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Yahoo! Sports:
The King of Swing — The King of Swing — ST. LOUIS — The home runs are what everyone brings up first. The stratospheric blast off Houston closer Brad Lidge in last October's National League Championship Series with the Cardinals down to their last postseason breath is the first one that comes to mind.
Discussion:
The Catbird …
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
New York pours it on — The Cardinals endured a 101-minute rain delay during Tuesday night's seventh inning. Waiting on the other side was the New York Mets' four-run eighth inning, a head-banging tumble by first baseman Albert Pujols on a slick on-deck circle and, finally, an 8-3 loss before a leftover Busch Stadium crowd.
Discussion:
Fungoes
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Lima, Gonzalez remain in rotation — Mets don't want to rush Bannister back from hamstring injury — ST. LOUIS — The perceived need for Brian Bannister to make a start in the Minor Leagues before returning to big-league duty has forced the Mets to retain the rotation they have used since Victor Zambrano went down on May 6.
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Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Martin Has Earned Some Security — DENVER — Grady Little likes to give a cryptic answer when asked about upcoming roster moves. — "We'll do what gives us the best chance to win," the manager has said. — But when it comes to rookie catcher Russell Martin, the meaning is clear …
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Wakefield faces O's, aiming for sweep — Boston (23-14) at Baltimore (18-22), 7:05 p.m. ET — The Red Sox can't be thrilled that Wednesday is getaway day at Camden Yards. The Red Sox are 8-0 against the Orioles this season and hold a 13-game winning streak vs. Baltimore, dating back to Sept. 3, 2005.
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Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Thompson makes ML debut for Padres — San Diego (22-18) at Arizona (22-17), 6:40 p.m. PT — With Woody Williams out for several months with a torn calf, the call goes out to right-hander Mike Thompson. The 25-year-old Colorado native arrives from Triple-A Portland on Wednesday night …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
D-Backs bullpen to test - again — Orlando Hernandez grimaced and shook his head in the third inning on Tuesday night, and a moment later, he motioned to his catcher: Something wasn't right. — He had just thrown four consecutive pitches wide of the strike zone to San Diego's Geoff Blum …
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Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Kazmir, Rays topple White Sox — Starter strikes out eight over seven in fourth straight win — ST. PETERSBURG — Scott Kazmir just keeps getting better. — On Tuesday night, the Devil Rays' ace put together another solid effort to lead a 10-7 win over the White Sox in front of 11,566 at Tropicana Field.
Discussion:
WELCOME TO
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Bonds' chase gets a jolt from Springer … HOUSTON — Some day, once Barry Bonds' 714th and 715th homers are out of the way (assuming they ever are), no one will remember Russ Springer's role in this saga. — But on a crazy, history-free Tuesday evening in Houston, Springer vs. Bonds was your official DVR moment of the night.
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
RANGERS NOTES — Hicks still on Clemens' trail — NEW YORK - Rangers owner Tom Hicks is in New York for the quarterly Major League Baseball owners' meetings, which take place today and Thursday, and include an official vote on the sale of the Washington Nationals.
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Associated Press:
Twins send struggling righty Lohse to Triple-A — DETROIT — The Twins sent right-hander Kyle Lohse to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday, the latest move made by Minnesota to shake up a struggling rotation. — Lohse, whose salary this season is $3.95 million after beating the team …
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Clemens' decision likely to come within three weeks … HOUSTON — He has already un-retired almost as many times as Cher. But Roger Clemens' latest, greatest comeback from retirement appears to be drawing closer. Much closer. — Clemens has now "accelerated his workout program," …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Mets could clear way for Glavine's exit — Never mind that $12 million club option for 2007 that the Mets included in left-hander Tom Glavine's restructured contract: There is little chance the team will exercise it. — The Mets have agreed informally to decline the option if Glavine wants …
Sports Illustrated:
Hot spots, cold spots — Where do the best sluggers do the most damage? — Since the start of the 2005 season, there have been nearly 900,000 pitches thrown, and Baseball Info Solutions (BIS) has tracked every single one of them. Whether it be the location, velocity or pitch type …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Q&A with Dejan Kovacevic — Q: Well, Jim Tracy's defense of Jeromy Burnitz for not hustling in the second Diamondbacks game was certainly interesting. Is Tracy's rule going to be that loafing is OK as long as nobody can prove definitively that it cost the Pirates the game?
Discussion:
Where have you gone …
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
New start for Hansen — BALTIMORE - Craig Hansen's four-inning stint for Triple-A Pawtucket Monday night may be the start of an interesting twist in the development of the 22-year-old right-hander. — Believed by most to be a closer in waiting, Hansen started Game 2 of a doubleheader …
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
KC: Where the wild things are — CLEVELAND — A wild thing can make your heart sink. Just ask the Royals who, among their many other deficiencies, are on pace to set a modern record this season for wild pitches. — "They have come at bad times, too," pitching coach Bob McClure said. "Why so many?
Discussion:
Red Hot Mama
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Guillen Still Hot, Despite A Cold Start — CHICAGO, May 16 — Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden said the slow start of right fielder Jose Guillen has not deterred teams from calling and asking whether Guillen would be available in a trade. — "Certainly, we expect Jose …
Greg / Faith and Fear in Flushing:
Bad Call — If all I did was watch SNY (and it's close), I'd have no problem picking a Mets MVP for 2006. — Clearly, it's Dave Magadan. Every time I turn this channel on, there he is going 3-for-4. He's gotta be 21-for-28 by now. And the Mets are on the verge of clinching …
Dan O'Neill / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Visiting Mets still have the aroma of Pond Scum — HIT & RUN DAN O'NEILL — The New York Mets are in town, but it's not like the old days. Back in the 1980s, when the Cardinals and Mets were in the same division, it was easy to build a healthy hatred for the "Pond Scum."
Karen Guregian / Boston Herald:
Beckett blisters media over injury report — BALTIMORE - Josh Beckett growled yesterday at the first reporter inquiring about a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. — "I don't have (an expletive) blister," Beckett said. "Look at my (expletive) finger."
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
