Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Pedro goes for sixth straight win — Pittsburgh (8-20) at New York (17-9), 7:10 p.m. ET — When Pedro Martinez is listed as the next scheduled starting pitcher, it never seems to matter too much if the Mets won or lost the day before. — Momentum is only as good as the next day's starting pitcher …
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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.
Discussion:
New York Post
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 …
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
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats' Brass Say They'll Rebuild From Within — Lerner, Kasten Promise No Precipitous Moves — Stan Kasten, the man who will run the Washington Nationals as their president, has been involved with professional sports for nearly three decades, virtually the entire span of free agency.
Discussion:
MLB.com, New York Times, District of Baseball, Three True Outcomes, Nationals Farm Authority and USA Today
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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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards can't finish rally — HOUSTON — Somewhere between St. Louis and Cincinnati last Sunday night the Cardinals hit turbulence. With the team no longer benefiting from a season-opening stretch of 16 of 25 games at home, rough air continued Wednesday for a normally airtight rotation …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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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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.
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
First Impression Is Not a Winner — Angels try Kendrick at first base, but it doesn't help in a 2-1 loss to Detroit. Mathis is demoted to Salt Lake. — DETROIT — Howie Kendrick had never played first base before, not in Little League, high school, junior college or the minor leagues …
Discussion:
Mack Avenue Tigers
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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 …
Mike Kiley / Chicago Sun Times:
Arizona not a happy place for Maddux — PHOENIX — Bank One Ballpark is now Chase Field. But as far as Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux is concerned, withdrawing a victory from this chintzy place has been an impoverishing experience. — Maddux continued to come up dry in the desert …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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
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
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.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Shoulder sends Ohka to DL — Righty expected out at least one month; no surgery scheduled — MILWAUKEE — The Brewers placed Tomo Ohka on the disabled list on Wednesday with a shoulder injury that will sideline the right-hander for at least a month.
Metstradamus / The Musings and Prophecies …:
Flashback From The Subconscious — Any similarities to Tike Redman and Braden Looper are completely coincidental. — We hope. — This is the game that you don't want to take a nap in the middle of...especially anytime after the ninth inning. Because after Country Time spit the bit …
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Grieving Barmes to leave team — Shortstop will miss up to two games of upcoming homestand — ATLANTA — Rockies shortstop Clint Barmes will leave the club to mourn the death of a family member after Tuesday night's game, and will miss one and possibly two games of a homestand that starts on Wednesday.
Carol Slezak / Chicago Sun Times:
The survival guide: Jones credits his mother — If you think a few boo-birds are going to keep Jacque Jones down, then you don't know much about the Cubs right fielder. Sure, he was disappointed about being booed at Wrigley Field. No one likes to be booed. But when you look at the big picture, the boos don't mean a thing.
Mike Kiley / Chicago Sun Times:
Latest Wood rehab tour starts Sunday in Peoria — PHOENIX — Kerry Wood will start his minor-league rehab Sunday pitching in Peoria for the Cubs' Class A affiliate. He will be facing the Lansing Lugnuts in a Midwest League game. — His goal will be to throw 75 to 80 pitches.
