Top News:
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Josh Beckett's golf round after missing start is further proof the Red Sox aren't his top priority — They took the beer out of the clubhouse, but nothing changed. They switched the man in the manager's office, but he's no better. The rot in the Boston Red Sox organization runs too deep …
Discussion:
Full Count, Joe Blogs, HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com, Baseball Nation and THE BOOK
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John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Josh Beckett, Red Sox off course — Pitcher ends up buried in the rough — + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio — Josh Beckett does not do contrition, which is fine. But if he expects Red Sox [team stats] fans not to tee off on him after he tees off on his day off …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Over the Monster, Boston Globe, baseballmusings.com and Deadspin
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Edes: Beckett's postgame defiance says it all — His weak performance and postgame comments show he doesn't care, either … BOSTON — Josh Beckett has chosen sides. — On one side, everyone who cares so much about the Red Sox that they are even personally affected by the death of a public address announcer.
Discussion:
Cursed To First, Baseball Nation, Fire Brand, FanGraphs Baseball, Boston Globe, Getting Blanked and MLB
Alex Speier / WEEI:
ONE SEASON LATER, RED SOX HAVE YET TO FIX THEIR CLUBHOUSE CULTURE — “I know that we have the players in our clubhouse who are committed to winning, who have the talent to do it, and are motivated to put 2011 behind them and prove to everyone that they're worthy of the fans' trust.”
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Boston Globe, Boston Globe, Over the Monster and the joy of sox
Fox Sports:
Last-place Phillies: Buyers or sellers? — I don't care what Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. says — I'll believe his team is a seller when I see it. — But know this: — According to major league sources, at least one club — the Toronto Blue Jays …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and Phillies Nation
Fox Sports:
Hamilton's deal possibly short, sweet — If you think outfielder Josh Hamilton will sign a contract that sufficiently protects the Texas Rangers from any injuries and relapses that he might suffer, think again. — Hamilton need not make concessions when he likely would receive a massive …
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Dan Hayes / North County Times:
PADRES: Cabrera's promotion on hold following arrest — If the Padres plan to promote minor-league shortstop Everth Cabrera, they might have to put those plans temporarily on hold. — The team confirmed on Thursday night that Cabrera, their Triple-A shortstop, was arrested in mid-March.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
The Next MLB Commissioner — A generation of fans, players, and front office personnel have only known one commissioner. Bud Selig has been in office for two decades, longer than anyone since the sport's first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis. — But at some point …
Sam Miller / Baseball Prospectus:
People and Entities Out-Walking Albert Pujols — Pardon me for hitting this point again and again, but it's by far the most fascinating part of Albert Pujols' season so far. Anybody can go into a home run drought; the difference between a home run and a flyout is, what, the width of a cuticle?
Discussion:
6-4-2
Brian Erni / MetsBlog.com:
7,999 and counting — Tonight will be the 8,000th game in Mets history. Provided the Marlins get a hit, it will also be the 8,000th straight game without a no-hitter. — Whatever opinion you may have of this odd streak, every Mets fan seems to have their own close call story.
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Sox' Ortiz unhurt in pre-game car accident — Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz [stats] was not hurt after being involved in a car accident on Boylston Street near Fenway Park [map] while on his way to tonight's game, a team spokesperson confirmed. — Ortiz was pulling out of a gas station when his Audi R8 began spinning.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Chris Marrero suffers setback; injury updates on Chien-Ming Wang and Mark DeRosa — Setbacks in both his shoulder and his hamstring have delayed first baseman Chris Marrero's recovery from the torn hamstring he suffered this winter, Manager Davey Johnson said.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation and HardballTalk