MLB Live Blog for Friday April 4th

Arizona is leading the Rockies 9-1 in the top of the 9th, with Arizona's Chris Young up to bat against Manny Corpas.

Add some insight or else Falcon will come and kick your ass.

ya, i'm waiting for theirs to start

YEah, i've been under the weather myself ben, so i might add a little

Recap of today's day games:

• A.J. Pierzynski's late HR lifts the ChiSox over the winless Detroit Tigers 8-5, despite Jose Contreras' 4 ER in 5 IP.

• Milwaukee defeated San Fran 13-4, thanks to Bill Hall's 2 HR's, and 6 RBI's. SF SP, Jonathan Sanchez gave up 7 ER in just 4 IP, but struck out 8.

• Miggy pulls through with a big RBI triple in the 8th inning, the 3-bagger proved to be the game-winner as the 'Stros defeat the Cubbies 4-3. Soriano goes hitless.

man detroit has to shape up or there in for a hard april playin the Red Sox next week. so this weekend cabrera and the gang should shape up

Did you know that Mike Greenberg thinks Kosuke Fukudome will win the NL MVP???

The Mariners/O's, and Rays/Yanks games are just getting under way. The Rays/Yanks game should be a great game to watch, especially when you add Pean, and Manny's little "challenge" into the mix.

Falcon r u doing the rays blog tonight?

i think its tomorrow...but i got the game on...

what station?

What's up with Hunter Pence? He was on fire this spring. And now...nothin'.

The D'Backs/Rockies game is now final. Arizona defeats Colorado 8-1, Micah Owings picks up the win, as Justin Upton hits his 2nd HR of the season.

another fantsy disapoitment, remeber its the 1st week of the season things will shape up

I know this is a baseball thread, but the Flyers just scored. I am estatic because they nomally don't come out with the intensity that they are playing with tonight. It is playoff time. Every game is more important than the one before it...

The Rays are threatening to score with a runner on third with Akinori Iwamura up to bat.

what station is that on ?

ok, masn, i have nesn

Cliff Floyd singles to left, Carl Crawford scores, 1-0 Rays. Uh-oh Pean, your Yanks are in trouble:)

Blue Jays/Red sox game is finally underway...

Nothing new here, the O's have already committed an error, here in the first inning.

Dioner Navarro now up for the Rays with runners at first and second. Navarro is 1 for 3 with RISP.

BB15, add a little something to your commenting please. Make us (the readers) feel as if we are there watching the game with you. It'd make me feel better :)

thank god i have mlb.tv... its worth the money guys, trust me...

Sorry guys, the Mets/Braves game is postponed for tonight.

How about this comment Falcon...Shawn Marcum Has a 1, 2, 3 first inning as Pedroia, Youkilis and Ortiz all fail to reach base. Marcum seems to be off to a good start keeping the ball low in the zone, especially against all the power hitters of the Red sox.

Steve Traschel is having a pretty good start, in 2 IP so far he's given up 1 hit, and struck out one. Hopefully, that won't jinx him, but knowing the O's, it probably will. We are headed for the bottom of the second now, as the O's are looking for a few runs to help Traschel out. Jay Payton starts off the inning with a single to shallow RF, with Hernanadez coming up to bat, who is 10 for 41 lifetime against Washburn.

Classic Wakefield in his 1st inning a hit batter adn gets out of a jam, god i hate that knuckle ball

Tim Wakefield is leading exclusively with the knuckleball, throwing the pitch 15 straight times. Although he missed the plate on 7 straight pitches, he manages to escape the inning without allowing a run.

The O's are in business! Back to back singles, and Adam Jones is now up, who has a perfect .1000 BA with RISP. Let's see if the young guy can deliver for the O's.

ooh, just got intrested in NHL if the bruins win and phidelphia loses their in the playoffs, side note the playb on the same network as the sox, they booted the bruins to soem special channel. Also its ok JD

The Yanks are getting their sucky asses kicked already.... 1-0 in the 2nd.

Who's winning the M's/O's game?

Blue Jays get the first hit of the ball game off a single by Marco Scutaro to left field.

Jones grounds out to second, but get's the job done, as Hernandez and Payton advance. Luis Hernanadez is now up, with Brian Roberts on the on-deck circle. Now 3-2 on Hernandez, but he is still battling with Washburn, fouling a few off, and finally hitting a sac fly to center, R Hernandez scores, 1-0 BAL. Hernandez gets the job done, scoring Ramon, as the O's still have a runner in scoring position with lead-off hitter, Brian Roberts, up to bat.

