Top Items:
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Damon scores twice in Yanks' win — Starter Wang hit on leg, leaves after 2 1/3 innings of work — YANKEES 9, TIGERS 8 — Yankees at the plate: Johnny Damon scored a pair of runs, both on base hits by Gary Sheffield. In the first, Sheffield doubled in Damon, and the next inning …
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Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Notes: Wang's next start in doubt — Right-hander hit in right knee, but X-rays come back negative — TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees are already planning to open the season with Carl Pavano and Aaron Small on the disabled list. Will Chien-Ming Wang now be added?
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Yankees overpower Devil Rays — A-Rod homers; Childers goes three scoreless innings — YANKEES 10, DEVIL RAYS 1 — Yankees at the plate: Alex Rodriguez hit his second home run of the spring, a solo shot off Rays starter Edwin Jackson in the third inning.
Discussion:
Baseball Toaster
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Some Question Soriano's Effort — Coach Says He Needs Extra Fielding Work — VIERA, Fla., March 26 — Alfonso Soriano, the Washington Nationals' left fielder, had a line drive sail over him in the top of the first inning Sunday, then hit the first pitch he saw well over the left field fence …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Soriano needs work in outfield — New left fielder making defensive adjustments as he goes — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano played his fifth game of the spring on Sunday afternoon against the Astros, and he had a good day with the bat and an adventurous time with the glove.
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
Mark Zuckerman / Washington Times:
Nationals rotation set — LAKELAND, Fla. — At the start of spring training, Washington Nationals manager Frank Robinson admitted his biggest concern involved sorting out the back end of his starting rotation, with three spots up for grabs among at least five candidates. — That's not the case anymore.
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Notes: Thome shows familiar power — Garland throws in Minors game; Thornton makes adjustment — TUCSON, Ariz. — Jim Thome produced a very economical showing of power during the White Sox 9-7 victory over the Royals on Sunday at Tucson Electric Park. — Kansas City starter Kyle Snyder threw …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Heilman would solidify bullpen — Impressive rookie Bannister may round out starting rotation — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The paint wasn't dry on the Mets' 2005 season when the club's hierarchy began planning to refurbish the bullpen for 2006. More than a new coat of a new color was planned.
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Notes: Nelson surprised by release — Reliever felt he had done enough tomake team this spring — JUPITER, Fla. — When Cardinals manager Tony La Russa summoned Jeff Nelson into his office on Sunday afternoon, Nelson expected only the best. He figured his quest to make the club …
Associated Press:
Tigers release first baseman Pena — TAMPA, Fla. — Carlos Pena was unconditionally released Sunday by the Detroit Tigers after the first baseman struggled during spring training. — Pena batted .160 with one home run in 50 at-bats in exhibition games. — He split last season between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo.
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Nate / Nats Triple Play:
Minor Issues — Say what you want about the Alfonso Soriano fiasco (and by now we all have, twice) but it gave sports writers and Nats bloggers something to talk about. Now that the A-Sor issue has been momentarily resolved, what's next? — Apparently the topic du jour is the minor leagues.
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Encarnacion's lineup spot up in air — Cardinals lineup taking shape with Opening Day nearing — JUPITER, Fla. — The final week of Spring Training means that the feeling-out period is over. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa knows what he has, even if he doesn't necessarily know which 25 names will be on his Opening Day roster.
Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Sexson goes deep in M's loss — ANGELS 15, MARINERS 4 — Mariners at the plate: Richie Sexson drilled a solo homer, his fourth of the spring, in the top of the second. — Angels at the plate: Casey Kotchman knocked in a run with a base hit and Jeff Mathis hit a two-run double in the bottom …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Amit R. Paley / Washington Post:
Nats TV Feud Might Be Bound For the Hill — A top-ranking congressman said yesterday that Congress will intervene in an impasse that threatens to keep most Washington Nationals games off the region's largest cable provider during the upcoming season. — Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) …
Deadspin:
Doing The Right Thing. Eventually. — A quick update on the Colin Cowherd situation: Gelf Magazine is reporting that ESPN Radio' Colin Cowherd plans to give credit to the M Zone for jacking their material on his radio show last week. ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz told the magazine that the credit will be given on Monday's show.
Joe Lapointe / New York Times:
Young Yankee Takes Days With a Spring in His Step — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 25 — By coincidence, the side of Kevin Thompson's locker doubles as a wall where daily lineups and full rosters are posted in the Yankees' clubhouse at Legends Field in Tampa.
Discussion:
BTF's Baseball Primer Newsblog
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Zimmerman struggling in field — Third baseman makes two more errors, has six this spring — LAKELAND, Fla. — While Nationals general manager Jim Bowden isn't concerned about Ryan Zimmerman's defense at third base, manager Frank Robinson sure is.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Notes: Wilkerson's shoulder checked — Eaton fine in Minor League outing; Mench lighting up desert — TUCSON, Ariz. — Rangers outfielder Brad Wilkerson was examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum on Sunday and is flying back to Texas to undergo an MRI and be examined by Dr. Keith Meister.
