Top News:
Mark Herrmann / Newsday:
Mets smart to keep excitement — In the old days, there was a saying that went, "Home run hitters drive Cadillacs." The current addendum to that goes something like this: Triples hitters buy big houses. — Jose Reyes, master of the triple and sparkplug of the Mets …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
RELATED ITEMS:
Ray Sánchez / Newsday:
Oh, how sweep it is — Mets get first three-game sweep at home, widen division lead to 14 — It is a formula that helped deliver the Mets from the cellar of the National League East this time last season to the most wins in the league and a virtually insurmountable first-place lead with a 69-44 record.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Spilborghs could return in center — Los Angeles - The Rockies have searched everywhere but Google for a center fielder. — The journey from the trade market to the waiver wire has led back to Triple-A Colorado Springs. There are strong indications that Ryan Spilborghs will be promoted …
RELATED ITEMS:
Rocky Mountain News:
Etkin: Fowler looks to be center fielder of the future — Picture a switch-hitter center fielder for the Rockies, an exciting player with across-the-board tools. That player would excel on defense, a necessity at Coors Field, and be able to hit for average, steal bases and have a reasonable amount of power.
Minneapolis Star Tribune:
No timetable set for Liriano's return — The rookie has a ligament strain and shoulder weakness, and the Twins won't let him pitch again until he is pain-free. — Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano will be out indefinitely because of a mild chronic strain of the ulnar collateral ligament …
RELATED ITEMS:
NY Daily News:
Lo Duca yet to catch up to '86 Mets — Did you read about Paul Lo Duca's divorce? — Did you also read he actually hit on a younger woman? — Mercy me. What is this world coming to? — This is an unusual story, right? Certainly worthy of page one placement, right?
Discussion:
Hot Foot
RELATED ITEMS:
T.J. Quinn / NY Daily News:
Longshot Lo Duca — Sources: Bookies stalk Met catcher — At least twice during the past year, illegal bookmakers came out of the shadows and into the world of baseball to pressure Paul Lo Duca into paying gambling debts, several sources have told the Daily News.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Bad outing, more doubts — Prior's health an issue following 3-inning stint — MILWAUKEE — Questions about Mark Prior's health surfaced again Thursday after another shaky outing in an 8-6 loss to Milwaukee, but the answers were as elusive as Prior himself.
RELATED ITEMS:
Greg Couch / Chicago Sun Times:Have you met the Mrs.? Prior's playing cower ball
Discussion:
Ivy Chat
Kelsie Smith / Boston Globe:
Stopper couldn't close the deal — After 7 strong, Schilling falls flat — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A few days ago, in his pregame sitdown at Kauffman Stadium, Terry Francona talked about his ace — how solid he's been, how consistent, how accountable. — ``When we're on a losing streak," …
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
RELATED ITEMS:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Marlins Feast On Nats' Relievers — Loss Is Fourth In Past 5 Games: Marlins 9, Nationals 6 — This is supposed to be happening in New Orleans or Harrisburg or some other minor league hamlet where pitchers can implode and it is labeled part of the learning process, not a disaster.
RELATED ITEMS:
Mark Saxon / Orange County Register:
Angels rookie pitchers will be tested at Yankee Stadium. — CLEVELAND - Yankee Stadium has a way of closing in on young pitchers. — The 83-year-old Bronx stadium holds more than 57,000 people, but it can feel like they're all standing 5 feet away when the Yankees rally.
RELATED ITEMS:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Patterson up for new challenge — WASHINGTON — With right-hander Livan Hernandez no longer on the Nationals, it means, starting next year, that John Patterson will be the ace of the pitching staff, and the right-hander welcomes the challenge. — With a younger staff expected …
RELATED ITEMS:
Mark Hale / New York Post:
BUM HEEL PUTS FLOYD BACK ON DL — MET NOTES — Cliff Floyd was placed on the disabled list yesterday for the second time this season, this time because of tendinitis in his left Achilles. — Floyd, who was supposed to visit a doctor yesterday, had only one at-bat and one inning …
RELATED ITEMS:
NY Daily News:
Heart shows way on Valentin's day — This year's Mets, unlike their fumbling ancestors, have become the unAmazin's. They won their fifth straight yesterday, almost routinely, own best record in the league and have spent exactly one day out of first place.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Rocky Mountain News:
Ringolsby: Girardi may be losing control in Florida — LOS ANGELES - Baseball had its first managerial change of the season this week. — But it doesn't count because nothing really changed. — Florida owner Jeffrey Loria fired manager Joe Girardi on Sunday afternoon …
Ted Hutton / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins: Outfield juggling act of necessity — WASHINGTON — Marlins manager Joe Girardi penciled in a different outfield alignment in each of the three games against the Nationals and used six players. — Outfield-by-committee has been necessary because no one has hit well enough long enough …