Does Tim Wakefield have any pitch besides the Knuckler, because he's thrown it 30 times to lead off the game?

Just a heads up:

Mets vs. Braves tomorrow will be Joe Buck/Tim McCarver

White Sox vs. Tigers will be Thom Brennaman/Jose Mota

So now you'll have your mute button in handy.

On yet another 3-2 count, Roberts walks, putting guys on first and second with Mora up now. Mora is hitting .381 in his career vs Seattle. I say he gets a single, loading the bases for the O's best hitter, Nick Markakis.

so, listening to the yankees game...

anyone listen to kenny singleton talk about BJ Upton's first name...

Melvin Emanuel

But he got BJ from his dad...Bossman...

yeah, that's stupider than DJ Drew

Traschel forces Betancourt to ground out to third, bringing up Ichiro. Who flies out to center, as Traschel continues to get these Seattle batters out.

Good morning....good afternoon....good night, says Traschel. Markakis, Millar, and Huff are due up for the O's. Looking good O's, looking good.

-Well at least Wakefield is having success with the Knuckleball...through 3 innings he has given up a hit and struck out 3. -Marcum has been pitching strong as well, giving up 1 hit and striking out 2. It will be interesting to see which pitcher blinks first...

Shawn Reyes clears them all...wow, i did not see that ball going back to the wall and then practically stopping... Welp...Ian Kennedy gets a solid 2 and 1/3...there's the yankees we remember!

how r the graphics on mlb tv?

I was just typing "Why did Riggans replace Navarro?" Then Shawn scored two on his pinch hit double for Da Rayz... Riggans was one of the players I got to hear talk a little during my trip to Florida, he's a cool dude...

Rays 5, Yankees 0 - 1 out in the 3rd, man on second. Kennedy no longer needs a bra, his tits have been ripped off... Pean is sweating...

Update on Pirates/Marlins game:

3-1 PITT

Former Oriole, Chris Gomez, hit a 2-RBI single in the second to score Xavier Nady, and Ryan Doumit. Later that inning CFer, Nate McLouth hit an RBI double which scored Gomez. The lone run for the Marlins was an RBI single by Florida pitcher, Scott Olsen, which allowed Josh Willingham to score. That run came in the bottom of the 2nd inning.

It is currently the bottom half of the third inning. Olsen has struggled, giving up 3 ER and 5 hits in 3 IP, while Pittsburgh's SP, Matt Morris has given up 1 ER in 2.1 IP. McLouth is 2 for 2 with 2 RBI's and a stolen base.

Still scoreless through 4. The Jays Lead in the hit column 2-1. If Wakefield keeps pitching Knuckleballs, there has too be a passed ball sooner or later...right?

Like I said, I jinxed Steve Traschel, but it's ok, 'cause I'm not an O's fan, haha. Anyway, he has given up the lead after Adrian Beltre, who hasn't done shiznit for the Mariners, hit a 2-run HR. Seattle takes a 2-1 lead in the middle of the 4th inning now, with Payton, Hernandez, and Adam Jones due up for the O's.

Pean is probably pissing in his pants listening to this on the radio.

Kansas City (3-0)/Minnesota (1-3) game just got underway, and the Royals have already taken a 1-0 lead off a groundout by Guillen, which allowed Joey Gathright to score. Not a good start for the young Scott Baker, who is pitching for Minnesota. I wonder if Minnesota is missing Torii, and Johan any???

Ooooh, looks like Manny spoke too soon. NY is coming back, haha. Matsui starts it off with a solo shot to right, and Jeter hits an RBI triple. Abreu looks to hit Jeter in on a 2-2 count against TB's pitcher, Sonnanstine (or something like that).

Deja vu for Baltimore, once again Luis Hernandez hits Ramon Hernandez in on a sac fly, this time to left. Baltimore ties the game at 2, and has a runner on second with B-Rob up to bat.

Damn you Josh Willingham!!! 3-3 in the PITT/FLA game after Willingham hits a 2-run jack to LF. Let's go BUCS!!!

FACk Matt stairs breaks the scoreless game in toranto, off Wake to right field, another haging knuckler

This definately isn't a game to boost the batting average. Marcum has retired 10 straight batters and Wakefield has been equally effective on the other side. The two teams have combined for a total of 3 hits.

St. Louis takes the early lead over Washington, thanks to Rick Ankiel's 2-run HR to deep right field, his second on the year. Pujols, who has been quite thus far (HR-less), added a double, but wasn't able to come around and score. Currently the top of the second in St. Louis.

