Top News:
Jackie MacMullan / Boston Globe:
Johnson's struggles loom large — NEW YORK — Catcher Jorge Posada was in the corner of the subdued Yankees clubhouse informing reporters there was nothing wrong with Randy Johnson's velocity. — ''He threw one pitch 101 miles per hour tonight," Posada insisted. — ''No, that wasn't me," Johnson deadpanned.
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Mark Herrmann / Newsday:
Yankees — Jeers are Unit of measure — Wild Johnson booed after getting pulled in fourth as woes go on — In one of his recent pep talks with Randy Johnson, Joe Torre told his struggling ace that all that matters is winning. "And winning," the manager said, "doesn't have to be pretty."
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Red Sox Punish the Sloppy Yankees — The booing landed on Randy Johnson like a thunderclap, intense and explosive, booming down from all corners of Yankee Stadium. There were 54,688 fans there last night, and they all seemed to jeer Johnson as he walked off the mound in the fourth inning.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Beckett, Sox roll to win over Yankees — Right-hander goes seven innings; bats rap 16 hits in victory — NEW YORK — It sure looked like Josh Beckett was laboring through the first inning Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. The hints to back such an assumption were 30 pitches and the blast …
NY Daily News:
Once again, the choke's on Alex — Error latest Bosox blunder — Maybe it wouldn't have mattered by night's end. Maybe Randy Johnson was going to come unglued at some point anyway. Or maybe it all turns out differently if Alex Rodriguez fields a ground ball hit right at him by David Ortiz in the third inning.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Fans Vent Their Rage at Wagner, Who Turns a Deaf Ear — PHILADELPHIA, May 9 — The crowd hovering above the Mets' bullpen parted after the fourth inning Tuesday night. Until that point, those who gathered to jeer, heckle and otherwise belittle Billy Wagner for signing a fat contract …
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Rich Hofmann / Philly.com:
Billy gets his money's worth — 'THERE'S A closer, Billy," the one guy shouted at Billy Wagner, as Phils reliever Tom Gordon left the adjacent bullpen and headed out to pitch the top of the ninth inning. The Phillies fans, shouldered in along the railing above the Mets' — bullpen, were hoarse and happy.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Sam Donnellon / Philly.com:
Philadelphia Phillies — There were two things you could always count on when assessing the National League East in March. — One was that, no matter how it appeared on paper, the Braves were going to win the division. — The other was that no matter how it appeared on paper in March, the Mets were not.
Discussion:
Archie Bunker's Army
J. Weitzel / Beerleaguer:Phillies face their toughest challenge of 2006
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, The Musings and Prophecies …, Blinq, Metsblog.com and Philly Sports & Minutiae
David Lennon / Newsday:
Martinez finally gets his control — PHILADELPHIA — Pedro Martinez always has been considered the key to postseason dreams for the Mets, but with the back end of the rotation in turmoil, it seems even more so these days. That's what made the first few innings of last night's 5-4 loss …
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Heilman's pitch to start is turned down again — PHILADELPHIA - After Victor Zambrano suffered a season-ending elbow injury, Aaron Heilman acknowledged approaching Willie Randolph and pitching coach Rick Peterson, again asking to be considered for a starting role.
David Lennon / Newsday:
Heilman penned — Though he would like to start, Randolph says Aaron Heilman's value is in relief role — It was not exactly surprising that the Mets picked Jeremi Gonzalez, a minor-league journeyman, to start Friday's game against the Brewers at Miller Park.
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Under The Knife — Game Shortage — Short days stink. There aren't enough games, and seldom any day games to let me spread out my baseball pleasure. With the lack of games usually comes a lack of injuries for me to talk about. While I'm all for an injuries shortage, I want it to be an issue of quality, not one of quantity.
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Mark Schmetzer / MLB.com:
Notes: Loss of Patterson hurts — Bowden can go home again; Guzman out for year — CINCINNATI — Washington manager Frank Robinson estimates that the absence of right-hander John Patterson from Washington's rotation has cost the Nationals at least two wins and maybe three.
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
RANGERS NOTES — Blalock hitting to all fields — ARLINGTON — Third baseman Hank Blalock has been spraying balls all over the field this season, forcing teams to go away from the shift they often play on him. — "I think as a hitter it gives you a better chance of being successful …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Kevin Baxter / Miami Herald:
Even Francoeur walks — Atlanta Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur entered the three-game series without a walk in 133 plate appearances. But that streak didn't last long against a Marlins staff that has been averaging nearly five walks a game as Brian Moehler managed to do in the sixth inning …
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
Hamels' debut could be Friday — The Phillies' top prospect appears to be on the fast track to the big leagues. — One of the most eagerly awaited Phillies debuts in recent history could take place Friday in Cincinnati. — Team officials met yesterday to discuss the future of pitcher Cole Hamels …
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
Associated Press:
Kendall: MLB 'has turned into a badminton league' — TORONTO — Oakland Athletics catcher Jason Kendall ripped Major League Baseball after dropping his appeal of his four-game suspension on Tuesday. — Kendall was suspended and fined for charging Los Angeles Angels pitcher John Lackey in a game on May 2.
