Top Items:
Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:
Soriano, Nats Appear Headed for Second Go-Round — SAN DIEGO — When second baseman Alfonso Soriano departed the Washington Nationals' spring training camp on March 2 to join the Dominican Republic team for the World Baseball Classic, he left with a seven-word message that was less a threat …
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Soriano Refuses to Take Left Field — VIERA, Fla., March 20 — When the Washington Nationals took the field Monday evening, Alfonso Soriano's name was the first blared over the public address system, the man due to lead off and play left field. But as the Nationals trickled out of the home dugout …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Soriano mulling over left-field decision — Slugger to announce whether he'll play left on Wednesday — • Buy Nationals Spring Training tickets — • MLB.com's Bill Ladson on Soriano — • Slowes on Soriano, loss of Ayala — • Soriano's bio, career statistics
Associated Press:
Team prepared to put Soriano on disqualified list — VIERA, Fla. — Alfonso Soriano refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition …
Chris Needham / Capitol Punishment:
Defending Soriano — I'm loath to do this, because i really can't stand what the miserable SOB is doing, but I can also sort of see where he's coming from — even if I don't completely agree with it. — Soriano is being asked to move to an unfamiliar position in an unfamiliar league on an unfamiliar team.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Soriano, Nats at impasse over outfield — Slugger could be placed on the disqualified list — • Armas looks good in Nats' loss to LA — • Nats mailbag: Who will step in at short? — • Complete Spring Training coverage — VIERA, Fla. — Alfonso Soriano …
Discussion:
The Curly W, Nats Triple Play, The Nationals Enquirer, Sports Scope and District of Baseball
Roger Cossack / ESPN:
Can Soriano win this fight? Not likely — Alfonso Soriano has made it clear to the Washington Nationals that he won't play in the outfield, and there is a chance, albeit a small one, that he won't have to. I don't expect it to happen, but it is probable that the Major League Baseball Players Association …
Associated Press:
BoSox send Arroyo and cash to Reds for Pena — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox traded pitcher Bronson Arroyo on Monday to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Wily Mo Pena. — Arroyo was 14-10 with a 4.51 ERA last season. The right-hander was part of a deep group of Red Sox starters …
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Maureen Mullen / MLB.com:Sox obtain Pena, send Arroyo to Reds
Discussion:
Baseball Crank, Viva El Birdos, Empyreal Environs, Boston Red Sox, Athletics Nation and The Baseball Desert
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:Red Sox sign Gonzalez, may deal for Pena
Discussion:
Associated Press, Get Up, Baby!, The Baltimore Chop, Over the Monster and Boston Red Sox Nation
Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Notes: Duckworth turning heads — Newcomer making case for rotation spot with strong spring — • Bucs mailbag: No spot for Craig Wilson — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In the month since the Pirates held their first workout of the spring at Pirate City, right-hander Brandon Duckworth …
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Charlie Wilmoth / Hardball Times:
Five Questions: Pittsburgh Pirates — Since Barry Bonds left for free agency in 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates have endured 13 consecutive losing seasons, the longest active streak in baseball. Even the Brewers look poised to have a run of good seasons after finishing with 81 wins last year …
Discussion:
AaronGleeman.com
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards patient with Junior Spivey — Monday afternoon's work didn't end for Junior Spivey with the final pitch of the Atlanta Braves' 8- 1 win over the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. — Frustrated by three strikeouts in three at-bats against Braves starter John Smoltz and closer Chris Reitsma …
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Smoltz: Finesse for a change — Jupiter, Fla. — Say hello to John Smoltz, change-up specialist. — The Braves' No. 2 starter continued his transformation with five scoreless innings of two-hit ball in an 8-1 rout of the Cardinals on Monday. He had one walk and four strikeouts.
Len Pasquarelli / ESPN:
Vinatieri agrees in principle to deal with Colts … In a move fraught with irony on any number of fronts, the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history is about to be replaced by one of the most clutch placement specialists in the game. — Unrestricted free agent Adam Vinatieri …
Discussion:
The Professional …
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Replacement Level Yankees Weblog:
The 2006 Diamond Mind Projection Blowout — Last year, I ran 2000 Diamond Mind Simulations with Diamond Mind Baseball and projection disks by Diamond Mind and ZiPS. This year, I've done it again, and also added another 1000 runs using Baseball Prospectus's PECOTA projections.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
'X' marks spot for Nady — PORT ST. LUCIE - Pedro Martinez's big toe is the Mets' Achilles' heel. But the ace should be able to get into a Grapefruit League game by Saturday, meaning his 2006 regular-season debut should come no later than Game 2 on April 5.
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets temporarily shut down Wagner — Finger sidelines closer until weekend; MRI results negative — • Buy Mets Spring Training tickets — • Complete Spring Training coverage — PORT ST. LUCIE — If Billy Wagner had experienced any angst, it wasn't readily apparent in his expression or manner.
Jorge Arangure Jr / Washington Post:
Roberts Will Play First Spring Game — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 20 — Only a few days before putting on a uniform for the first time this year, Brian Roberts said what might be the most encouraging words of the Baltimore Orioles' 2006 season. — "I think, without a setback …
Tony Jackson / L.A. Daily News:
Choi might be gone soon — VIERA, Fla. - Hee-Seop Choi rejoined the Dodgers on Monday, fresh from having hit .182 in seven games for Korea in the World Baseball Classic. The question now is whether his second spring-training stint will be any longer than his first.
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Wright sidelined by back spasms — Yankees unsure how long right-hander will be out of action — • Mussina roughed up by Tigers in rout — • Notes: Mussina OK after rough outing — • Mailbag: Big year for Big Unit? — • Complete Spring Training coverage
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Notes: Cubs play it safe with Lee — First baseman likely to return later this week from injury — • Cubs' Wood targets return in late April — • Complete Spring Training coverage — MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee is not expected to play until later …
Lboros / Viva El Birdos:
two reyes limit — here's the cliff-notes version of joe strauss' article in this morning's post: — ponson has won the "competition" for the 5th starter job (as we first heard from bernie last week) — wainwright is slated to make one more start, after which he may or may not get added to the mix for the bullpen
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Notes: Martin making his mark — Guzman still an option for Opening Day roster — VIERA, Fla. — Dioner Navarro, with an .063 batting average and a strained hamstring, still projects to be the Opening Day catcher for the Dodgers. — But Russell Martin was told when camp opened …
Lynn Henning / Detroit News:
Tigers dropped the ball — no 'free' game telecasts — There is still hope for an agreement at some point with a free outlet. — L ots of folks wrote at different times last year to squawk about Tigers games and their sabbatical leave from local "free" television, which had been Channel …
Associated Press:
Veteran left-hander Leiter retires after spring game — TAMPA, Fla. — Al Leiter attended the New York Yankees' spring reunion, then decided he's not coming back anymore. — The 19-year veteran retired Sunday after pitching to one batter in New York's 2-0 win over the Cleveland Indians.
