Top News:
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Overlooked O'Connor opens eyes … Mike O'Connor kept falling through baseball's cracks. — That's what happens when you're signpost skinny. — And your reach-back, try-and-hit-this heater sits at 87 mph. And when you're overshadowed in high school by a future big league superstar.
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Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:
Not Quite a Rivalry, But in the Neighborhood — Nationals, Orioles Need Time to Develop a History — Late at night on Sept. 10, 1971, the Washington Senators' bus pulled out of a parking lot at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, following a 7-1 loss to Frank Robinson and the mighty Orioles …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Bannister leaves rehab start early — Right-hander throws just five pitches before tweaking his leg — ST. LOUIS — Twenty-two days after he strained his right hamstring, and one day after he tried to pitch in game for the first time since the original injury …
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David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:
Snow Requests Trade — Agent Says First Baseman Wants More Playing Time — BALTIMORE — J.T. Snow realizes the only way he's going to play more is with another team. The Red Sox are looking to help him out by attempting to trade him, Snow's agent Dan Horwits said Wednesday.
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David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:Closure For The Cowboy — Millar Homers, Sox Streak Ends
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Nationals sale unanimously approved — NEW YORK (AP) — Theodore Lerner got a standing ovation from his soon-to-be colleagues and competitors. All that remains to complete his purchase of the Washington Nationals is the paperwork. — The $450 million sale from Major League Baseball …
Discussion:
The Nationals Enquirer
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David Nakamura / Washington Post:Lerner Group Plans RFK 'Grand Reopening'
Discussion:
William F. Yurasko's …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Pavano Says Right Arm Is Troubling Him Again — It has become as predictable as Mariano Rivera throwing cutters or Jason Giambi taking walks. When Carl Pavano pitches, he gets hurt. For almost a year now, that has been a near certainty. — Pavano, who was supposed to be the Yankees' No. 3 starter …
Discussion:
Off the Facade
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Joe Lapointe / New York Times:Damon Says Injured Foot Has 'Little Crack' in Bone
Discussion:
Replacement Level …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals go deep to down Cubs — Washington righty Ortiz notches first win of the season — CHICAGO — Whenever the Nationals win a game these days, manager Frank Robinson calls it big, because the victories have been few and far between. Thursday's victory was, indeed …
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Cordero Answers The Call — Nationals' Closer, Bullpen Salvages Finale in Chicago: Nationals 5, Cubs 3 — CHICAGO, May 18 — With the tying runs on base and the winning run at the plate, Frank Robinson stepped out of the visitors' dugout Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field to pay a visit to his closer …
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels' Loss Raises Tempers — Erstad is heard in clubhouse yelling at teammates to not point fingers after team blows two chances to win during an 8-4, 10-inning loss to Toronto. — The tensions of a highly disappointing season and the frustration of one of the most excruciating …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
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Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Missed opportunities cost Angels — Scoring chances in eighth and ninth not cashed in — ANAHEIM — The Angels fell a season-high seven games under .500 with an 8-4 loss in 10 innings to the Blue Jays on a Thursday night at Angel Stadium that brought frustration to the surface.
Discussion:
6-4-2
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Barajas boosts Rangers with his bat — NEW YORK - Here's something you haven't been able to say often, if at all, this season: Rod Barajas' bat played a huge role in a Rangers win. — Barajas did it with a bunt and a blast Thursday. — Barajas, who leads the team with three sacrifice hits …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Larry Stewart / Los Angeles Times:
Baseball Returns on Fox — Fox begins its 11th season of baseball coverage Saturday with four regional telecasts, including the Angels and Dodgers. — The announcers will be Kenny Albert and Steve Lyons and the game will be shown in 13% of the country. — To promote the start …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Associated Press:
Pirates place unhappy Duffy on restricted list — PITTSBURGH — Outfielder Chris Duffy, unhappy the Pittsburgh Pirates tried to alter his hitting approach after a successful rookie season, was placed on the minor league restricted list Thursday after failing to report to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Marcus Hayes / Miami Herald:
New wall is far out, man — SELDOM DOES A man hurt most by change embrace it. — Chase Utley would have three more home runs had the Phillies not decided to move the leftfield wall at Citizens Bank Park back 5 feet, to 334 feet, and raise it 2 ½ feet, to 10 feet, 6 inches.
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
Paul Lomartire / Palm Beach Post:
Fans finding hope in Rays — ST. PETERSBURG — Forgive the Florida Marlins if they don't recognize the Tampa Bay Devil Rays when interleague play starts tonight at Tropicana Field. — "Everything's better this year," said Tim Provost, a Rays fan from Lakeland. "It's a whole different atmosphere here.
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Joe Rutter / PittsburghLIVE.com:
Reds pitcher continues verbal assault — TRIBUNE-REVIEW — Bronson Arroyo didn't back down Thursday from the disparaging comments he made against the Pirates one night earlier. Instead, he stepped up and continued to assail his former team. — Arroyo, the losing pitcher …
Clark Spencer / Miami Herald:
Rookie's Georgia return a success — Reggie Abercrombie grew up in Columbus, Ga., but never made the 100-mile trip to Atlanta to watch the Braves play. For that matter, Abercrombie never had been to a major-league game until April, when the Marlins faced the Houston Astros in the season opener.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Notes: Ramirez sits with mild strain — Cubs third baseman likely to return for weekend series — CHICAGO — Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez was sidelined on Thursday with a mild strain in his lower back, but he is expected to play this weekend in the Interleague series against the White Sox.
