Top News:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nationals' Kasten Will Keep Bowden — Stan Kasten, the incoming president of the Washington Nationals, yesterday announced he would keep Jim Bowden as the team's general manager when new ownership takes over later this month, providing stability to the front office during a period that could bring significant upheaval on the field.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Offense rests for Nats in opener — Zimmerman's 50th RBI of the season Washington's sole run — WASHINGTON — Second baseman Jose Vidro saw a lot of weird things during his eight years in Montreal. From 1998 to 2001, he saw his team lose 94 games or more each season.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Bowden will remain with Nationals — Impending sale of team means money at GM's disposal — WASHINGTON — With the Lerner Group getting close to purchasing the Nationals before the grand reopening at RFK Stadium on July 21, incoming president Stan Kasten announced that general manager Jim Bowden …
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Devil Rays Overwhelm The Nationals — As demoralizing as Thursday night's sweep-concluding loss to the Toronto Blue Jays was, last night's defeat may have been more devastating for the Washington Nationals. At least in the wee hours of Friday morning, when the Nationals' team plane touched down …
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
D-Train stops Boston's 12-game winning streak — MIAMI GARDENS - Much of the pre-series discussion focused on how irked the Marlins would feel playing in front Red Sox-friendly crowds. — Whatever percentage of the 32,194 Dolphin Stadium fans were Big Papi partisans or Manny Ramirez maniacs meant little …
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Dave Joseph / Sun-Sentinel:
Classy Lowell swinging easy again — · Mike Lowell came home Friday evening. — There were a few adjustments. Different uniform. Different clubhouse. — "I had to ask where to park," he said, a smile creasing his face. — But here he was again at Dolphin Stadium.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Associated Press:Welcome back — Flurry of ex-Marlins return for sort of homecoming
Discussion:
Fish Chunks
Jim Salisbury / Philly.com:
Phillies Notes — TORONTO - Could David Dellucci be headed back to the Texas Rangers? — Texas had a scout at last night's Phillies-Blue Jays game, and two major-league sources say the Rangers have tried to reacquire the outfielder, who was traded to the Phillies for pitcher Robinson Tejeda on April 1.
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
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Jim Salisbury / Philly.com:
Ow, Canada! Phillies lose big to Blue Jays — TORONTO - And so the Sordid Season treks on, with new faces in haunting old places. — One night after breaking a seven-game losing streak in Baltimore, the Phillies ventured north last night and continued their plummet south in the National League East standings.
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Notes: Rios' return uncertain — Blue Jays outfielder recovering from infection in left leg — TORONTO — The Blue Jays could be without Alex Rios longer than they originally anticipated. What began as a routine day off to rest a sore left leg has turned into a two-day stay in an area hospital for the right fielder.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks Leave Mets Guessing — It was nothing against Ron Villone, a left-handed reliever who has pitched very well this season. But his presence should have revived the Mets last night at Yankee Stadium. — Villone was a gift from the heavens, which produced a 63-minute rain delay in the fourth inning.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
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Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
A Gritty Outing by Hernández Is Not Enough for the Mets — Orlando Hernández, who always likes to be the first player on the field between innings, made sure he was the first player out of the dugout after last night's rain delay. — Hernández could have been excused …
Darren Everson / NY Daily News:
Mets' slump a National problem — This is the Mets' first four-game losing streak. This is also their first (and, fortunately for them, last) lengthy stretch of interleague games. Coincidence? — The Mets (47-32) still own the best record in the National League, but as interleague play has shown …
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:At 32, Jeter Has Experienced It All in This Crosstown Rivalry
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
Greg Wagner / MLB.com:
Jered Weaver returns to Majors — Angels designate Jeff Weaver for assignment — ANAHEIM — The last-place Angels simply couldn't wait any longer to see more of their rookie phenom. — With calming health concerns about Bartolo Colon and an inability to trade Jeff Weaver …
Discussion:
Watching All Angels
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Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:
Padres add former Dodgers GM DePodesta to front office — Padres add former Dodgers GM DePodesta to front office — SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres hired Paul DePodesta as special assistant for baseball operations on Friday, giving them five former general managers on their payroll.
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Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:Padres hire ex-Dodgers exec DePodesta
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Notes: New battery set to debut — Hendrickson and Hall get the call on Saturday vs. Angels — ANAHEIM — The new battery of left-handed starter Mark Hendrickson and catcher Toby Hall will start Saturday's game against the Angels, but after that, their roles will take different paths.
Discussion:
Inside the Dodgers
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Hughes Will Probably Stay, but Two Prospects May Go — With each game he pitches, it seems, Phil Hughes cements his case to stay with the Yankees past the July 31 trading deadline. Hughes, 20, has allowed just one hit in each of his last two starts for Class AA Trenton.
