — Johnathan Polanco was watching the Mets on television when he thought of the perfect thing.
