Top News:
New York Post:
GIAMBI HOPING NECK GETS BETTER — May 16, 2006 — When Jason Giambi left Yankee Stadium last night, he walked like he had an iron board nailed to his back. — With Hideki Matsui gone for at least three months and nobody knowing when Gary Sheffield will return, the Yankees have their fingers crossed …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
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NY Daily News:
Mussina's strong start comes as relief — The game had none of the sizzle of last week's Red Sox series, or the buzz that will greet the Yankees at Shea this weekend against the Mets. Just a ho-hum weeknight affair with the Rangers. And yet in some ways this was as much a statement start as any Mike Mussina has made in 2006.
Discussion:
Newsday
David Picker / New York Times:
Once Mussina Exits, Yanks Are at a Loss — Center fielder Johnny Damon was not able to catch a single hit by Rod Barajas in the fifth inning. Barajas was forced at second by the next batter. — Every time Mike Mussina, whose nickname is Moose, recorded a second strike on a batter last night …
Kit Stier / MLB.com:Sturtze's season could be over — MRI on ailing right-hander …
Discussion:
NY Daily News
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets know dealing with Pujols no walk in park — Albert Pujols could get the Barry Bonds treatment when the Mets open a three-game series tonight against the Cardinals in St Louis. The slugger was named NL Player of the Week yesterday after hitting .429 with three homers in 21 at-bats during a seven-day span.
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Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Future Shock — NL West Roundup — The Sidewinders roster is all about offensive prospects. As loaded as they are, their best hitter statistically has been outfielder Scott Hairston, who has seemingly worn out his welcome with the Diamondbacks but is hitting .301/.389/.559.
Discussion:
¡Disfrute El Lefty Malo!
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Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Today — Road Game — I caught the Las Vegas 51s/Nashville Sounds game last night, the outcome a 4-3 win for the 51s. Much to talk about, so let's dispense with narrative and go to the bullets. — The matchup of D.J. Houlton and Dennis Sarfate didn't look sexy …
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Avoiding fault line — Hendry says he supports Baker, doesn't blame injuries for team's current 2-14 tailspin — Cubs general manager Jim Hendry agreed to a question-and-answer session on Monday's off day, assessing a slumping team that has lost 14 of its last 16 games to fall to 15-22.
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USA Today:
Mets realize season is a marathon — The New York Mets made it look too easy the first two weeks of the season. They won all but two of their 12 games, Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine never pitched better and the team was stealing headlines from their cross-town rivals, the mighty Yankees.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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Jay Jaffe / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Hit List — Week of May 14 — It takes a real man to swing a pink bat. The sight of some of the game's most fearsome hitters—Adam Dunn, Jim Edmonds, Prince Fielder, Jason Giambi, Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Thome—among dozens of ballplayers wielding specially-painted Louisville Sluggers …
Alan Schwarz / New York Times:
Baseball Is a Game of Numbers, but Whose Numbers Are They? — Like no other corner of American popular culture, baseball communicates in numbers. From .406 (Ted Williams's 1941 batting average) to 755 (Hank Aaron's record home run total) to countless digits bandied about water coolers every morning …
Discussion:
Double Play Depth, The Baseball Journals, Sweaty Men Endeavors, The GYS Network and Baseball Musings
Chris Snow / Boston Globe:
It's a piece of cake for Beckett and Red Sox — BALTIMORE — Average would have been enough. Six innings, eight hits, four runs, something like that would have done the job just fine against a woeful Baltimore team outscored, 56-20, by the Sox in seven games this season, all Boston wins …
New York Post:
MAKE WAY FOR PELFREY — PROSPECT COULD GIVE METS JUNE JOLT — May 16, 2006 — Tuesday morning shortstop IN January, the Mets invested more than $5 million to lock up Mike Pelfrey. In February and March, the organization's top decision-makers were near unanimity that he had the best arm in camp.
Scott / CardNilly:
Media Notes — This was going to be an intro for the Mets Preview going up later today, but it got a bit lengthy. So it gets its own post: — First — It feels like maybe the Retire 51 campaign might be getting a little traction. Rene Knott of Channel 5 asked Willie about it yesterday …
Brian O'Neill / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Stats Geek: Statistic sheds new light on Big Hit Theory — Jason Bay tripled with two outs and the bases loaded Friday night, getting the Pirates right back in the ballgame. In the radio booth, announcer Bob Walk all but fell to his knees. — "That triple is exactly the base hit …
Chicago Tribune:
Ask Paul Sullivan — The Tribune's Cubs writer answers readers' questions every week throughout the season — Always looking at the bright side, Cubs fans ask Paul about Dusty Watch, selling off players, curses, and whether it's OK to declare the team dead:
Discussion:
Baseball Think Factory
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Soriano Learns On the Fly — Move to Left Field Has Led to Some Awkward Moments — At times, when the action is slow, Alfonso Soriano turns to face the stands in left field, regardless of the park in which he is playing. Soriano flashes that broad, toothy smile and waves …
