Top News:
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Ortiz returning for tests — He cites heart problem again; Red Sox get routed by Oakland — OAKLAND, Calif. — A season slipping away took another crushing turn last night, even before a ragtag team of Red Sox was beaten, 9-0, by the Oakland Athletics. — About 20 minutes before the first pitch …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, Keep Your Sox On In Brooklyn, The Sports Frog, Bronx Banter and The Soxaholix
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Boston slugger Ortiz sent home for more heart tests — OAKLAND, Calif. - Slightly more than a week after being admitted to Mass. General Hospital with an irregular heartbeat, Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz suffered a recurrence of the problem last night and will return to Boston today for additional testing.
Associated Press:
Ortiz leaves BoSox, returns to Boston with irregular heartbeat — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — OAKLAND, Calif. — Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was scheduled to leave the team Tuesday and return to Boston to be examined again for an irregular heartbeat.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Ramirez, Ortiz sit against Athletics — Manny unlikely to play until Thursday at the earliest — OAKLAND — The short-handed Red Sox were hit with the ultimate double whammy at the outset of this three-game series against the red-hot Oakland Athletics on Monday.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yankees Fume After Pavano Fails To Disclose Most Recent Injury — Carl Pavano continues to find new ways to let down the Yankees. The difference now is that the team is more than disappointed. It's angry. — Just as he was closing in on returning to the Yankees after a 14-month absence …
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Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
Pavano a pain in wreck — Pitcher hides accident and injury as Cashman fumes — Carl Pavano's mouth was the last thing the Yankees had to worry about. — Until now. — The Yankees announced yesterday that the constantly injured $40 million pitcher was in a car accident while rehabbing …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals' Escobar out for season — Outfielder expected to be ready for start of Spring Training — WASHINGTON — Nationals center fielder Alex Escobar had an MRI on his right shoulder on Monday and it revealed that he has a tear in his right labrum and will have surgery within the next seven to 10 days.
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Since Blowup, Schneider Has Rallied at — and Behind — the Plate — No one would argue that Washington Nationals catcher Brian Schneider has had an outstanding season. Yet General Manager Jim Bowden asked over the weekend, "What did he do the last two weeks?" — Indeed, Schneider is on the brink of salvaging the year.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Zimmerman for Gold Glove — Beat writer Bill Ladson answers Nationals fans' questions … Comparing Ryan Zimmerman to Brooks Robinson needs to stop immediately. How on earth can you compare 16 Gold Gloves to a rookie year in the bigs? You can't, I can't and even as much as I respect manager Frank Robinson, he can't.
Discussion:
The Nationals Enquirer
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
A Whiff of Futility, and Rodriguez Can't Breathe Easy — Alex Rodriguez went 10 years without striking out four times in a game. Then he did it last month in Toronto, and again Friday night in Anaheim. Naturally, Rodriguez's inner competitor did not take this well.
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NY Daily News:
Jax sees A-Rod upside — There figures to be plenty of boos waiting for Alex Rodriguez at the Stadium tonight. That is what happens to players who struggle the way A-Rod has, going 2-for-20 with 14 strikeouts during the Yankees' six games against Seattle and Anaheim last week.
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Teacher Crowley a hit with O's pupils … When Orioles rookie Nick Markakis popped out of the dugout for a curtain call after his third home run of the night last Tuesday, Terry Crowley remained in the background, exactly where he wanted to be. — Leaning against a partition a couple of yards away …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Chávez Finds a Home in the Mets' Outfield — The Mets had Endy Chávez for five seasons before deciding in 2000 that they did not want him anymore. They did not want him in 2001. Or in 2002, either. — Now Manager Willie Randolph cannot imagine life without him.
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
