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, 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
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 …
Thom Loverro / Washington Times:
Bowden's future depends on Soriano — Alfonso Soriano returns to the Washington Nationals today following his stint on the bench in the World Baseball Classic with the choice of accepting a position in left field or declining it, perhaps on the grounds of delusion.
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.
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 — Epstein, Francona excited to land power-hitting outfielder — • Theo Epstein conference call on Pena trade — • Complete Spring Training coverage — FORT MYERS, Fla. — With seven starting pitchers vying for five spots, the Red Sox had to make some decisions.
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 — Free agent Juan Gonzalez has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Red Sox, but the Sox's quest to add power might not end there. — The team also is talking to the Reds about a trade for outfielder Wily Mo Pena, FOXSports.com has learned.
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.
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Dave / U.S.S. Mariner:
Bye Bye Matt Thornton — The M's have traded Matt Thornton to the Chicago White Sox for Joe Borchard. — There's almost no way to not like this move, in my opinion. Thornton was, and still is, essentially useless. Yes, he throws 95, but big whoop-de-doo.
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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.
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 …
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
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.
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.
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 …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Bagwell's days appear to be numbered — With Opening Day two weeks away, scouts and executives are increasingly skeptical that Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell will make a successful comeback from right shoulder problems. — "It's hard for him to throw groundballs to the infielders between innings," a rival executive says.
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 …
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.
Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Burnett, Gorzelanny among 11 Bucs cut — Littlefield predicts players will see time in Majors this season — BRADENTON — Left-handers Sean Burnett and Tom Gorzelanny, two pitchers who were in competition for openings in the big league starting rotation, were among the 11 roster cuts …
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
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 …
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 …
