How To Fix Randolph's Squad  —  When a manager is not fired, as Willie Randolph was not after a long meeting yesterday with Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon and general manager Omar Minaya, it is usually not news.  Managers are not fired all the time.  Only rarely, though …

Here's Jay  —  21-year-old could start in center field tonight against Pirates  —  digg us!  del.icio.us!  —  The Reds will make the move every Reds fan from Zanesville to Addyston has been calling for:  —  Uber-prospect Jay Bruce will be promoted to the big club in time for today's opener …

Phils score 20 in win over Rockies  —  Where was this in October?  —  You remember October, right?  The Phillies roared into the playoffs like a lion and exited like a lamb.  They lost three straight ball games to the Colorado Rockies and hit just .172 in the process.

Marlins add to Mets' misery  —  NEW YORK — The Marlins feel awful about the media frenzy engulfing Mets manager Willie Randolph, whose job has come under intense scrutiny because of his team's poor play.  —  They certainly didn't help Randolph's cause Monday night.

Sox' winning formula starts with Pedroia  —  Dustin Pedroia follows the flight of his run-scoring ground-rule double in the eighth.  Pedroia also made several sparkling defensive plays in Boston's win.  (Ted S. Warren/Associated Press)  —  SEATTLE - When you play the word-association …

The metamorphosis of Joba  —  Making Chamberlain a starter could be a mistake  —  The metamorphosis of Joba Chamberlain from set-up reliever to starting pitcher is afoot.  —  It began with a curious two-inning, 40-pitch outing against the Seattle Mariners.

The National Pastime is Stronger Than Ever  —  Let the baseball whiners and chronic complainers switch to cricket if they're so perturbed.  —  Memorial Day weekend is the one of the laziest times of the year, a mini-reprise of the black hole of time between Christmas and New Year's Day …

Preliminary aging curve for fastball speed  —  Understanding how players age is very important when examining them and their careers.  It is essential when people try to look in the crystal ball to determine just how good a hot prospect could be in a few years or if an aging star might have a good year or two left in him.

“My Friend”  —  Heard the news this afternoon about the tragic death of a former teammate and friend Geremi Gonzalez.  —  The quote to head this piece is one that anybody that knew him will smile about.  Gonzo could not, under any circumstance, remember ANYONE'S name.

College Baseball: The Road to Omaha  —  The Miami Hurricanes (47-8), which regained the No. 1 spot in the final regular season Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, and USA Today/ESPN polls released on Monday, were selected as the top seed for the 64-team NCAA Division I Baseball Championship that begins this Friday.

Braves on road to greatness  —  Memorial Day arrived with the Braves in second place.  They'll be in first by the Fourth of July, and come Labor Day they'll be pulling away.  —  Only a team of playoff caliber could have handled all the Braves have been forced to handle, and eventually some of these pitchers will get healthy.

Midland slugger knocks in 10 runs  —  After Midland RockHounds first baseman Tommy Everidge produced the best slugging performance in Drillers Stadium's 28-year history, teammate Joe Gaetti had an explanation for the slugger's Memorial Day success.  —  “Power of the mustache,” …