Nice E-6 by #2

Ryan Doumit, who has had a nice start to his season (.455 BA), hit a solo shot off Olsen, as the Pirates take the lead back, 4-3.

Phillies and Red getting underway...here's a fun fact or 2...

BRandon Phillips mohawk is stupid

2) the phillies had 4 players in the top 24 in MVP voting last year...that's pretty sick...

WOW!! That was ugly, not one, but TWO throwing errors on one play for the Pirates, giving up a run, and their lead in the process. That's the Pirates I know:( Willingham is now a threat to score, as well, after the second throwing error by LaRoche allowed him to advance to third.

The O's score, to make it a 1-run ball game, and NO, it was not a sac fly this time. Kevin Millar hit a solo shot to left field. 3-2 Baltimore.

Second pitch in Cincy is a Rollins single, Victorino steps up in the box now against Cincy pitcher Josh Fogg.

Well, the most valuable one leads off with a gapper... In other news, my roommate has informed me only one player has pitched to roger maris, Mark Mcgwire and Sammy Sosa...anyone?

Uh-oh Yakob, 3-0 Toronto. Wakefield is in trouble.

and the reds elect to not walk howard after the error... (leading to 2nd and 3rd with 1st open)

Howard takes a drive deep...but only to dunn, and jimmy scores

Its burrell time now...erin andrews' nipples are hard

pat burrell is such a quandry now...do i root for him to be awesome, be pat burrell or be "shit i just signed a 60 million dollar contract to dick around" pat burrell... either way, phillies fans get the shaft...

josh fogg's best fastball tonight? 90mph...

no problem with the breaker though, as burrell gives it a ride...a real ride... that's gonna give adam dunn whiplash as that thing got out quick...

ben, who's pitching for seattle?

Jarrod Washburn

Well, Sonnanstine certainly has calmed down and found his groove. Props to Joe for not hooking him early...

well, former Os castoff patterson hits a leadoff double...and my chest is tightening...great... hey, i'm not up on the reds...where's brandon freel?

Its Ryan Freel. And when Jay Bruce is ready in about six weeks, Patterson will still be a castoff.

Wow, Griffey junior just came up and...well...i'm just not super concerned...how things have changed... in other news, Junior's sitting on 593...which is respectable...oh what could have been...

Seattle's choking already?

you know...i kinda do think its ridiculous that coaches are wearing those helmets...

Rays 6, Yankees 4 - top of 7th

After the early fireworks, the Rays and Yankees have gone the last 3 innings without a hit and only one baserunner on Jeets Golden Gloveless error.

In the old days, a Rays fan would turn stop watching at this point and go to bed knowing they would miss the disaster. This year, the bullpen is an actual bullpen!!!

Well, kendrick has loaded the bases with 2 outs and is facing rookie joey votto...who i think Kelsdad likes a little...

I'm guessing 4 innings for kendrick...maybe 5...

and madson's worked the last 2 games, so not many options in the pen as far as long relief

every time i'm watching they start losing agaiun 5-3 jays on a thomas double off delcarmen

by the way nice pick up of cueto in the AGM league

Thanks. My luck, he gets rocked next time out.

sweet, nothing like a a 1-2-3 inning of the bottom of the phils order...that passed faster than an exlax brownies...

I bet exlax brownies don't make you feel any better than Mary Jane brownies.

LaTroy Hawkins is in... Tee Time!!!

Cliffy goes yard! 7-4

and god's gift to 2nd baseman hits a dinger...5-1 now for the phils... interestingly enough, that was his 99th homer...i wonder what the record for homers by a 2 bagger is...

Whatever Jeff Kent's career total is.

Kent has 116 career games at 1B and 3 at SS.

Wonder if Kent helped himself to the contents of Barry's locker while he was gone?

Carlos Pena goes YARD!!!

Yankee Stadium is behind a shed... 13-4

Shouldn't the Yankees know better than to have so many former Cubs in their 'pen?

silly reds announcers:

"Dunn isn't the kind of guy who hits into a lot of double plays"

"dunn with a ball to second...utley tosses to rollins, over to howard..."

"ok, well he strikes out a lot too"

WOW!!! TB has really blown this one wide open. 13-4 after a Pena 3-run HR.

speaking of stupid things...

"What What in my butt"

and i dedicate that to Kaz Matsui...astros fans will find that really funny...and anyone who knows Kaz Matsui's current predicament...heh

Yes with the sox loss 6-3 pena is helping me out

kendrick lays don't a pretty nice bunt after a few rocky innings today...3 earned over 3, but a successful bunt to move feliz and ruiz to 2nd and 3rd with 1 out... brings up his most valuableness and the top of a league leading offense...

Pean is really getting pissed.

its a win win situation manny

rollins his a fielders choice to give the phils a 6-3 lead...bringing up the flyin hawaii...which always makes me think of that time i hurled after eating pineapples...

well, farnsworthless is in...so i guess the yankees waived the white flag...

Kendrick is really laboring again here in the 4th...he's not getting another AB, that's for sure... Votto works a long count and a good 8 pitches into a single...kendrick had him, but votto worked him into the liner into center...kendrick may not escape this inning...

Norris hopper hits a liner to feliz, who holds votto and throws to first...1 out and kendrick has a shot to make it to the 5th

Let's see if Scott Dohmann can hold the 9 run lead!!! 13-4 bottom of 9th, and the Suns just came on. I'm out!!!

Damn Florida just won on a Mike Jacobs walk-off HR.

welp, kendrick allows corey patterson to hit a deep ball, but victorino is around to handle, even though votto scores (6-4) Keppenger hits a liner to vic...and dare i say it, rowand would have probably misplayed that...sometimes i'm wrong i suppose...

Chase Utley just hit his 100 career homer, congrats to him... In other news, that moves him to 700th in all time career homers..

My Roommate: What's Antonio Alfonseca up to nowadays? me: http://heath...rialNumber=2

Well, Kendrick is alive in he 5th...4 adn 2/3 of 4 earned run ball... In other news, both the flyers and sixers have clinched playoff births...whatever it takes, i'd like to see the pens in the first round...

Kendrick gets 5 in...he's on deck when they return...

i gotta wonder if manuel pulls him

Jared Burton comes in via the double switch, moving Adam Dunn out and Freel in...

It could be Clay COndrey time...so the "oh shit"-o-meter is kinda moving upward...

so apparently, the ump has actually stopped the game because the sign behind home plate, which rotates between delta airlines, exxon-mobile and career builder got stuck...

nope, you can't make that stuff up...

Looks like the guy who runs it may need career builder now.

Why take Kendrick out, he has a three run lead?

No reason to go to the pen this early with a three run lead. Plus the double switch thing, the pitchers spot should only come up once more, wherever the switch took place probably twice. That means at least two more pitching changes/pinch hit situations, letting Kendrick hit in the fifth eliminates that problem.

well, Kendrick's out now...that didn't take long at all...and a waste of an AB...

Kendrick pitched well enough to win as Madson replaces him...though given his previous nights work as well as his recent work (last night), i'm a little concerned...

a couple years ago, when the phils had Madson Fultz (2.24 ERA) and Wagner (1.5 ERA), they had a hell of a pen...madson had something like a 4, but was super effective down the stretch..but true to reliever form, hasn't been the same since...

actually, none of them have...

You're probably right, but you have to prepare just in case. Good managers are always a couple innings ahead of play, the game is in the sixth, Manuel is thinking about the eighth. Alot different than Buck Showalter, though, in the sixth, he was in the fourth.

Holy crap, Christian Guzman went yard today? What they do, let him hit off a tee?

On the bright side, I saw the Phils released Wes Helms the other day.

The Russ Springer part said it all. When he was with the Dbacks a few years ago, Steve Finley's seven year old son took him deep.

Helms will get a job somewhere. What really surprises me is that Rudy Seanez still has one.

well, tomorrow's matchup is Aaron Harang and Adam Eaton talk about a mismatch

Eaton's a good pitcher, his problem is he makes Mike Hampton look like Cal Ripken Jr. If Eaton is healthy, he'll have a decent season, you watch. And if he sucks again, there's always Kris Benson.

Good luck on the other article arguing with FP on the Patriots. I'm not going there, but for the record you are right.

The Pats got their asses kicked, plain and simple. The second quarter and into the third may have been the best stretch of defensive football ever, they were, as a unit, ridiculous. Give credit where credit is due, the Giants won because they were the best team. Period.

Bullshit

Phils win...even their record and prove that they're gonna have to win offensively to win at all...

Kendrick gets a W in the same fashion that he'll continue to get them all year...

btw, this is how adam eaton had a record above .500 last year...

Look at that, JuT, Madson pitched two innings. God, I'm a friggin' genius!

Ryan Howard is on pace for 203 strikeouts. Has anyone noticed since Prince Fielder went vegan, he's hit zero homers? Not one in spring training, not one so far this season. Something tells me if he hasn't gone deep in a week or so he'll be making reservations at Morton's. Or some skanky BBQ place in Milwaukee.

And I missed the whole damn blog. FACK THIS TIME DIFFERENCE CRAP!